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 celebrated American actress and activist with a 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 has also been recognized with lifetime achievement awards such as the Honorary Palme d'Or, AFI Life Achievement Award, Golden Lion, Cecil B. DeMille Award, and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, solidifying her status as a film icon.
1963: Last Broadway Appearance Before 2009
Prior to her return to Broadway in 2009, Jane Fonda's last appearance on Broadway was in 1963.
1969: Support of Alcatraz Island Occupation
In 1969, Jane Fonda supported the Occupation of Alcatraz Island by members of the American Indian Movement. This occupation was intended to highlight the government's failures regarding treaty rights and advocate for greater Indigenous sovereignty.
1970: Fonda Supports Native American Group
In 1970, Jane Fonda went to Seattle to support a group of Native Americans led by Bernie Whitebear, who occupied part of Fort Lawton to secure land for services for the urban Indian population.
1971: Mentioned Performance in Klute
In 1971, Fonda's performance in Klute was raved by the public.
1971: Formation of the FTA Tour
In 1971, Jane Fonda, along with Fred Gardner and Donald Sutherland, formed the FTA (Free The Army) tour, an anti-war road show.
1972: Funding and Organization of Indochina Peace Campaign
In 1972, Jane Fonda helped fund and organize the Indochina Peace Campaign, aiming to mobilize antiwar activists in the US.
1972: Tout Va Bien
In 1972, Jane Fonda starred in the movie Tout Va Bien.
1972: Release of F.T.A. Movie
In 1972, the movie F.T.A., which was created from the dialogue from the tour, and contained strong, frank criticism of the war by servicemembers, was released.
1973: Continuation of Indochina Peace Campaign
In 1973, the Indochina Peace Campaign continued to mobilize antiwar activists in the US after the Paris Peace Agreement.
1975: Withdrawal from Vietnam
In 1975, the United States withdrew from Vietnam.
1978: Funding the Campaign for Economic Democracy
In 1978, Fonda funded the Campaign for Economic Democracy, a California lobbying organization founded with her second husband Tom Hayden, using the proceeds from her exercise videos and books.
1978: Second Academy Award for 'Coming Home'
In 1978, Jane Fonda won her second Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Sally Hyde in 'Coming Home'. She also won her third Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, marking her second consecutive win. Additionally, she starred in 'Comes a Horseman' and had a supporting role in 'California Suite' in 1978.
1979: Fonda Speaks Out for LGBTQ+ Rights
In 1979, Jane Fonda spoke out as an LGBTQ+ ally during an interview after the White Night Riots in San Francisco, addressing discrimination against the gay community.
1979: BAFTA Award and 'The Electric Horseman'
In 1979, Jane Fonda won her second BAFTA Award for Best Actress for 'The China Syndrome'. That same year, she also starred in 'The Electric Horseman' with Robert Redford. By the late 1970s, Motion Picture Herald ranked Fonda as Hollywood's most bankable actress.
1980: '9 to 5' and 'On Golden Pond'
In 1980, Jane Fonda starred in '9 to 5' with Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton, which was a major success. She also purchased the screen rights to 'On Golden Pond', starring alongside her father, Henry Fonda, and Katharine Hepburn. Both films grossed over $100 million domestically in 1980.
1982: Release of 'Jane Fonda's Workout'
In 1982, Jane Fonda released her first exercise video, 'Jane Fonda's Workout', inspired by her book. This video became the highest selling home video, selling over a million copies and influencing the purchase of VCRs.
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 own banner, Jayne Development Corporation.
1984: Establishment of Hollywood Women's Political Committee
In 1984, Jane Fonda and Barbra Streisand, along with other women in the entertainment industry, established the Hollywood Women's Political Committee (HWPC) to support Walter Mondale's presidential campaign.
1984: Emmy Award for The Dollmaker
In 1984, Jane Fonda won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for her portrayal in The Dollmaker.
June 25, 1985: Renaming Production Company to Fonda Films
On June 25, 1985, Jane Fonda renamed her production company from Jayne Development Corporation to Fonda Films.
1985: Starring in Agnes of God
In 1985, Jane Fonda starred in the role of Dr. Martha Livingston in Agnes of God.
1986: Starring in The Morning After
In 1986, Jane Fonda played an alcoholic actress in the thriller The Morning After. For her performance, she was nominated for another Academy Award for Best Actress.
