Jessica Lange

Lore & Background

Jessica Lange made her professional film debut in the remake King Kong (1976), earning the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year. She went on to win two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress for Tootsie (1982) and Best Actress for Blue Sky (1994). Her other Oscar-nominated roles include Frances (1982), Country (1984), Sweet Dreams (1985), and Music Box (1989). She also appeared in films such as All That Jazz (1979), The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981), Crimes of the Heart (1986), Cape Fear (1991), Rob Roy (1995), Big Fish (2003), and Broken Flowers (2005).

On television, Lange won her first Primetime Emmy Award for portraying Big Edie in the HBO movie Grey Gardens (2009). She gained new recognition starring in FX's horror anthology American Horror Story (2011–2014, 2018), earning two additional Primetime Emmys. She was Emmy-nominated for roles in A Streetcar Named Desire (1995), Normal (2003), and Feud: Bette and Joan (2017). On stage, she made her Broadway debut in 1992 as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire and won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for Long Day's Journey into Night (2016).

Reader's Guide

Jessica Lange's significance lies in her rare achievement of the Triple Crown of Acting, reflecting sustained excellence across film, television, and theater. Her career began with a controversial debut in King Kong, but she quickly established herself as a versatile dramatic actress, earning critical acclaim for emotionally demanding roles in Frances, Tootsie, and Blue Sky. Her later television work on American Horror Story introduced her to a new generation and demonstrated her range in genre storytelling. Beyond acting, Lange has published five books of photography and served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador focusing on HIV/AIDS in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Russia. Her legacy is that of a performer who balanced mainstream success with artistic credibility, and who used her platform for humanitarian work.

Did You Know?

• Lange is one of few performers to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting (Oscar, Emmy, Tony).
• She won the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year for her film debut in King Kong (1976).
• In 1982, she became the first performer in 40 years to receive two Academy Award nominations in the same year.
• She has published five books of photography.