Career Timeline of Jane Fonda: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Jane Fonda made an impact.
Jane Fonda is a highly acclaimed American actress and activist, celebrated for her extensive career spanning over six decades. A recipient of numerous prestigious awards including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, seven Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award, she is recognized as a film icon. She has also received lifetime achievement awards such as the Honorary Palme d'Or, AFI Life Achievement Award, Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, Cecil B. DeMille Award and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, marking her significant impact and enduring legacy in the entertainment industry and beyond.
1954: Interest in the Arts
In 1954, Jane Fonda became interested in the arts after appearing in a charity performance of The Country Girl with her father.
1958: Meeting Lee Strasberg
In 1958, Jane Fonda met Lee Strasberg, which she considered a turning point in her life. Strasberg told her she had talent.
1960: Broadway Debut in There Was a Little Girl
In 1960, Jane Fonda made her Broadway debut in the play There Was a Little Girl, earning a Tony Award nomination.
1960: Screen Debut in Tall Story
In 1960, Jane Fonda made her screen debut in the romantic comedy Tall Story.
1960: Film Career with Tall Story
In 1960, Jane Fonda's film career began, and she starred in Tall Story, reprising her Broadway role.
1962: Acting in Period of Adjustment and Walk on the Wild Side
In 1962, Jane Fonda acted in Period of Adjustment and Walk on the Wild Side. She earned a Golden Globe for Walk on the Wild Side.
1962: Honorary Title of "Miss Army Recruiting"
In 1962, Jane Fonda was given the honorary title of "Miss Army Recruiting" by the Pentagon.
1963: Last Broadway Performance Before 2009
In 1963, Jane Fonda performed on Broadway, which was her last performance until 2009.
1963: Starring in Sunday in New York and "Year's Worst Actress" title
In 1963, Jane Fonda starred in Sunday in New York. In the same year, the Harvard Lampoon named her the "Year's Worst Actress" for The Chapman Report.
1964: Acting in Joy House and Circle of Love
In 1964, Jane Fonda acted in Joy House and Circle of Love, both filmed in France. She became one of the first American stars to appear nude in a foreign film with Circle of Love.
1965: Career breakthrough with Cat Ballou
In 1965, Jane Fonda had her career breakthrough with Cat Ballou, a comedy Western.
1965: Starring in Cat Ballou
In 1965, Jane Fonda rose to prominence for her role in the comedy Cat Ballou.
1967: Acting in Barefoot in the Park
In 1967, Jane Fonda co-starred with Robert Redford in the comedy Barefoot in the Park.
1968: Starring in Barbarella
In 1968, Jane Fonda played the title role in the science fiction spoof Barbarella, establishing her status as a sex symbol.
1969: Oscar nomination for They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
In 1969, Jane Fonda received an Oscar nomination for her performance in They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
1969: Critical Acclaim for They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
In 1969, Jane Fonda won critical acclaim for her performance in the tragedy They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, earning her first Academy Award nomination.
1969: Support for the Occupation of Alcatraz Island
In 1969, Jane Fonda, along with other celebrities, supported the Occupation of Alcatraz Island by members of the American Indian Movement. This occupation was intended to call attention to the government's failures regarding treaty rights and the movement for greater Indigenous sovereignty.
May 4, 1970: Appearance and Protest at the University of New Mexico
On May 4, 1970, Jane Fonda spoke at the University of New Mexico about G.I. rights, where she was confronted by Gregory Corso regarding the Kent State shooting. Following this, on the same day, she joined a protest march on the home of university president Ferrel Heady.
1970: Arrest mugshot
In 1970, Jane Fonda had an arrest mugshot that would later be featured on merchandise sold on her website.
1970: Supported Native Americans occupying Fort Lawton
In 1970, Jane Fonda went to Seattle to support a group of Native Americans led by Bernie Whitebear who were occupying part of Fort Lawton. They were seeking a land base to establish services for the local urban Indian population. The endeavor succeeded and the Daybreak Star Cultural Center was built.
1971: Awards for Klute
During the 1971-1972 awards season, Jane Fonda dominated the Best Actress category for her performance in Klute.
1971: Winning Academy Award for Klute
In 1971, Jane Fonda won her first Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Bree Daniels in Alan J. Pakula's Klute.
1971: Formation of the FTA Tour
In 1971, Jane Fonda, along with Fred Gardner and Donald Sutherland, formed the FTA tour ("Free The Army"), which was an anti-war road show designed to engage in dialogue with soldiers about their upcoming deployments to Vietnam. The tour visited military towns along the West Coast.