1986: HWPC Helps Turn the Senate Democratic
In 1986, The Hollywood Women's Political Committee (HWPC) helped to turn the Senate Democratic.
1990: Starring in Stanley & Iris
In 1990, Jane Fonda starred in the romantic drama 'Stanley & Iris' with Robert De Niro. It was her last film for 15 years.
1991: Retirement from Film Industry
In 1991, after three decades in film, Jane Fonda announced her retirement from the film industry.
1992: HWPC helps elect a record number of women legislators
In 1992, the Hollywood Women's Political Committee (HWPC) helped to elect a record number of women legislators, an achievement called the Year of the Woman.
1994: HWPC continues activism
Despite political setbacks, the Hollywood Women's Political Committee (HWPC) continued its activism throughout 1994, pursuing the same political goals as Fonda and Streisand.
1994: Goodwill Ambassador
In 1994, the United Nations Population Fund made 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 continues activism through political setbacks
The Hollywood Women's Political Committee (HWPC) continues its activism through political setbacks of 1996, pursuing the same political goals as Fonda and Streisand.
1997: Dissolution of HWPC
In 1997, the Hollywood Women's Political Committee (HWPC), described as the "single most-powerful entertainment group" in politics, dissolved.
2001: Establishment of Jane Fonda Center
In 2001, Jane Fonda established the Jane Fonda Center for Adolescent Reproductive Health at Emory University in Atlanta to help prevent adolescent pregnancy through training and program development.
2002: Fonda Participates in V-Day Summit
In 2002, Fonda attended the first V-Day summit, a movement against violence against women, bringing together Eve Ensler, Afghan women oppressed by the Taliban, and a Kenyan activist campaigning against genital mutilation.
February 16, 2004: Fonda Leads March in Ciudad Juárez
On February 16, 2004, Jane Fonda, along with Sally Field and Eve Ensler, led a march through Ciudad Juárez, urging Mexico to provide resources to investigate the murders of women in the border city.
2004: Founding the Jane Fonda Foundation
In 2004, Fonda founded the Jane Fonda Foundation with one million dollars of her own money, serving as president, chair, director, and secretary, dedicating 10 hours each week to its operation.
April 5, 2005: Publication of "My Life So Far"
On April 5, 2005, Random House published Jane Fonda's autobiography, "My Life So Far", describing her life in three acts and her commitment to Christianity.
July 2005: Fonda Announces Anti-War Bus Tour
In July 2005, Jane Fonda announced plans for an anti-war bus tour in March 2006 with her daughter and families of military veterans to speak out against the Iraq War.
2005: Return to Screen with 'Monster-in-Law'
In 2005, Jane Fonda returned to the screen with the box office success 'Monster-in-Law', starring opposite Jennifer Lopez.
2005: Cofounding of Women's Media Center
In 2005, Jane Fonda, along with Robin Morgan and Gloria Steinem, cofounded the Women's Media Center, an organization to amplify women's voices in the media.
2005: Publication of Autobiography
In her 2005 autobiography, Jane Fonda wrote about being manipulated into sitting on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun.
September 17, 2006: Fonda Supports Feministiskt initiativ
In the days before September 17, 2006, Jane Fonda went to Sweden to support the political party Feministiskt initiativ in their election campaign.
January 27, 2007: Fonda Participates in Anti-War Rally
On January 27, 2007, Jane Fonda participated in an anti-war rally in Washington, D.C., advocating against the Iraq War and stating that "silence is no longer an option".
2007: Honorary Palme d'Or
In 2007, Fonda was awarded an Honorary Palme d'Or by Cannes Film Festival President Gilles Jacob for career achievement.
January 2009: Return to Broadway blog
In January 2009, Fonda began blogging about her return to Broadway, covering topics from Pilates to her excitement and fears.
2009: Return to Broadway with '33 Variations'
In 2009, Jane Fonda returned to Broadway for the first time since 1963, playing Katherine Brandt in Moisés Kaufman's '33 Variations'. The role earned her a Tony nomination.
2010: Fitness Videos on DVD
In 2010, after a fifteen-year hiatus, Jane Fonda released two new fitness videos on DVD, aimed at an older audience.
