Jane Fonda has paid a heartfelt public tribute to media mogul and conservationist Ted Turner, calling him a “gloriously handsome, deeply romantic, swashbuckling pirate” who transformed her life and whom she loved “with all my heart.” In a long post released after Turner’s death, Fonda recalled the breadth of his accomplishments, his influence on her personally and politically, and his legacy as a steward of wildlife.
Fonda wrote that Turner “swept into my life” and that his need for her — and his simultaneous ability to care for her — was “transformative.” She said the experience of being both needed and protected by someone of Turner’s stature helped her believe in herself and gave her confidence. She added that while she thinks she supported him in return, that kind of emotional vulnerability was rare in men of his generation and, she believed, one of his greatest strengths.
The actress also credited Turner with teaching her more than any classroom, particularly about nature, wildlife, hunting and fishing, which she described as pathways to environmental stewardship when practiced legally. She singled out his strategic mind — honed by study of the Classics and a thorough knowledge of historical military campaigns from Alexander the Great to Genghis Khan — and suggested his sailing experience, including an America’s Cup victory, sharpened those talents and helped him “see around corners” in business.
Fonda painted Turner as relentlessly competitive, second only to Katharine Hepburn in that regard, and recounted their friendly rivalries — from ski runs to land stewardship to wealth and worldly conquests. She quoted their friend Ron Olson, who described Turner as “a great teacher, often by example,” and recalled Olson’s anecdote that Turner once asked him to draft a resolution to ban nuclear weapons for the United Nations and the US Congress. Fonda said Turner’s influence could be both grand — he urged people to “think big” — and intimate, encouraging small acts like picking up trash on walks.
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Turner’s conservation work featured prominently in Fonda’s remembrance. She listed species he helped bring back from extinction or support in the wild, including black-footed ferrets, prairie dogs, bison, the Yellowstone wolf pack, Mexican gray wolves, Big Horned sheep and the red-cockaded woodpecker, imagining them gathered at heaven’s gates to applaud him for saving their species.
Fonda also reflected on family life, noting Turner is survived by five children whom she had the “privilege of becoming stepmother to.” She described building an “extended, rag tag family” with them and acknowledged the complexities of being part of Turner’s household, but said “they are all doing fine.” She closed her tribute with a valediction: “Rest in Peace, dearest Ted. You are loved and you will be remembered.”
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Turner was widely known as the founder of CNN and Turner Classic Movies and as a major figure in broadcasting, sailing and philanthropy; his passing has prompted outpourings from public figures who praised both his business achievements and his conservation philanthropy. Fonda’s post stands out for its intimate portrait of a relationship that blended romance, mentorship and shared activism.
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