Jessica Phyllis Lange was born on April 20, 1949, in Cloquet, Minnesota. She was the third child of Dorothy Florence and Alvin Albert Lange, both of whom were of German and Dutch descent. Growing up, Lange's family struggled financially, and she often found solace in acting and drama as a form of escape. She attended Cloquet High School, where she developed a passion for performing arts. After graduating, she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an actress.
Upon finishing high school, Lange moved to Paris to study mime under the legendary Etienne Decroux. This experience helped shape her approach to physical acting and laid the foundation for her future success in the entertainment industry. She made her film debut in the classic monster movie King Kong in 1976, which garnered her critical acclaim and jumpstarted her career in Hollywood.
Lange's breakout role came in 1982 when she portrayed the soap opera actress Julie Nichols in the comedy-drama film Tootsie. Her performance earned her widespread recognition and her first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. This achievement catapulted her to stardom and opened doors to more substantial roles in the film industry.
In 1983, Lange won the Best Actress Academy Award for her role as a struggling actress in Tootsie, solidifying her status as one of Hollywood's top talents. She continued to impress audiences with her performances in films such as Frances, Sweet Dreams, and Blue Sky, for which she won her second Academy Award in 1995.
Lange's personal life has also been a subject of interest to many fans and media outlets. She was married to Spanish photographer Francisco Grande from 1970 to 1981, with whom she had two children, Hannah and Alexandra. She later had a son named Samuel with playwright and actor Sam Shepard, with whom she had a long-term relationship.
Despite decades in the industry, Lange shows no signs of slowing down. She has received critical acclaim for her work on television, particularly for her roles in the FX series American Horror Story and Feud: Bette and Joan. In 2009, she won a Screen Actors Guild Award for her portrayal of Edith Bouvier Beale in Grey Gardens, further cementing her reputation as a versatile and talented actress.
Throughout her illustrious career, Jessica Lange has become a symbol of female empowerment and resilience in Hollywood. Her ability to transform into complex and multifaceted characters has earned her a legion of fans and admirers. As she continues to captivate audiences with her talent and passion for storytelling, Lange's legacy in the entertainment industry only grows stronger with each new project.