Jane Fonda turned heads at the opening of the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday, appearing publicly for the first time since the passing of her former husband, Ted Turner, just six days prior.
The 88-year-old actress, who was married to the founder of CNN from 1991 until their divorce in 2001, previously posted a heartfelt message online after he passed away on May 6th at the age of 87.
She described him as both a passionate romantic and an adventurous spirit, and fondly remembered his intelligence and sensitive side as she looked back on their ten years together. Their marriage, she acknowledged, was complicated.
The cause of death wasn’t revealed, but Tina Turner had previously been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder.
Even though she was grieving a personal loss, Jane Fonda looked like a classic movie star at the film festival, greeting everyone with her famous, bright smile as she walked the red carpet.
The Oscar-winning actress looked like a classic Hollywood star in a long, sparkling black dress, showing everyone how to do glamour with ease.
She walked the red carpet alongside the legendary Dame Joan Collins, who stunned in a white dress, diamonds, and black gloves.
Inside the event, she shared the stage with Demi Moore. The two actresses warmly hugged before posing for photos.
I was so touched by Jane Fonda’s recent post about Tina Turner. She described how Ted Turner just completely swept her off her feet when they met – she called him a gorgeous, incredibly romantic, and adventurous man, like something out of a pirate movie! It’s beautiful to hear her talk about how much he changed her life.
I just… I felt so needed by him. It sounds crazy, but no one had ever made me feel like they truly needed me before. And it wasn’t just anyone, you know? This was the Ted Turner – the guy who built CNN and saved classic movies with Turner Classic Movies! He even won the America’s Cup, for goodness sake! He lived this huge, incredible life, and he was just so brilliant and funny… it was intoxicating.
It was also new to be cared for by him. Feeling both needed and cared for at the same time was a truly powerful experience.
Honestly, Ted Turner changed my life. He made me believe in myself, which sounds crazy, but it’s true. He just… gave me this confidence I’d never felt before. And you know, I think I gave him something too – a safe space, maybe? But it’s like we’re taught as women to give that, to nurture. It’s different for men like Ted, though. They’re not supposed to show when they’re struggling or need help. But that, I truly believe, was his greatest power – that willingness to be vulnerable.
Fonda shared a touching photo from her 2018 documentary, Jane Fonda in Five Acts, showing the two of them in a warm embrace as part of her tribute.
Jane Fonda and Ted Turner married in 1991, both having been married twice before. Turner is remembered by his five children from previous relationships.
He never remarried after Fonda filed for divorce in April 2001.
Fonda attended an event in honor of a charity she and Turner cofounded while together in November.
She said that although Ted wasn’t physically present, she felt him close to her heart, and she knew many others felt the same way.
Known for his direct and often bold way of speaking – earning him the nickname ‘The Mouth of the South’ – Turner created a successful media company with multiple sports channels. He was also the owner of the Atlanta Braves for many years.
Turner founded CNN, the first 24-hour cable news channel, in 1980.
Eleven years after founding the station, he was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year due to its live reporting of important news stories.
CNN Worldwide CEO Mark Thompson acknowledged his death in a statement.
A cause was not given, but Turner was known to have had Lewy body dementia.
‘He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN,’ Thompson wrote of Turner.
I truly believe Ted is a foundational figure for all of us – someone who paved the way and whose influence is immense. Today, I, along with everyone else who appreciates him, want to acknowledge his incredible impact on not just my life, but the world around us.
I’ve always been so impressed by the TNT founder. He’s not just a figurehead – he’s deeply engaged and truly dedicated. What really stands out is his boldness; he’s fearless and always willing to take a chance on an idea if his gut tells him it’s right. He trusts his own instincts, and that’s something I really admire.
Turner officially resigned from Turner Broadcasting System – which includes CNN – in 2006.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in November 1938, he inherited his family’s struggling billboard business after his father’s death. In 1970, he began his television career by buying several radio stations and a financially troubled station in Atlanta.
In just ten years, Turner successfully revitalized the channel and used its earnings to start CNN. CNN rapidly became popular first in the U.S. and then around the world.
