Legendary actors Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland first crossed paths at a Black Panther charity event in Los Angeles.
However, it wasn't until they were cast in the crime thriller Klute in the early 1970s that their romance blossomed.
Looking back on the start of their relationship nearly 50 years later, Sutherland revealed in an interview with Rolling Stone that Fonda had made a suggestive proposition, inviting him to her home.
Sutherland agreed, and their love story began.
While the exact timeline remains unclear, sources suggest that their affair began while Sutherland was still married to his second wife, Shirley Douglas.
Their son, actor Kiefer Sutherland, commented on his parents' divorce and his father's relationship with Fonda in a 2006 interview.
Kiefer stated that he had never discussed the affair with his father but believed that falling in love was a powerful experience that shouldn't be judged.
What made this couple special was not just their romantic connection but also their shared activism.
Fonda introduced Sutherland to the anti-war movement, and together they joined the F.T.A.
theater troupe, which provided entertainment for U.S. soldiers opposing the Vietnam War.
Their aim was to offer an alternative to Bob Hope's pro-war shows.
Sutherland spoke about their shared beliefs in an interview with The Times, stating that they genuinely believed change was possible.
However, their hopes were shattered by the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
Their relationship reached its peak with passionate moments, as described by Sutherland himself.
He vividly recalled their visits to the Chelsea Hotel in the early '70s, where the sight of Fonda's perfect bre-sts left him breathless.
Even after decades, the memory remained incredibly powerful.
In another instance, while reminiscing about filming Klute, Sutherland openly praised Fonda's beauty, specifically mentioning her “most beautiful bre-sts in the world.”
He playfully added that there was a juicy story behind his comment but kept it to himself.
Fonda also spoke fondly of Sutherland, admiring his old-world charm and his captivating blue eyes.
She found his hangdog appearance appealing.
Sadly, their relationship came to an end during a trip to Tokyo with the F.T.A.
troupe in 1971.
Reports suggest that they were banned from entering the city, causing heartbreak for Sutherland.
He described the breakup as devastating, noting that their relationship had been wonderful until they lived together.
Since their separation, Fonda went on to marry social activist Tom Hayden in 1973.
She later married CNN founder Ted Turner, but both marriages ended in divorce.
Currently, Fonda has announced that she is no longer interested in dating and is focused on her Emmy-nominated Netflix series, Grace and Frankie.
As for Sutherland, he found love again with actress Francine Racette, whom he married in 1972.
The couple has three sons together.
Sutherland can currently be seen in the HBO series The Undoing, alongside Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant.
The story of Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland is a testament to their intense connection and shared activism.
Their romance may have ended, but their legacy as iconic actors and passionate advocates lives on.
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