1971: Performance in Klute
In 1971, Pauline Kael commended Fonda for giving a raucous-voiced, down-in-the-dirty performance that has some of the charge of her Bree in Klute.
1972: Awards for Klute
During the 1971-1972 awards season, Jane Fonda dominated the Best Actress category for her performance in Klute.
1972: Funding and Organizing the Indochina Peace Campaign
In 1972, Jane Fonda helped fund and organize the Indochina Peace Campaign, which continued to mobilize antiwar activists in the U.S. after the 1973 Paris Peace Agreement.
1972: Starring in Tout Va Bien and Feminist March
In 1972, Jane Fonda starred in Tout Va Bien and joined a feminist march in Rome, giving a speech in support of Italian women's rights.
1972: Film in French
In 1972, Jane Fonda starred in Tout Va Bien. In 2011 she appeared in All Together, her first french film since 1972.
1972: Release of the Movie F.T.A.
In 1972, the movie F.T.A., which documented the anti-war dialogues from the FTA tour led by Jane Fonda, Fred Gardner, and Donald Sutherland, was released. The movie featured strong criticism of the Vietnam War by servicemembers.
1973: Acting in A Doll's House
In 1973, Jane Fonda appeared in A Doll's House, receiving praise for her performance as Nora Helmer.
1973: Indochina Peace Campaign Mobilization
In 1973, Jane Fonda's Indochina Peace Campaign continued to mobilize antiwar activists in the US after the Paris Peace Agreement was signed.
1975: United States Withdrawal from Vietnam
In 1975, the Indochina Peace Campaign, which Jane Fonda helped fund and organize, concluded its mobilization efforts as the United States withdrew from Vietnam.
1976: Acting in Steelyard Blues and The Blue Bird
In 1976, Jane Fonda acted in Steelyard Blues and The Blue Bird.
1977: Acting in Fun with Dick and Jane and Julia
In 1977, Jane Fonda acted in Fun with Dick and Jane, and Julia, earning an Oscar nomination for Julia.
1977: Comeback with Fun with Dick and Jane
In 1977, Jane Fonda experienced a comeback with the comedy film Fun with Dick and Jane.
1977: Comeback, Julia, and Acclaim
In 1977, Jane Fonda had her "comeback" with Fun with Dick and Jane, also starring in Julia and receiving positive reviews, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award for Julia, and an Oscar nomination.
1978: Founded the Campaign for Economic Democracy with Tom Hayden
In 1978, Jane Fonda founded the Campaign for Economic Democracy, a California lobbying organization, with her second husband Tom Hayden. The organization was funded by the proceeds from her exercise videos and books.
1978: Winning Academy Award for Coming Home
In 1978, Jane Fonda won an Academy Award for her role in Coming Home.
1979: Acting in The Electric Horseman and The China Syndrome
In 1979, Jane Fonda acted in The Electric Horseman and received an Oscar nomination for The China Syndrome.
1979: BAFTA Award and The Electric Horseman
In 1979, Jane Fonda won her second BAFTA Award for Best Actress with "The China Syndrome". The same year, she starred in "The Electric Horseman" with Robert Redford, which became a box office success.
1979: Spoke out as an LGBTQ+ ally during the White Night Riots
In 1979, during the White Night Riots in San Francisco after the assassination of Harvey Milk, Jane Fonda appeared in a video interview where she discussed the discrimination faced by the gay community and expressed her willingness to be an advocate.
1980: Starring in 9 to 5 and On Golden Pond
In 1980, Jane Fonda starred in "9 to 5" with Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton, and she purchased the screen rights to the play "On Golden Pond" to star alongside her father, Henry Fonda. Both films were a success.
1981: Women in Film Crystal Award
In 1981, Jane Fonda was awarded the Women in Film Crystal Award.
1981: Oscar Nomination for On Golden Pond
In 1981, Jane Fonda was nominated for an Oscar for her role in On Golden Pond.
1982: Release of Jane Fonda's Workout
In 1982, Jane Fonda released Jane Fonda's Workout, which became the highest-selling videotape of its time.
May 3, 1983: Agreement with Columbia Pictures
On May 3, 1983, Jane Fonda entered into a non-exclusive agreement with Columbia Pictures to star in or produce projects under her banner, Jayne Development Corporation.
1984: Establishment of the Hollywood Women's Political Committee
In 1984, Jane Fonda and Barbra Streisand co-founded the Hollywood Women's Political Committee (HWPC) with ten other women in the entertainment industry in Greater Los Angeles. The committee's initial goal was to assist in the presidential campaign of Walter Mondale and his running mate Geraldine Ferraro.
