A Look Inside Lily Tomlin & Jane Fonda’s 40-Year Friendship

Shutterstock | 564025

Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda have one of the longest-running friendships in Hollywood. Not only have the actresses and comedians worked alongside one another in a number of big hits, including "Nine to Five," they've also enjoyed a 40-year- relationship off-set.

Tomlin, 81, who is perhaps most known for her roles in "All of Me," "Flirting With Disaster," and "I Heart Huckabees," is no stranger to decades-long relationships. In fact, she and wife Jane Wagner, 86, have been together for an impressive 50 years but didn't tie the knot until 2013.

Shutterstock | 564025

As for Fonda, she's most recognized for her roles in "Klute," "Julia," and "Monster-in-Law," she hasn't been as lucky in love as Tomlin and has three divorces under her belt.

Luckily, despite her marital failure, Fonda has always had the love and support of friend Tomlin, who she's currently starring alongside in Netflix's "Grace & Frankie." 

So, where did Tomlin and Fonda's friendship begin? According to a report from The Insider, the ladies met in 1977 before starring alongside one another in "Nine to Five."

Scroll down to find out how Tomlin felt about Fonda after their first meeting.

Shutterstock | 673594

"One night I went to see Lily in her one-woman show 'Appearing Nitely,'" Tomlin recalled on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," viaTown and Country. "And what can I say, I was smitten, and I said I don't want to make a movie about secretaries unless she's in it."

In her own late-night talk show interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Fonda admitted to being "fascinated" by Tomlin. 

"She always says something really funny. I cannot believe the funny-bone that she has, and I have loved her since the moment I saw her," Fonda noted.

Shutterstock | 564025

Throughout the past several decades, Tomlin and Fonda have supported one another on a number of occasions, including in 2001, when Tomlin cheered on Fonda as she was honored by the Film Society of the Lincoln Center in New York City.

Three years later, in 2004, Fonda joined Tomlin as she was honored at the Laughter is the Best Medicine Gala.

Then, in 2015, Tomlin and Fonda reunited professionally as they teamed up on Netflix's "Grace and Frankie," which follows two women after their husbands fall in love with each other and leave them single.

A seventh season of "Grace and Frankie" went into production earlier this year but a premiere date has not yet been set.

Shutterstock | 2914948

Amid their successful runs in "Grace and Frankie," Tomlin was arrested for civil disobedience at a climate rally thrown by Fonda outside the U.S. Capitol on December 2019.

A few weeks later, as Tomlin and Fonda guest-hosted an episode of "The Ellen Degeneres Show," they laughed about the incident. 

"Isn't it great that we're still having firsts?" Fonda asked Tomlin.

"Well, because of you, I got arrested for the first time," Tomlin replied. "I learned a lot in the slammer."

"You were in there for two hours," Fonda replied.

To read about more celebrity best friends, scroll down to the article below.