Childhood and Education Journey of Jane Fonda in Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Jane Fonda, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Jane Fonda is a celebrated American actress and activist, renowned for her extensive career spanning film and television across multiple genres. Her achievements include two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, seven Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. She has also received nominations for a Grammy and two Tony Awards. Fonda's contributions have been further acknowledged with prestigious lifetime achievement awards such as the Honorary Palme d'Or (2007), the AFI Life Achievement Award (2014), the Golden Lion (2017), the Cecil B. DeMille Award (2021), and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award (2025).

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1962: "Miss Army Recruiting" title

In 1962, Jane Fonda was given the honorary title of "Miss Army Recruiting" by the Pentagon.

December 1963: Beginning of relationship with Roger Vadim

In December 1963, Jane Fonda and French film director Roger Vadim became romantically involved.

August 14, 1965: Marriage to Roger Vadim

On August 14, 1965, Jane Fonda married French film director Roger Vadim at the Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas.

1965: Americans visiting North Vietnam

From 1965, many Americans, including civil rights activists, teachers, and pastors, traveled to North Vietnam to assess the war situation independently due to perceived US media bias.

1966: Lawsuit against Playboy

In 1966, Jane Fonda filed a lawsuit against Playboy, which was later settled, leading to an ad supporting VVAW in 1971.

1967: Start of NSA Monitoring

From 1967, Jane Fonda's communications were monitored by the United States National Security Agency (NSA) as part of Project MINARET.

September 28, 1968: Birth of Vanessa Vadim

On September 28, 1968, Jane Fonda and Roger Vadim's daughter, Vanessa Vadim, was born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France.

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 aimed to highlight the government's failures concerning treaty rights and the pursuit of greater Indigenous sovereignty.

March 1970: Separation rumors surface

In March 1970, reports of Jane Fonda and Roger Vadim's separation surfaced, though Fonda's spokesman initially denied them.

May 4, 1970: Speech 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 and issues. Following her speech, she joined a protest march related to the Kent State shooting, referencing her film "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?".

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November 2, 1970: Arrest at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

On November 2, 1970, Jane Fonda was arrested at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on suspicion of drug trafficking after returning from an anti-war speaking tour in Canada. The charges were later dropped when the pills were identified as vitamins.

1970: Anti-War Rally Attendance

In 1970, Jane Fonda attended an anti-war rally with John Kerry, although they were not together on stage. A composite photograph was circulated to falsely suggest they shared a speaker's platform.

1970: Jane Fonda's arrest

In 1970, Jane Fonda was arrested, and this event would later be used to create merchandise for charity.

1970: Support for Native American Land Rights

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 to secure land for services for the urban Indian population, resulting in the construction of the Daybreak Star Cultural Center.

1971: Formation of the FTA Tour

In 1971, Jane Fonda, along with Fred Gardner and Donald Sutherland, created the FTA tour (Free The Army), an anti-war road show intended to counter Bob Hope's USO tour.

July 1972: Visit to North Vietnam and allegations of bombing

In July 1972, Jane Fonda visited North Vietnam, traveled to Hanoi, and alleged that the United States was intentionally targeting the dike system along the Red River. She toured and photographed the damage.

1972: North Vietnam Trip

In 1972, Jane Fonda took a trip to North Vietnam. In a later interview in 2005, she stated that she had no regrets about the trip.

1972: Acknowledged separation from Vadim

In mid-1972, Jane Fonda conceded that she and Roger Vadim were separated, though not legally, and remained friends.

January 19, 1973: Marriage to Tom Hayden

On January 19, 1973, three days after divorcing Vadim, Jane Fonda married activist Tom Hayden in a free-form ceremony at her home in Laurel Canyon; she was three months pregnant at the time.

July 7, 1973: Birth of Troy O'Donovan Garity

On July 7, 1973, Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden's son, Troy O'Donovan Garity, was born in Los Angeles and named after Hayden's grandmother and a Viet Cong member.

1973: Fonda's comments on POW torture claims

In 1973, Jane Fonda commented on the stories of torture of returning POWs, stating that those making such claims were "hypocrites and liars and pawns", and that systematic torture was a lie. This led to persistent rumors of POWs being coerced into meeting with her.

1973: End of NSA Monitoring

Until 1973, Jane Fonda's communications were monitored by the United States National Security Agency (NSA) as part of Project MINARET.

1978: Founding of the Campaign for Economic Democracy

In 1978, Jane Fonda founded the Campaign for Economic Democracy, a California lobbying organization, with her second husband Tom Hayden, using proceeds from her exercise videos and books.

1979: Advocacy During White Night Riots

In 1979, Jane Fonda appeared in a video of an interview during the White Night Riots in San Francisco, following the assassination of Harvey Milk. Fonda expressed her support for the gay community and acknowledged the discrimination they faced culturally, psychologically, economically, and politically.