1984: Co-founding Hollywood Women's Political Committee
In 1984, Jane Fonda co-founded the Hollywood Women's Political Committee, demonstrating her political activism.
1984: Emmy Award for The Dollmaker
In 1984, Jane Fonda won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress for her role in The Dollmaker.
June 25, 1985: Renaming Production Company to Fonda Films
On June 25, 1985, she renamed her production company from Jayne Development Corporation to Fonda Films.
1985: Starring in Agnes of God
In 1985, Jane Fonda starred as Dr. Martha Livingston in "Agnes of God".
1986: Starring in The Morning After
In 1986, Jane Fonda played an alcoholic actress in "The Morning After", opposite Jeff Bridges, earning her an Academy Award nomination.
1986: Oscar Nomination for The Morning After
In 1986, Jane Fonda received an Oscar nomination for her role in The Morning After.
1986: HWPC Helps Turn the Senate Democratic
In 1986, the Hollywood Women's Political Committee, established by Jane Fonda and others, helped to turn the Senate Democratic, furthering their New Left political goals.
1988: Regret Expressed in Barbara Walters Interview
In a 1988 interview with Barbara Walters, Jane Fonda expressed regret for some of her comments and actions related to her activism.
1990: Starring in Stanley & Iris
In 1990, Jane Fonda starred in "Stanley & Iris" with Robert De Niro, which was her last film for 15 years. Her performance was praised despite mixed reviews of the film.
1991: Retirement from the Film Industry
In 1991, after three decades in film, Jane Fonda announced her retirement from the film industry.
1992: HWPC Helps Elect Record Number of Women Legislators
In 1992, the Hollywood Women's Political Committee contributed to the election of a record-breaking number of women legislators, an event dubbed the Year of the Woman.
1994: HWPC Continued Activism
In 1994, the Hollywood Women's Political Committee continued its activism through political setbacks, persevering with its established political goals.
1994: Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund
In 1994, the United Nations Population Fund made Jane Fonda a Goodwill Ambassador.
1995: Workout Books and Audio Programs
By 1995, Jane Fonda had released five workout books and thirteen audio programs.
1996: HWPC Continued Activism
In 1996, the Hollywood Women's Political Committee continued its activism through political setbacks, persevering with its established political goals.
2001: Established the Jane Fonda Center for Adolescent Reproductive Health
In 2001, Jane Fonda established the Jane Fonda Center for Adolescent Reproductive Health at Emory University in Atlanta. The center aims to prevent adolescent pregnancy through training and program development.
December 2002: Visited Israel and the West Bank to protest violence against women
In December 2002, Jane Fonda visited Israel and the West Bank as part of a tour focusing on stopping violence against women. She demonstrated against Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip and visited doctors and patients in Jerusalem, as well as a rehabilitation center and refugee camp in Ramallah.
2002: Attended first V-Day summit
In 2002, Jane Fonda, an honorary chairperson of V-Day, attended the first summit, which brought together founder Eve Ensler, Afghan women oppressed by the Taliban, and a Kenyan activist campaigning against female genital mutilation. The V-Day movement aims to stop violence against women and was inspired by The Vagina Monologues.
February 16, 2004: Led a march in Ciudad Juárez
On February 16, 2004, Jane Fonda, along with Sally Field, Eve Ensler, and other women, led a march through Ciudad Juárez, urging Mexico to provide sufficient resources to officials investigating the murders of hundreds of women in the border city.
2004: Founded the Jane Fonda Foundation
In the mid-2000s, specifically in 2004, Jane Fonda founded the Jane Fonda Foundation, a charitable corporation, with one million dollars of her own money. She serves as president, chair, director, and secretary and contributes 10 hours each week.
March 31, 2005: 60 Minutes Interview
On March 31, 2005, in a 60 Minutes interview, Jane Fonda reiterated that she had no regrets about her trip to North Vietnam in 1972, except for the anti-aircraft-gun photo, which she described as a betrayal.
April 5, 2005: Published autobiography "My Life So Far"
On April 5, 2005, Random House published Jane Fonda's autobiography, "My Life So Far". The book describes her life as a series of three acts and declares that her third act will be her most significant.
July 2005: Announced anti-war bus tour
In July 2005, Jane Fonda announced plans to make an anti-war bus tour in March 2006 with her daughter and families of military veterans, but she later canceled it.
2005: Co-founding the Women's Media Center
In 2005, Jane Fonda co-founded the Women's Media Center, furthering her activism.
2005: Return to Acting in Monster-in-Law
In 2005, Jane Fonda returned to acting after a 15-year hiatus, starring in Monster-in-Law.
