Robert Reed his Broadway stage debut as Paul Bratter in Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park", replacing Robert Redford. For the remainder of the decade, Reed appeared primarily in television guest spots, including roles in "Family Affair", "Ironside", "The Mod Squad", and "Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre". He also appeared in the 1968 film "Star!" and in the Broadway production of "Avanti!". Appearing in the Neil Simon play "Barefoot in the Park" led to two new contracts at Paramount Pictures and ABC, both in 1968. When Paramount had decided to turn the television version of "Barefoot in the Park" into a
Henry Fonda a strong, appealing screen image in such classics as "The Ox-Bow Incident", "Mister Roberts", and "12 Angry Men". Later, Fonda moved toward darker epics such as Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in the West" and lighter roles in family comedies such as "Yours, Mine and Ours" with Lucille Ball, winning the Academy Award for Best Actor at the 54th Academy Awards for the movie "On Golden Pond", his final film role. Fonda was the patriarch of a family of famous actors, including daughter Jane Fonda, son Peter Fonda, granddaughter Bridget Fonda, and grandson Troy Garity. His family and close