2011: Starring in 'All Together' and 'Peace, Love and Misunderstanding'
In 2011, Jane Fonda starred in the drama 'All Together', her first film in French since 1972, and alongside Catherine Keener in 'Peace, Love and Misunderstanding', playing a hippie grandmother.
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.
2013: Role in 'The Butler'
In 2013, Jane Fonda played First Lady Nancy Reagan in 'The Butler'.
November 2014: Filming Completed on Grace and Frankie Season 1
In November 2014, filming was completed on the first season of the Netflix series Grace and Frankie, starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.
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: Golden Globe Nomination for Youth and Appearances in Other Films
In 2015, Jane Fonda played an acting diva in Paolo Sorrentino's Youth, for which she earned a Golden Globe Award nomination. She also appeared in Fathers and Daughters in 2015.
April 2016: Fonda Predicts Clinton's Presidency
In April 2016, Fonda predicted Hillary Clinton would become the first female president and foresaw a "violent backlash" and emphasized the need to change views on masculinity.
June 2016: Human Rights Campaign Video
In June 2016, Jane Fonda participated in a Human Rights Campaign video tribute to the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting.
2017: Selling mugshot merchandise for charity
In 2017, Fonda began selling merchandise featuring her 1970 arrest mugshot on her website, with the proceeds benefiting GCAPP.
2017: Merchandise Sales for Charity
In 2017, Jane Fonda began selling merchandise with her mugshot image to benefit the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential.
2017: Starring in 'Our Souls at Night'
In 2017, Jane Fonda starred in her fourth collaboration with Robert Redford in the romantic drama film 'Our Souls at Night'.
September 2018: Mugshot as Poster Image
In September 2018, Jane Fonda's mugshot was used as the poster image for the HBO documentary "Jane Fonda in Five Acts", with a billboard 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', which covers Fonda's life, premiered on HBO.
December 5, 2019: Fonda Explains Climate Position in Op-Ed
On December 5, 2019, Jane Fonda explained her position on climate change in a New York Times op-ed.
2019: Fonda Supports Environmental Organizations
Since at least 2019, Jane Fonda has supported global environmental organizations, including GreenFaith and 350.org, and spoke at the Fire Drill Fridays protest condemning the expansion of the fossil fuel industry.
March 2020: Fonda Endorses Bernie Sanders
In March 2020, Fonda endorsed Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 election, calling him the "climate candidate."
September 8, 2020: Publication of "What Can I Do?: The Truth About Climate Change and How to Fix It"
On September 8, 2020, Fonda's book, "What Can I Do?: The Truth About Climate Change and How to Fix It", was published by HarperCollins.
August 14, 2021: Premiere of Grace and Frankie Episodes
On August 14, 2021, the first four episodes of the final season of Grace and Frankie premiered.
August 2021: Fonda Supports LGBT Center Fundraiser
In August 2021, Jane Fonda and the cast of Grace and Frankie joined a fundraiser hosted by the Los Angeles LGBT Center to support the LGBTQ+ community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
November 2021: Announcement of Yearly Departed Role
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: Release of Yearly Departed
On December 23, 2021, Jane Fonda appeared in Amazon Prime Video's Yearly Departed.
March 2022: Fonda Launches Climate PAC
In March 2022, Jane Fonda launched the Jane Fonda Climate PAC, a political action committee aimed at ousting politicians supporting the fossil fuel industry.
April 29, 2022: Release of Final Episodes of Grace and Frankie
On April 29, 2022, the final 12 episodes of Grace and Frankie were released on Netflix.
2022: Conclusion of Grace and Frankie
In 2022, Grace and Frankie concluded after running for 7 seasons on Netflix.
September 2023: Fonda Participates in March to End Fossil Fuels
In September 2023, Jane Fonda participated in New York City's March to End Fossil Fuels.
2023: Upcoming Film Projects in 2023
In 2023, Jane Fonda is set to appear in the film '80 for Brady' and will headline Paul Weitz's black comedy 'Moving On'. She is also working on 'Book Club: The Next Chapter'.
September 2024: Fonda Signs Open Letter Urging Newsom to Sign AI Safety Bill
In September 2024, Jane Fonda joined over 125 actors, directors, and musicians in signing an open letter urging Governor Gavin Newsom to sign SB 1047, a Californian AI safety bill.
2024: Fonda 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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