2005: Publication of Autobiography
In her 2005 autobiography, Jane Fonda wrote that she was manipulated into sitting on the anti-aircraft gun in North Vietnam and was horrified at the implications of the pictures.
March 2006: Cancellation of anti-war bus tour
In March 2006, Jane Fonda's anti-war bus tour, which was announced in July 2005, was scheduled to take place, but she canceled it due to concerns that she would divert attention from Cindy Sheehan's activism.
September 17, 2006: Supported Feministiskt initiativ in Swedish elections
In the days before September 17, 2006, Jane Fonda went to Sweden to support the new political party Feministiskt initiativ in their election campaign.
January 27, 2007: Participated in anti-war rally in Washington, D.C.
On January 27, 2007, Jane Fonda participated in an anti-war rally and march held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., declaring that 'silence is no longer an option'.
January 2009: Began chronicling return to Broadway in a blog
In January 2009, Jane Fonda began chronicling her return to Broadway in a blog, writing about topics such as her Pilates class and her excitement about her new play.
September 2009: Signed letter protesting Toronto Film Festival's spotlight on Tel Aviv
In September 2009, Jane Fonda was among over 1,500 signatories to a letter protesting the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival's spotlight on Tel Aviv. The letter argued that the spotlight was part of an Israeli propaganda campaign.
2009: Return to Broadway in 33 Variations
In 2009, Jane Fonda returned to Broadway for the first time since 1963, playing Katherine Brandt in Moisés Kaufman's "33 Variations", earning a Tony nomination.
2010: Release of New Fitness Videos on DVD
After a fifteen-year hiatus, in 2010, Jane Fonda released two new fitness videos on DVD, targeting an older audience.
2011: Explanation of Anti-Aircraft Gun Photo on Official Website
In 2011, Jane Fonda addressed the anti-aircraft gun photo incident on her official website, providing further explanation and context.
2011: All Together and Peace, Love and Misunderstanding
In 2011, Jane Fonda played a leading role in "All Together", and starred alongside Catherine Keener in "Peace, Love and Misunderstanding".
2011: Published 'Prime Time: Love, health, sex, fitness, friendship, spirit – making the most of all of your life'
In 2011, Jane Fonda published a new book, 'Prime Time: Love, health, sex, fitness, friendship, spirit – making the most of all of your life', offering stories and perspectives on how to better live the years from 45 and 50, and especially from 60 and beyond.
2012: Recurring Role in The Newsroom
In 2012, Jane Fonda began a recurring role as Leona Lansing in HBO's "The Newsroom", receiving two Emmy nominations for her performance during the shows three seasons.
2012: Emmy Nomination for The Newsroom
In 2012, Jane Fonda received an Emmy nomination for her role in The Newsroom.
2013: Role in The Butler
In 2013, Jane Fonda played First Lady Nancy Reagan in "The Butler", directed by Lee Daniels.
November 2014: Completion of Filming for Grace and Frankie
In November 2014, filming on the first season of "Grace and Frankie" was completed.
2014: Continued Role in The Newsroom
In 2014, Jane Fonda continued her role in The Newsroom.
May 8, 2015: Premiere of Grace and Frankie
On May 8, 2015, the Netflix series "Grace and Frankie", starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, premiered online.
2015: Film Roles and Golden Globe Nomination
In 2015, Jane Fonda appeared in "Youth", earning a Golden Globe Award nomination. She also appeared in "Fathers and Daughters".
2015: Expressed disapproval of Arctic drilling
In 2015, Jane Fonda expressed disapproval of President Barack Obama's permitting of Arctic drilling (Petroleum exploration in the Arctic) at the Sundance Film Festival.
2015: Role in Grace and Frankie
In 2015, Jane Fonda started her role in Grace and Frankie, for which she also received an Emmy nomination.
April 2016: Predicted Hillary Clinton's win and subsequent backlash
In April 2016, Jane Fonda stated that while she was 'glad' that Bernie Sanders was running for president, she predicted that Hillary Clinton would win, leading to a 'violent backlash'. She also said that we need to 'help men understand why they are so threatened – and change the way we view masculinity'.
June 2016: Human Rights Campaign Tribute
In June 2016, Jane Fonda participated in a Human Rights Campaign video tribute to the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting.
2017: Acting in Our Souls at Night
In 2017, Jane Fonda acted in Our Souls at Night.
2017: Sold arrest mugshot merchandise to benefit GCAPP
In 2017, Jane Fonda began selling merchandise featuring her 1970 arrest mugshot on her website, with the proceeds benefiting the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power and Potential (GCAPP).
