The Life of Old Hollywood Everyman Henry Fonda

In 1968, he appeared in Sergio Leone’s western Once Upon a Time in the West, portraying the outlaw Frank. The role stood out because audiences had long associated him with principled characters, making his casting as a ruthless antagonist a notable change.

The film was produced as an international western and shot largely in Italy and Spain. Leone used his familiar screen image in a different way by presenting him as the story’s primary villain. The performance became one of the most widely discussed roles of his later career.