The network launched at a time when people were starting to switch from traditional broadcast television to cable. CNN quickly became a leading source of news, especially during the Persian Gulf War in the early 1990s.
The channel’s popularity led to the development of many other news channels that broadcast around the clock, such as Fox News.
Ted Turner didn’t just create CNN; he also built a larger television network that included channels like TBS, TNT, Turner Classic Movies, and Cartoon Network.
In the 1980s, Turner tried to buy CBS but wasn’t successful. He did own Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) for a while, but he ended up selling the studio for much less than he originally paid, though he retained ownership of a significant part of its film library.
This smart business decision was key to the launch of both TNT and Turner Classic Movies. It also let Turner build up programming for TBS, which was becoming increasingly popular. Classic films like Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz were shown, along with popular syndicated shows such as The Andy Griffith Show, to fill out the broadcast schedule.
Throughout the 1990s, media deals kept happening and became even bigger. A major example was in 1996, when Turner Broadcasting joined with Time Warner, creating a new, incredibly strong entertainment company, and making Turner its vice chairman.
Back in 2001, Time Warner and America Online joined forces in a massive $165 billion merger, which was celebrated as the largest business combination ever at the time.
Despite initial hopes, the merger ultimately failed after about ten years. This was mainly because AOL, which had been highly successful at the time, used an artificially high stock price to complete the deal. As a result, Turner, the largest investor, lost billions of dollars.
Around age 65 and mostly retired, Turner experienced an $8 billion loss, as he publicly stated.
Forbes estimated his wealth at $2.8 billion as of Wednesday. He originally built this fortune from an advertising company inherited from his father, which was valued at $1 million.
Turner remained Time Warner’s vice chairman until 2003 and a board member until 2006.
His 50-year career is widely seen as groundbreaking.
In a statement, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav praised Ted Turner as a visionary leader who played a key role in building many of the company’s most important brands.
Ted’s drive to create new businesses, combined with his innovative ideas and courage to try bold things, completely transformed the world of media.
As someone who’s spent years observing what truly makes a difference, I’ve always been fascinated by the power of a good idea. I truly believe in challenging the status quo, and I’m passionate about creating spaces – whether they’re digital or real-world – where people can learn, feel motivated, and connect with each other globally. It’s about building bridges and sharing knowledge, and that’s something I deeply value.
Zaslav explained that this idea motivated many leaders, including himself, and that the individual in question didn’t simply change the media landscape – he completely reshaped it.
In 2018, Turner told CBS he was living with Lewy body dementia, a serious and worsening brain condition. He described it as similar to a mild form of Alzheimer’s disease, downplaying the severity of his illness.
Turner explained it felt comparable, but much milder. ‘Mostly, people are just tired and exhausted,’ he told Ted Koppel on CBS Sunday Morning. ‘They also experience forgetfulness,’ he added.
Donald Trump paid Turner respects on Wednesday as well, with a post to Truth Social.
After criticizing CNN’s current management, the President praised the media mogul as a broadcasting legend.
Trump also hailed him as ‘a friend.’
‘Whenever I needed him, he was there, always willing to fight for a good cause!’
Ted Turner dedicated himself to numerous charitable causes, including the Goodwill Games, the Better World Society, the Nuclear Threat Initiative (launched in 2001), and the Turner Foundation.
He stated in 2010 that his commitment to giving back came from his late father, who was generous even with limited means.
Turner noted that he donated to charities he believed in and, in the late 1950s, helped pay the tuition for two African-American students at Millsaps College, his former school.
Seeing my driven and ambitious father take the time to quietly help these two young people really struck me.
He also expressed deep gratitude for his father’s guidance, specifically the advice to set ambitious, lifelong goals and to focus on helping those who need it most.
Being inspired fuels my drive to work hard each day, helping me contribute to a better future for everyone.
During his later life, Turner regularly practiced yoga and often explored his large Montana ranch while riding horses.
The exact time of his dementia diagnosis is still unknown. This disease also impacted actor Robin Williams, who passed away in 2014.
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2026-05-12 22:36