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Thomas Emmet Hayden (born December 11, 1939) is an American social and political activist and politician, most famous for his involvement in the animal rights, and the anti-war and civil rights movements of the 1960s. He is the former husband of actress Jane Fonda and the father of actor Troy Garity. Hayden was born in Detroit, Michigan, to parents of Irish descent. He graduated from Dondero High School in Royal Oak, Michigan[citation needed] and later attended the University of Michigan, where he was editor of the Michigan Daily and, disenchanted by the anti-radicalism of existing groups like the National Student Association (later revealed to be a CIA front),became one of the founders of the student activist group Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

He made several high-profile trips as a peace activist to Cambodia and North Vietnam during America`s involvement in the Vietnam War, including an especially controversial one in 1972 to North Vietnam with his future wife, actress Jane Fonda. The following year he married Jane and they had one child whom they named Troy Garity, born on 7 Jul 1973. In 1976, Hayden made a primary election challenge against sitting California U.S. Senator John V. Tunney. Starting far behind, Hayden mounted a spirited challenge and finished a surprisingly close second in the Democratic primary field. He and Fonda went on to found the Campaign for Economic Democracy (CED), which formed a close alliance with then-Governor Jerry Brown and successfully promoted solar energy, environmental protection, and renters` rights policies while promoting candidates for local office throughout California, some 100 of whom would be elected. Hayden later served in the California State Assembly (1982-1992) and the State Senate (1992-2000). During this time, he was frequently protested by conservative groups, including Vietnamese refugees, veterans of the US military, and Young Americans for Freedom. Hayden is widely known in California as a staunch supporter of animal rights and was responsible for writing the bill popularly known as the Hayden Act, which improved protection of pets and extended holding periods for pets picked up as strays or surrendered to shelters. He married actress Barbara Williams in 1993.