1982: Unofficial adoption of Mary Luana Williams

In 1982, Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden unofficially adopted an African-American teenager, Mary Luana Williams (known as Lulu), whose parents were Black Panthers.

1988: Separation from Tom Hayden

During the Christmas holiday of 1988, Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden separated.

1988: Regret expressed in Barbara Walters interview

In a 1988 interview with Barbara Walters, Jane Fonda expressed regret for some of her past comments and actions.

1989: Relationship with Lorenzo Caccialanza

In 1989, while estranged from Tom Hayden, Jane Fonda had a seven-month relationship with soccer player Lorenzo Caccialanza and was also linked with actor Rob Lowe.

June 10, 1990: Divorce from Tom Hayden

On June 10, 1990, Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden divorced in Santa Monica, California.

December 21, 1991: Marriage to Ted Turner

On December 21, 1991, Jane Fonda married cable television tycoon and CNN founder Ted Turner at a ranch near Capps, Florida.

1997: Dissolution of the Hollywood Women's Political Committee

In 1997, the Hollywood Women's Political Committee (HWPC), called "the single most-powerful entertainment group" in politics, dissolved after years of activism.

2000: Separation from Ted Turner

In 2000, Jane Fonda and Ted Turner separated.

May 22, 2001: Divorce from Ted Turner

On May 22, 2001, Jane Fonda and Ted Turner divorced in Atlanta.

2001: Jane Fonda Center for Adolescent Reproductive Health Founded

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.

2001: Establishment of the Jane Fonda Center for Adolescent Reproductive Health

In 2001, Jane Fonda established the Jane Fonda Center for Adolescent Reproductive Health, which aims to help prevent teen pregnancy.

December 2002: Visit to Israel and the West Bank

In December 2002, Jane Fonda visited Israel and the West Bank to focus on stopping violence against women. She demonstrated against Israel's occupation, visited hospitals, and a Palestinian refugee camp.

2002: V-Day Summit Attendance

In 2002, Jane Fonda attended the first V-Day summit, joining founder Eve Ensler, Afghan women oppressed by the Taliban, and a Kenyan activist campaigning against female genital mutilation.

February 16, 2004: 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 resources to investigate the murders of hundreds of women.

2004: Establishment of the Jane Fonda Foundation

In 2004, Jane Fonda established the Jane Fonda Foundation with one million dollars of her own money, acting as president, chair, director, and secretary and dedicating 10 hours weekly to the charitable corporation.

2004: Use as Disparaging Epithet Against John Kerry

In 2004, during the presidential election, Jane Fonda's name was used as a disparaging epithet against John Kerry, with the Republican National Committee Chairman calling Kerry a "Jane Fonda Democrat."

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 called a "betrayal."

April 5, 2005: Publication of Autobiography "My Life So Far"

On April 5, 2005, Random House published Jane Fonda's autobiography, "My Life So Far", where she describes her life in three thirty-year acts and her commitment to Christianity.

My Life So Far

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July 2005: Planning of an Anti-War Bus Tour

In July 2005, Jane Fonda planned an anti-war bus tour with her daughter and military veterans' families for March 2006, but later cancelled it to avoid diverting attention from Cindy Sheehan's activism.

September 2005: Cancellation of Appearances on George Galloway's Book Tour

In September 2005, Jane Fonda was scheduled to join George Galloway on his U.S. book tour but canceled her appearances due to doctor's orders following hip surgery.

2005: Co-founding of the Women's Media Center

In 2005, Jane Fonda, along with Robin Morgan and Gloria Steinem, co-founded the Women's Media Center. This organization works to amplify the voices of women in the media through advocacy, training, and content creation.

2005: Assault at book signing

In 2005, Michael A. Smith, a U.S. Navy veteran, spat chewing tobacco in Jane Fonda's face at a book-signing event for her autobiography, 'My Life So Far', in Kansas City, Missouri. He stated that he considered it a debt of honor.

2005: Autobiography on the anti-aircraft gun photo

In her 2005 autobiography, Jane Fonda wrote that she felt manipulated into sitting on the North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun and was horrified by the implications of the photo.

March 2006: Cancellation of Anti-War Bus Tour

In March 2006, Jane Fonda's planned anti-war bus tour was scheduled but later cancelled due to concerns that she would divert attention from Cindy Sheehan's activism.

September 17, 2006: Support for Feministiskt initiativ in Sweden

On September 17, 2006, Jane Fonda supported the new political party Feministiskt initiativ in their election campaign in Sweden.

January 27, 2007: Participation in Anti-War Rally

On January 27, 2007, Jane Fonda participated in an anti-war rally and march in Washington, D.C., declaring that "silence is no longer an option." She spoke at a rally at the Navy Memorial, where counter-protesters were present.

2007: Relationship with Lynden Gillis

From 2007 to 2008, Jane Fonda was the companion of widower and management consultant Lynden Gillis.

