The translation of the text «Жизнь Теда Тёрнера: от браков до отношений с Джейн Фондой» into English is: «The Life of Ted Turner: From Marriages to Relationships with Jane Fonda»
7 may 2026 в 01:37
Media mogul Ted Turner created one of the most influential television companies in history, but his personal life has also been a topic of discussion on multiple occasions. The founder of CNN, who passed away in May 2026 at the age of 87, was married three times, including a widely publicized relationship with actress and activist Jane Fonda.
From his early marriages to his Hollywood romance with Fonda, learn more about Ted’s former wives and relationships below.
Turner’s first wife was Julia «Judy» Gale Nye, whom he met while studying at Brown University in 1959. The couple married on June 22, 1960, in Chicago at the Episcopal Church of St. John Chrysostom.
Judy was the daughter of sailing champion Harry Gale Nye Jr., and they had two children: daughter Laura in 1961 and son Robert «Teddy» Edward IV in 1963. However, the marriage ended in divorce in 1964, before Turner became nationally known in the media.
Shortly after his divorce from Judy, Turner married Jane Shirley Smith on June 2, 1964. Smith was reportedly a flight attendant for Delta Air Lines, and the couple met at a Young Republicans meeting.
Over more than two decades together, they became parents to three children: Rhett, Beau, and Sarah Jean «Jenny» Turner. Their son Rhett was named after Rhett Butler from «Gone with the Wind», - a story Turner often mentioned publicly due to his love for the classic film. During his marriage to Smith, Turner transformed his father’s billboard advertising business into a television company and launched CNN in 1980. The couple divorced in 1988.
Turner’s most famous marriage was his relationship with actress and activist Jane Fonda. They began dating in 1990 shortly after Fonda separated from her second husband, Tom Hayden. They married on December 21, 1991—on Fonda’s 54th birthday—at Turner’s 8,100-acre plantation in Florida.
Throughout the 1990s, they became one of Hollywood’s most famous couples, often appearing together at charity events and political functions. Later, Fonda admitted that she stepped back from her acting career during their marriage because she believed their relationship would last forever.
Although they separated in 2000 and finalized their divorce in 2001, the couple remained close friends. Turner once referred to Fonda as «probably» the love of his life, while Fonda often called him her «favorite ex-husband». In later interviews, she fondly recalled their relationship and stated that she «would never love anyone» as she loved Turner
From his early marriages to his Hollywood romance with Fonda, learn more about Ted’s former wives and relationships below.
Turner’s first wife was Julia «Judy» Gale Nye, whom he met while studying at Brown University in 1959. The couple married on June 22, 1960, in Chicago at the Episcopal Church of St. John Chrysostom.
Judy was the daughter of sailing champion Harry Gale Nye Jr., and they had two children: daughter Laura in 1961 and son Robert «Teddy» Edward IV in 1963. However, the marriage ended in divorce in 1964, before Turner became nationally known in the media.
Shortly after his divorce from Judy, Turner married Jane Shirley Smith on June 2, 1964. Smith was reportedly a flight attendant for Delta Air Lines, and the couple met at a Young Republicans meeting.
Over more than two decades together, they became parents to three children: Rhett, Beau, and Sarah Jean «Jenny» Turner. Their son Rhett was named after Rhett Butler from «Gone with the Wind», - a story Turner often mentioned publicly due to his love for the classic film. During his marriage to Smith, Turner transformed his father’s billboard advertising business into a television company and launched CNN in 1980. The couple divorced in 1988.
Turner’s most famous marriage was his relationship with actress and activist Jane Fonda. They began dating in 1990 shortly after Fonda separated from her second husband, Tom Hayden. They married on December 21, 1991—on Fonda’s 54th birthday—at Turner’s 8,100-acre plantation in Florida.
Throughout the 1990s, they became one of Hollywood’s most famous couples, often appearing together at charity events and political functions. Later, Fonda admitted that she stepped back from her acting career during their marriage because she believed their relationship would last forever.
Although they separated in 2000 and finalized their divorce in 2001, the couple remained close friends. Turner once referred to Fonda as «probably» the love of his life, while Fonda often called him her «favorite ex-husband». In later interviews, she fondly recalled their relationship and stated that she «would never love anyone» as she loved Turner
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
