The Hidden Controversies of Henry Fonda’s Life

Behind Henry Fonda’s tight-lipped demeanor beat the heart of a rumored womanizer. Castmates whispered of his discreet flings—clandestine set affairs, hotel room whispers, co-star chemistry that slipped off screen. Though he didn’t flaunt his conquests like other Hollywood playboys, those who knew him said he had a certain magnetism.

His moral, upright character may have defined him on film, but away from the cameras, Fonda had more in common with the restless men he claimed not to be. And like everything else in his private life, the dalliances were hidden behind a composed facade.