Ted Turner's Three Marriages: How Jane Fonda Became His Favorite Ex

When Ted Turner passed away on May 6, 2026, at 87, he left behind more than just a media empire—he left a legacy of relationships that actually ended on good terms, which in Hollywood is practically a miracle.

The CNN founder was married three times throughout his life, but it’s his final marriage that continues to fascinate us. Turner and actress Jane Fonda tied the knot in 1991, and while their union lasted just a decade before they split in 2001, something remarkable happened: they actually stayed friends. Not the kind of forced, awkward friendship where you heart each other’s Instagram posts. We’re talking about a genuine, enduring bond that has apparently lasted longer than the marriage itself.

Fonda has been vocal about her affection for Turner over the years, repeatedly calling him her favorite ex-husband. That’s the kind of relationship most people can only dream about. In fact, just months before Turner’s death in March 2026, Fonda was still talking about him in interviews, joking that she had a personal stake in CNN’s future because she’d literally been married to the guy who created it. It’s the kind of comment that only works when there’s real warmth underneath—when you’re genuinely invested in someone’s legacy, even after the romance has faded.

Before Fonda, Turner had been married twice. His first marriage was to Julia Gale Nye in 1960, and they had two children together before divorcing in 1964. His second marriage, to Jane Shirley Smith, lasted more than two decades from 1965 to 1988, producing three more children. But it’s the Fonda marriage that seems to have transcended the typical celebrity breakup narrative.

Turner’s death came after he’d been battling Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder he’d discussed publicly back in 2018. He’s survived by five children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. CNN Worldwide Chairman and CEO Mark Thompson released a statement calling Turner“the giant on whose shoulders we stand,”cementing his place as a broadcasting pioneer. But perhaps his most human legacy isn’t measured in ratings or corporate reach—it’s in proving that sometimes two people can love each other, let each other go, and still show up for one another. In a world obsessed with dramatic breakups and public feuds, that’s genuinely revolutionary.