Jane Fonda — The Manipulative Marriage That Nearly Wrecked Her Career

Jane Fonda almost wrecked her career in the 1960s while siding against America in the Vietnam War — but the '60s radical was also under the influence of her manipulative husband Tom Hayden!

Hayden, who passed away in 2016, was mourned as a local politician by plenty of California activists. The aspiring politician first gained fame as a hippie protester in the "Chicago Eight" trial after the volatile 1968 Democratic National Convention. After winning on appeal, Hayden began to date Jane — leading to the controversial trip to North Vietnam in 1972 that's left her apologizing for decades!

Jane traveled to North Vietnam while America was still at war, with the young star infamously posing on an anti-aircraft gun being aimed at American soldiers. Hayden also arranged for her to meet with American prisoners of the Vietcong, and she later said that POWS who complained of torture in the camps were "hypocrites and liars and pawns."

The actress would spend the rest of her career regretting her time as "Hanoi Jane," saying: "I have apologized numerous times for any pain I may have caused servicemen." But her hypocritical husband Tom also caused her plenty of distress!

The couple married in 1973 in what many friends saw as a relationship where Tom seized control. "She sat at Tom’s feet, literally. She looked up to him like he was some sort of god,’" recalled fellow peace activist David Dellinger.

Hayden even said that he thought of his new wife as "a rich person out of touch with reality," and insisted that she give up her Los Angeles mansion to sleep on a mattress in a small house in Santa Monica.

He also didn't allow his wife to wear expensive jewelry. Hayden preferred for Jane to spend money on his own political causes. "It’s sort of relaxing to be poor," said Jane.

But the actress had to eventually return to Hollywood when the couple ran out of cash. Jane would continue to fund Tom's political activities, but he grew bitter about their relationship — especially after her success as an exercise guru with "The Jane Fonda Workout" in the '80s.

"Tom hated, loathed, despised the Workout," said Jane’s step-daughter Nathalie. "Now Jane was not only a movie star — she was a one-woman conglomerate, an icon. Tom couldn’t take it." He finally dumped Jane on the night of her 51st birthday in 1988, telling her that he had fallen in love with a political speechwriter.

Hayden later received a $10 million divorce settlement from his devastated wife. That money would see him through failed bids to be elected as the governor of California and the mayor of Los Angeles. Hayden also lost an attempt to join the Los Angeles City Council. He married Canadian actress Barbara Williams (pictured) in 1993.

Meanwhile, Jane recalled that she "had a nervous breakdown" after Hayden left her — adding: "I'm not pretending that I'm not damaged. If I wasn't acting, I'd probably be institutionalized!"