2008: Relationship with Lynden Gillis

From 2007 to 2008, Jane Fonda was the companion of widower and management consultant Lynden Gillis.

January 2009: Fonda's Broadway blog

In January 2009, Jane Fonda started a blog chronicling her return to Broadway, discussing topics from Pilates to her anxieties about her new play.

September 2009: Protest Against Toronto Film Festival's Spotlight on Tel Aviv

In September 2009, Jane Fonda was among over 1,500 signatories protesting the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival's spotlight on Tel Aviv, arguing it was part of an Israeli propaganda campaign.

2009: Fonda's allegations about the White House

In 2009, Jane Fonda wrote about her 1970 arrest, alleging that the arresting officer told her he was acting on orders from the Nixon White House to discredit her.

2009: Relationship with Richard Perry

In mid-2009, Jane Fonda began a relationship with record producer Richard Perry.

November 2010: Lumpectomy

In November 2010, Jane Fonda underwent a lumpectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer and recovered.

2011: Fonda's explanation of the anti-aircraft gun photo on her website

In 2011, Jane Fonda provided an explanation on her official website regarding the circumstances surrounding the photograph of her sitting on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun.

2013: Revelation of NSA Monitoring

In 2013, it was revealed that Jane Fonda was one of approximately 1,600 Americans whose communications were monitored by the United States National Security Agency (NSA) between 1967 and 1973 as part of Project MINARET.

2014: Fonda Reveals Mother's Abuse

In 2014, Jane Fonda revealed that her mother, Frances Ford Seymour, was sexually abused as a child, which Fonda believes contributed to her suicide when Fonda was 12 years old.

2015: Opposition to Arctic Drilling and Participation in Climate March

In 2015, Jane Fonda expressed disapproval of President Barack Obama's Arctic drilling policy at the Sundance Film Festival. In July, she participated in the "March for Jobs, Justice, and Climate" in Toronto to highlight the link between climate change and other issues.

April 2016: Prediction about the 2016 Presidential Election

In April 2016, Jane Fonda expressed support for Bernie Sanders but predicted Hillary Clinton would win the presidency and face a violent backlash. She also emphasized the need to help men understand why they feel threatened and to change the way masculinity is viewed.

June 2016: Participates in 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.

January 2017: End of relationship with Richard Perry

In January 2017, Jane Fonda's relationship with record producer Richard Perry ended.

2017: Selling 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: Criticism of North Dakota Pipeline Construction

In 2017, Jane Fonda criticized American President Donald Trump's mandate to resume construction of the North Dakota Pipelines, stating that it was illegal because it lacked consent from the affected indigenous tribes and violated treaties.

2017: Criticism of Justin Trudeau's Environmental Policies

In 2017, Jane Fonda criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for allegedly betraying commitments made at the Paris Agreement on climate change and treaties with indigenous people, while protesting oil developments with Greenpeace.

2017: Fonda reveals past sexual abuse

In 2017, Jane Fonda disclosed in an interview with People magazine that she had been raped, sexually abused as a child, and fired for refusing to sleep with her boss. Fonda emphasized that these experiences were not her fault and highlighted the importance of the women's movement in helping victims understand this.

April 2019: Removal of cancerous growths

In April 2019, Jane Fonda revealed she had a cancerous growth removed from her lower lip the previous year and pre-melanoma growths removed from her skin.

September 2019: Appearance on British Vogue cover

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.

October 2019: Arrests at Climate Change Protests

In October 2019, Jane Fonda was arrested multiple times during consecutive weeks while protesting climate change outside the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., often with fellow actors and members of Oil Change International.

December 5, 2019: Explanation of Climate Activism in New York Times Op-Ed

On December 5, 2019, Jane Fonda explained her climate activism position in a New York Times op-ed.

2019: Support for Environmental Organizations and Protests

Since at least 2019, Jane Fonda has supported global environmental organizations like GreenFaith and 350.org. She spoke at a Fire Drill Fridays protest in Washington, D.C., condemning the expansion of the fossil fuel industry.

March 2020: Endorsement of Bernie Sanders

In March 2020, Jane Fonda endorsed Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 election, referring to him as the "climate candidate."

August 2021: Support for 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.

March 2022: Launch of Jane Fonda Climate PAC

In March 2022, Jane Fonda launched the Jane Fonda Climate PAC, a political action committee to oust politicians supporting the fossil fuel industry.

December 15, 2022: Cancer in remission

On December 15, 2022, Jane Fonda announced that her cancer was in remission and her chemotherapy treatments would be discontinued.

September 2023: Participation in NYC March to End Fossil Fuels

In September 2023, Jane Fonda participated in New York City's March to End Fossil Fuels.

September 2024: Signing Open Letter Urging Support for Californian 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 that would hold companies training the largest AI models liable if their models cause mass casualties or over $500 million in damages.