Jessica Lange

Photo of Jessica Lange

Biography

Regarded as a bit of a joke at first, following her lightweight performance in the comically bad remake of "King Kong" (1976), Lange went on to surprise her critics with the depth of her resources throughout the following decade as an A-list actress. Showcasing a docile loveliness in the comedy "Tootsie" (1982) and a fierce determination in Costa-Gavras' "Music Box" (1989), Lange was frequently entrusted with portrayals of iconic American …
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Job Title

Actor, Producer

Born

Jessica Phyllis Lange on April 20, 1949 in Cloquet, Minnesota, USA

Career Milestones

2012

Featured opposite Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum in romantic drama "The Vow"

2011

Co-starred with Dylan McDermott and Connie Britton on the FX supernatural thriller "American Horror Story"

2009

Portrayed Edith Ewing Bouvier 'Big Edie,' opposite Drew Barrymore as 'Little Edie,' in the HBO film "Grey Gardens"; earned Golden Globe and SAG nominations for Best Actress in a TV Movie

2008

Co-starred with Joan Allen and Kathy Bates in the drama "Bonneville"

2006

Cast in Wim Wenders' neo-Western "Don't Come Knocking," written by and starring Sam Shepard

2005

Portrayed Amanda Wingfield in Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie" on Broadway

2005

Cast as an ex-flame of Bill Murray's in Jim Jarmusch's "Broken Flowers"

2003

Played wife to Albert Finney in "Big Fish"

2003

Joined an ensemble cast for the feature "Masked and Anonymous"

2003

Portrayed the heroine's mother in the film version of "Prozac Nation"

2002

Co-starred in the HBO movie "Normal"; received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress in a Television Movie

2000

Returned to the London stage to star as Mary Tyrone in "Long Day's Journey Into Night"

1999

Tackled first Shakespearean role as Tamora opposite Anthony Hopkins in "Titus," Julie Taymor's feature directorial debut

1998

Played title role in film version of Balzac's "Cousin Bette"

1996

Made London stage debut as Blanche in "A Streetcar Named Desire"

1995

Reprised Blanche DuBois for small screen adaptation of "A Streetcar Named Desire" (CBS)

1995

Played wife to Liam Neeson's "Rob Roy"

1994

Won second Oscar as Best Actress for her performance in "Blue Sky"

1992

Played lead role of Alexandra Bergson in the CBS adaptation of Willa Cather's "O Pioneers!"

1992

Broadway debut as Blanche DuBois in "A Streetcar Named Desire"

1992

Starred opposite De Niro in "Night and the City"

1991

Teamed with Nick Nolte and Robert De Niro for Martin Scorsese's remake of "Cape Fear"

1989

Garnered a Best Actress Oscar nod for her performance as a lawyer defending her father against charges he was a Nazi collaborator in "The Music Box"

1988

Starred in "Far North"; directed by off-screen companion Sam Shepard

1985

Received a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of country singer Patsy Cline in "Sweet Dreams"

1984

TV acting debut as Maggie in the Showtime production of Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"

1984

First film as co-producer, "Country"; earned second Best Actress Oscar nomination

1983

Became first actress since 1942 to be nominated for two Oscars in the same year; nominated for Best Actress for "Frances" and Best Supporting Actress for "Tootsie"; won the latter award

1981

Delivered a sizzle turn as the unfaithful wife Cora opposite Jack Nicholson in the remake of "The Postman Always Rings Twice"

1980

Theater debut in summer stock production of "Angel on My Shoulder" in North Carolina

1979

Cast as the Angel of Death in Bob Fosse's autobiographical "All That Jazz"

1976

Film debut in "King Kong"

1975

Signed seven-year contract with Dino De Laurentiis

Returned to New York where she waited tables and modeled with the Wilhelmina Agency

Spent two years in Paris where she studied mime under Marcel Marceau's teacher, Etienne Decroux

Settled in New York where she danced and painted; joined Ellie Klein Theatre Group

1968

Embarked upon travels through North and South America and Europe with first husband, photographer Paco Grande

Moved with family 12 times before she was a senior in high school

Awards

2012

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Miniseries or Movie in American Horror Story

2011

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television in American Horror Story

2011

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series in American Horror Story

2010

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries in Grey Gardens

2009

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television in Grey Gardens

2009

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie in Grey Gardens

2003

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television in Normal

2003

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie in Normal

2002

San Sebastian International Film Festival for Donostia Award

1997

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama in A Thousand Acres

1996

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress For a Miniseries or a Special in A Streetcar Named Desire

1995

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television in A Streetcar Named Desire

1995

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role in Blue Sky

1994

Academy Award for Actress In a Leading Role in Blue Sky

1994

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress in Blue Sky

1994

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama in Blue Sky

1992

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television in O Pioneers!

1989

Academy Award for Actress In a Leading Role in Music Box

1989

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama in Music Box

1985

Academy Award for Actress In a Leading Role in Sweet Dreams

1984

Academy Award for Actress In a Leading Role in Country

1984

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama in Country

1983

BAFTA Award for Actress in Tootsie

1982

Academy Award for Actress In a Leading Role in Frances

1982

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama in Frances

1982

Academy Award for Actress In a Supporting Role in Tootsie

1982

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in Tootsie

1982

Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress in Tootsie

1982

New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress in Tootsie

1982

National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress in Tootsie

1976

Golden Globe Award for New Star Of The Year - Actress