Jessica Lange, renowned for her performances in popular films such as Tootsie, King Kong, and American Horror Story, has faced numerous challenges in her personal life. Despite her success in the entertainment industry, Lange’s romantic journey has been marked by difficulty. At the young age of 21, she entered into matrimony with a photographer, only to later divorce him after a few years. Since then, the talented actress has chosen not to remarry.
Born on April 20, 1949, in Minnesota, Jessica Phyllis Lange hails from a diverse heritage. Her ancestry includes German, Dutch, and Finnish roots. Growing up, Jessica was part of a family of six, which consisted of her two older sisters, Jane and Ann, as well as her younger brother, George. Her father held the professions of both a teacher and a traveling salesman, while her mother dedicated herself to homemaking. Due to her father’s line of work, the Lange family frequently relocated, constantly moving from one city to another.
In 1967, Jessica was granted a scholarship to pursue her studies in art and photography at the University of Minnesota. It was during her time there that she encountered Paco Grande, a talented Spanish photographer, whom she eventually married in 1970. Following this, Lange made the decision to leave her college education behind in favor of a more unconventional and free-spirited lifestyle. Alongside Paco, she embarked on an adventurous expedition across the United States and Mexico in a microbus, fully embracing a nomadic way of life.
The beginning of her career in films
The couple’s daring and exciting life ultimately brought them to Paris, but as they established themselves there, their relationship started to deteriorate. During their time in the City of Light, Lange uncovered her love for mime theater and ventured into the realm of modeling. Her professional journey took a momentous turn when she caught the attention of Hollywood producer Dino De Laurentiis, which led to her debut in the 1976 remake of King Kong. In the film, she portrayed the classic damsel-in-distress character. Despite the movie’s success, her performance faced criticism from reviewers, resulting in a two-year struggle to secure another acting opportunity.
However, this obstacle proved to be just a minor setback in her professional journey. In 1982, Jessica Lange created a milestone by receiving Academy Award nods for Best Actress (Frances) and Best Supporting Actress (Tootsie). This remarkable feat had not been accomplished in more than forty years. Throughout her illustrious career, she has garnered two Oscars, three Emmys, a Tony Award, and five Golden Globes.
Her relationships never worked out.
Jessica Lange had a number of relationships in her personal life. She was married to photographer Francisco “Paco” Grande from 1970 to 1982, with the divorce being finalized in the early 1980s and involving undisclosed alimony payments. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Lange was romantically linked with the famous Latvian ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov. They welcomed their first child, Aleksandra Lange “Shura” Baryshnikov, in 1981.
1. In 1982, Lange began a romantic involvement with playwright Sam Shepard. Together, they welcomed two children: Hannah Jane Shepard and Samuel Walker Shepard. Throughout their relationship, they resided in different places such as Virginia, New Mexico, Minnesota, and New York City, until their separation in 2009.
She never married after her divorce.
Jessica Lange and Sam Shepherd were in a relationship for 27 years, yet they never tied the knot. Jessica mentioned that Sam was not very laid-back. Loyalty was also a problem for the couple, as both of them had been unfaithful to their previous partners. Sam confessed that he felt remorse for leaving his wife and child for Jessica. Jessica has openly discussed her ongoing struggles with severe depression, attributing her creativity to the well of emotions such as anguish, rage, and sadness that she experiences.
She has chosen to not let the negatives pull her down.
Following the birth of her children, her focus shifted entirely to them. She feels that they have provided her with a fresh outlook on life. “Every decision I make is made with my children in consideration. Being a mother is the most fulfilling role I have ever had,” she shares.
In spite of facing her own obstacles, Lange has dedicated herself to various charitable endeavors. She is actively involved as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. Moreover, in the early 1990s, she took in a child with special needs from Romania, showcasing her dedication to humanitarian efforts.
Jessica Lange continues to be an influential figure in the industry, consistently voicing her concerns about the gender bias prevalent in Hollywood. Recently, she showcased her remarkable talent in the movie Marlowe, marking another significant milestone in her career. Similarly, Kathy Bates, her co-star from American Horror Story, continues to captivate audiences
Shannen Doherty shared heartbreaking social media post just days before she died
The news of Shannen Doherty’s passing caught the world by storm and left many mourning. The Charmed star was 53 and battled cancer for the past seven years of her life.
Before her tragic passing, she made a heartbreaking post online.
During her battle with the disease, Doherty often shared updates regarding her health condition. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 when she disclosed that she had ‘invasive breast cancer metastatic to at least one lymph node.’
After several surgeries and treatments, the 90210 star experienced remission after her initial cancer diagnosis, but the disease later returned.
In 2020, she shared the devastating news that she had been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer, a severe stage where the cancer spreads to various parts of the body.
In 2023, Doherty confirmed that the cancer had metastasized to her brain and bones, resulting in surgery that removed ‘almost all’ of the brain tumor.
In her final social media post, the actress shared a clip from the Let’s Be Clear podcast on her Instagram page.
“So, you know, for the first time in I have no idea how long, I’m going to be on chemo for I have no idea if it’s going to be, you know, three months or if its going to be six months or if we are going, you know, if after three months if it’s not working if we’re going to change again,” he said in the clip.
“Like, I don’t really, that’s not something that I can predict. It’s not something my doctors can predict and it’s scary.
“It’s like a big wake up call at the same time I got to say that there is some positivity there and the positivity is that because my molecular structure of my cancer cells changed recently.
“It means that there’s a lot more protocols for me to try. So, you know, for the first time in a couple months probably I feel hopeful because there are so many more protocols now.”
“Whereas before I was hopeful but I was still getting prepared.”
Doherty’s death was confirmed yesterday, July 14, by her friend and publicist Leslie Sloane.
“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty.
“On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease. The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace.”
We are so very sorry for this devastating loss. May she rest in peace.
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