2017: Mugshot Merchandise to Benefit Charity
In 2017, Jane Fonda began selling merchandise featuring her mugshot image from her 1970 arrest to benefit the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential.
2017: Goldene Kamera Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2017, Jane Fonda received a Goldene Kamera lifetime achievement award.
2017: Criticized Trump's mandate to resume construction of the North Dakota Pipelines
In 2017, Jane Fonda responded to American President Donald Trump's mandate to resume construction of the controversial North Dakota Pipelines by saying that Trump "does this illegally because he has not gotten consent from the tribes through whose countries this goes" and pointed out that "the U.S. has agreed to treaties that require them to get the consent of the people who are affected, the indigenous people who live there."
2017: Criticized Justin Trudeau's environmental policies
In 2017, while on a trip with Greenpeace to protest oil developments, Jane Fonda criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, saying he had betrayed his commitments made at the Paris agreement regarding climate change and indigenous treaties.
September 2018: HBO Documentary "Jane Fonda in Five Acts" Poster
In September 2018, Jane Fonda's mugshot from her 1970 arrest was used as the poster image for the HBO documentary on Fonda, "Jane Fonda in Five Acts", and a giant billboard was erected in Times Square.
September 24, 2018: Premiere of Jane Fonda in Five Acts
On September 24, 2018, the HBO documentary "Jane Fonda in Five Acts" premiered, covering Fonda's life and career.
September 2019: Appearance on British Vogue Cover and Induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame
In September 2019, Jane Fonda was one of fifteen women selected to appear on the cover of British Vogue, by guest editor Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. She was also inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.
December 5, 2019: Explained climate activism in New York Times op-ed
On December 5, 2019, Jane Fonda explained her position on climate activism in a New York Times op-ed.
2019: Supported environmental organizations and spoke at Fire Drill Fridays
Since at least 2019, Jane Fonda has been a supporter of global environmental organizations, including GreenFaith and 350.org. She spoke at the Fire Drill Fridays protest in Washington, D.C., where protesters condemned the expansion of the fossil fuel industry.
March 2020: Endorsed Bernie Sanders for president
In March 2020, Jane Fonda endorsed Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 election, calling him the 'climate candidate'.
September 8, 2020: HarperCollins published 'What Can I Do?: The Truth About Climate Change and How to Fix It'
On September 8, 2020, HarperCollins published Jane Fonda's book, 'What Can I Do?: The Truth About Climate Change and How to Fix It'.
August 14, 2021: Release of Grace and Frankie Episodes
On August 14, 2021, the first four episodes of the seventh and final season of "Grace and Frankie" were released.
August 2021: Supported Los Angeles LGBT Center fundraiser
In August 2021, Jane Fonda, along with the cast of Grace and Frankie and other advocates, supported a fundraiser hosted by the Los Angeles LGBT Center to help members of the LGBTQ+ community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
November 2021: Yearly Departed Announcement
In November 2021, it was announced that Jane Fonda would be in the second installment of Amazon Prime Video's "Yearly Departed".
December 23, 2021: Appearance in Yearly Departed
On December 23, 2021, Jane Fonda appeared in the second installment of Amazon Prime Video's "Yearly Departed".
2021: Cecil B. DeMille Award
In 2021, Jane Fonda received a Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 78th Golden Globe Awards.
March 2022: Launched the Jane Fonda Climate PAC
In March 2022, Jane Fonda launched the Jane Fonda Climate PAC, a political action committee with the purpose of ousting politicians supporting the fossil fuel industry.
April 29, 2022: Final Episodes of Grace and Frankie Released
On April 29, 2022, the final 12 episodes of "Grace and Frankie" were released on Netflix, concluding the series.
2022: Grace and Frankie Concluded
In 2022, Grace and Frankie concluded after running for 7 seasons.
September 2023: John Steinbeck “In the Souls of the People” Award
In September 2023, Fonda received the John Steinbeck “In the Souls of the People” Award.
September 2023: Participated in New York City's March to End Fossil Fuels
In September 2023, Jane Fonda participated in New York City's March to End Fossil Fuels.
September 2024: Signed open letter urging Governor Gavin Newsom to sign SB 1047
In September 2024, Jane Fonda, along with over 125 actors, directors, and musicians, signed an open letter urging Governor Gavin Newsom to sign SB 1047, a Californian AI safety bill that would hold companies training the largest AI models liable if their models cause mass casualties or over $500 million in damages.
2024: Featured guest at 350.org's Food & Water Watch event
In 2024, Jane Fonda was a featured guest at 350.org's Food & Water Watch event.
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