American actress Jane Seymour Fonda has a long history of stunning audiences with her performances. Her parents, acclaimed actor Henry Fonda and New York socialite Frances Seymour Brokaw welcomed her into the world on December 21, 1937, in the City of New York.
Her father claims that an Italian immigrant to the Netherlands first adopted the surname, Fonda. In about 1650, the first Fonda ancestor arrived in New York. It is believed that Fonda’s ancestors were Scots, French, and English. Fonda’s given name pays homage to Jane Seymour, Henry VIII’s third wife.
In 1950, Fonda’s mother committed suicide when she was 12 years old. She was receiving therapy at Craig House Psychiatric Hospital in Beacon, New York when it happened. Later that year, Fonda’s father wed Susan Blanchard, a socialite.
Jane Fonda Vietnam War: What did Jane Fonda do with the Vietnam War?
In July 1972, Jane Fonda, a proponent of the anti-war movement, visited Hanoi in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam). Her two-week trip included stops at American bombed locations, a meeting with prisoners of war, and excursions to military installations. Americans were incensed by Fonda’s visit because they perceived it as treason.
Her anti-war activities and visit were used as propaganda by North Vietnam to demonstrate that even well-known American actors and veterans were opposed to the president and the war. In both countries, rumors about Fonda’s efforts in support of North Vietnam during her visit took on epic proportions. Many Americans still refer to her as “Hanoi Jane” and view her as a traitor.