Who is James Fonda Related to? The Truth About the Fonda Family

^{James Fonda was a television producer and screenwriter who worked on popular shows like You Are There, Dennis the Menace and Hazel in the 1950s and 1960s. He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Producer – Film Series in 1956. But who is James Fonda related to? Is he part of the famous Fonda family of actors?}

^{James Fonda and Henry Fonda: Nephew and Stepson}

^{The answer is yes, James Fonda is related to Henry Fonda by blood and by marriage. He is his nephew as well as his former stepson. How is that possible? Let’s take a look at the Fonda family tree.}

^{Henry Fonda was born on May 16, 1905, in Grand Island, Nebraska. He was the son of William Brace Fonda and Elma Jaynes Herberta Fonda. He had two siblings: Harriet Fonda (1900-1928) and Jayne Seymour Fonda (1903-1950).}

^{James Fonda was born on December 31, 1907, in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi. He was the son of James Dewitt Fonda and Mary Elizabeth Smith Fonda. He had one sibling: Herberta Jaynes Fonda (1910-1994).}

^{James Dewitt Fonda and Jayne Seymour Fonda were siblings, making James Fonda and Henry Fonda first cousins.}

^{Henry Fonda married five times in his life. His first wife was Margaret Sullavan, an actress whom he married in 1931 and divorced in 1933. His second wife was Frances Seymour Brokaw, a socialite whom he married in 1936 and who committed suicide in 1950. His third wife was Susan Blanchard, an actress whom he married in 1950 and divorced in 1956. His fourth wife was Afdera Franchetti, an Italian countess whom he married in 1957 and divorced in 1961. His fifth wife was Shirlee Mae Adams, a stewardess whom he married in 1965 and remained with until his death in 1982.}

^{James Fonda married once in his life. His wife was Margaret Brayton, an actress whom he married in 1938. Margaret Brayton was previously married to Henry DeWitt Clinton Brayton Jr., a lawyer whom she divorced in 1937. Henry DeWitt Clinton Brayton Jr. was the son of Henry DeWitt Clinton Brayton Sr., a prominent New York attorney who was married to Harriet Fonda, Henry Fonda’s sister.}

^{This means that James Fonda’s wife Margaret Brayton was Henry Fonda’s sister-in-law by her first marriage, and Henry Fonda’s niece by her second marriage. This also means that James Fonda was Henry Fonda’s nephew by blood, and Henry Fonda’s stepson by marriage.}

^{James Fonda and Jane Fonda: First Cousins Once Removed}

^{Jane Fonda is the daughter of Henry Fonda and Frances Seymour Brokaw. She was born on December 21, 1937, in New York City. She is an actress, activist, writer and fitness guru who has won two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, seven Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy Award5.}

^{Jane Fonda is the first cousin once removed of James Fonda. They share the same great-grandparents: Douw Adam Fonda (1841-1922) and Harriet McNeill (1844-1928), who were Dutch immigrants from New York.}

^{James Fonda and Peter Fonda: First Cousins Once Removed}

^{Peter Fonda is the son of Henry Fonda and Frances Seymour Brokaw. He was born on February 23, 1940, in New York City. He was an actor, director, producer and writer who was best known for his role in Easy Rider (1969), for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. He also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for Ulee’s Gold (1997). He died on August 16, 2019, from respiratory failure due to lung cancer.}

^{Peter Fonda is the first cousin once removed of James Fonda. They share the same great-grandparents: Douw Adam Fonda (1841-1922) and Harriet McNeill (1844-1928), who were Dutch immigrants from New York.}

^{James Fonda and Bridget Fonda: Second Cousins}

^{Bridget Fonda is the daughter of Peter Fonda and Susan Brewer. She was born on January 27, 1964, in Los Angeles, California. She is an actress who has appeared in films such as The Godfather Part III (1990), Single White Female (1992), Point of No Return (1993) and Jackie Brown (1997). She retired from acting in 2002 after a car accident.}

^{Bridget Fonda is the second cousin of James Fonda. They share the same great-great-grandparents: Douw Adam Fonda (1810-1882) and Jane Ann Lansing (1810-1889), who were also Dutch immigrants from New York.}

^Conclusion

^{James Fonda is related to Henry Fonda by blood and by marriage. He is his nephew as well as his former stepson. He is also part of a family of talented actors who have made their mark on American cinema for generations.}