Jane Fonda Speaks Out After Ex-Husband Ted Turner’s Death

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Jane Fonda is paying her respects to Ted Turner.

The actress, known for her roles as a young performer, recently spoke out after the death of her husband, the founder of CNN, who passed away on May 6th at the age of 87. They had been married for 10 years before divorcing in 2001.

In an Instagram post on May 6th, she shared her deep love for Ted. She described him as a strikingly handsome, incredibly romantic, and adventurous man who dramatically changed her life. She felt especially cherished because he made her feel needed – a feeling she hadn’t experienced before, particularly given his extraordinary accomplishments as the founder of CNN and Turner Classic Movies, and his success winning the America’s Cup as a world-class sailor.

Beyond his lively personality, intelligence, and wonderful sense of humor, Jane truly valued how much he cared for her.

She also found something completely new: being both needed and cared for at the same time, which she said was deeply impactful. Ted Turner helped her gain self-confidence, and she felt she did the same for him. However, she noted that women are often taught to nurture others, while men like Ted were discouraged from showing vulnerability. In fact, she believed that Ted’s willingness to be open and vulnerable was his greatest asset.

She also noted his strong business sense, adding that Ted was the second most competitive person she’d ever known, after Katharine Hepburn, and it was captivating to watch.

She also highlighted his love of the outdoors, including hunting and fishing. She imagined him in heaven surrounded by the wildlife he’d helped save from extinction, picturing them all welcoming him at the gates with gratitude and applause.

He also deeply cherished being a father. June Diane Raphael concluded her tribute by sharing news about his five children from his marriages to Jane Shirley Smith and Julia Gale Nye.

She described the five children she became a stepmother to as gifted and complex, and said she felt lucky to have that role. Having had four stepmothers herself, she understood their importance, so they all worked hard to create a close, if unconventional, family – a family she still loves. She acknowledged that while being married to their father was challenging, being his child must have been even more so, but reassured that all the children are now doing well.

And Jane wasn’t the only person to share loving words in the media pioneer’s memory. 

Mark Thompson, Chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, described Ted as a deeply dedicated and courageous leader who wasn’t afraid to take risks and trust his instincts. Thompson stated that Ted’s influence will always be felt at CNN, calling him a foundational figure whose impact extended to the world and touched many lives. He said the entire CNN team will pause to honor Ted and his legacy.

Ted Turner, the founder of TBS (established in 1975) and CNN (founded in 1980), revealed eight years before his death that he had Lewy body dementia. This type of dementia, according to the Mayo Clinic, is caused by protein deposits in the brain that affect thinking, memory, and movement.

Ted explained to CBS News that he has a mild form of memory loss, comparable to early-stage Alzheimer’s, but much less severe. He was relieved, stating, ‘Thankfully, it’s not Alzheimer’s,’ as Alzheimer’s is a fatal disease.

The billionaire mentioned that the disease primarily caused him to feel tired and exhausted, and also led to forgetfulness.

Beyond his successful businesses, Ted was deeply committed to giving back and founded the United Nations Foundation in 1998.

Beyond his business success, he was a passionate advocate for peace, working against nuclear weapons, and dedicated to preserving nature. He ultimately became one of the largest landowners in the country.

In 1995, he and Jane co-founded the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (G-CAPP). Jane has three children: Mary Luana Williams (58), Vanessa Vadim (57) with her former husband Roger Vadim, and Troy Garity (52) with ex-husband Tom Hayden.

Jane recently shared that the organization wouldn’t exist without Ted’s contributions.

Speaking at the G-CAPP November gala, the Academy Award-winning actor described a difficult period in their life in Georgia. They shared that the unwavering love and support of their partner, Ted, were essential to getting through it, saying they wouldn’t have made it without him.

Though Ted wasn’t present for the occasion, Jane spoke to the impact he’d had on everyone who was.

With tears welling up, she shared, “He’ll always hold a special place in my heart, and I know many of us feel the same way.”

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2026-05-07 00:47