Jessica Lange — Biography
Born on April 20, 1949, American actress Jessica Lange stands as a distinguished figure in the performing arts, having achieved the rare "Triple Crown of Acting." Her impressive accolades include two Academy Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award. Lange made her cinematic debut in the 1976 adaptation of King Kong, a role that, despite a mixed critical reception, secured her the Golden Globe for New Star of the Year.
Her Academy Award wins came for her portrayal of a soap opera performer in Tootsie (1982), earning her the Best Supporting Actress award, and for her role as a woman grappling with bipolar disorder in Blue Sky (1994), for which she received the Best Actress Oscar. Lange’s other Academy Award nominations recognized her work in Frances (1982), Country (1984), Sweet Dreams (1985), and Music Box (1989). Her extensive filmography also features notable roles in All That Jazz (1979), The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981), Crimes of the Heart (1986), Cape Fear (1991), and Rob Roy (1995).
As her film career evolved, Lange found significant success on television, appearing in O Pioneers! (1992), A Streetcar Named Desire (1995), and Normal (2003). In 2010, she earned her first Primetime Emmy for her performance as Big Edie in HBO's Grey Gardens. She later garnered renewed acclaim for her starring role in FX's anthology series American Horror Story (2011–2015, 2018), securing two additional Primetime Emmys for the series' initial and third seasons. Her performance as Joan Crawford in the miniseries Feud (2017) garnered her a ninth Emmy nomination. In 2016, Lange received the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her participation in the Broadway revival of Long Day's Journey into Night.
Beyond her acting career, Lange is a published photographer with five books to her name. She has also dedicated time to foster parenting and serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, focusing on HIV/AIDS initiatives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Russia.
Lange was married to photographer Francisco "Paco" Grande from 1970 to 1982. Despite separating in the mid-1970s upon their move to Europe, their divorce was finalized in the early 1980s, followed by an alimony settlement. Biographer Anthony Uzarowski notes their continued close friendship. From 1976 to 1982, she was partnered with ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, with whom she had her daughter, Aleksandra Lange "Shura
Her Academy Award wins came for her portrayal of a soap opera performer in Tootsie (1982), earning her the Best Supporting Actress award, and for her role as a woman grappling with bipolar disorder in Blue Sky (1994), for which she received the Best Actress Oscar. Lange’s other Academy Award nominations recognized her work in Frances (1982), Country (1984), Sweet Dreams (1985), and Music Box (1989). Her extensive filmography also features notable roles in All That Jazz (1979), The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981), Crimes of the Heart (1986), Cape Fear (1991), and Rob Roy (1995).
As her film career evolved, Lange found significant success on television, appearing in O Pioneers! (1992), A Streetcar Named Desire (1995), and Normal (2003). In 2010, she earned her first Primetime Emmy for her performance as Big Edie in HBO's Grey Gardens. She later garnered renewed acclaim for her starring role in FX's anthology series American Horror Story (2011–2015, 2018), securing two additional Primetime Emmys for the series' initial and third seasons. Her performance as Joan Crawford in the miniseries Feud (2017) garnered her a ninth Emmy nomination. In 2016, Lange received the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her participation in the Broadway revival of Long Day's Journey into Night.
Beyond her acting career, Lange is a published photographer with five books to her name. She has also dedicated time to foster parenting and serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, focusing on HIV/AIDS initiatives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Russia.
Lange was married to photographer Francisco "Paco" Grande from 1970 to 1982. Despite separating in the mid-1970s upon their move to Europe, their divorce was finalized in the early 1980s, followed by an alimony settlement. Biographer Anthony Uzarowski notes their continued close friendship. From 1976 to 1982, she was partnered with ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, with whom she had her daughter, Aleksandra Lange "Shura
