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
Millionaire Finds Out His Daughter and Four Grandchildren Have Been Living in a Car for Years
A woman who was kicked out by her rich father at sixteen for taking up with a poor man ends up living on the streets with her four children after her husband died.
Steve Walton was far from thrilled when his butler told him that Pastor Morris was waiting to see him. He was tired after a long flight from Singapore and in no mood for the man’s lectures or pleas for support for the community.
He had the pastor shown in and waved an impatient hand at his greeting. “Get on with it, man!” he snapped. “What is it that you want this time?”
“Mr. Walton, I saw Susan,” the pastor said quietly, and Steve’s heart nearly stopped. His only daughter had left his house nearly fifteen years before, never to be seen again…
“Susan?” Steve cried anxiously. “Where? When? How is she?”
“I was in Los Angeles, helping out a friend who has a mission among the homeless and that’s where I saw her,” the pastor said.
“She was a volunteer? Did you tell her I’ve been looking for her?” asked Steve.
“No,” Pastor Morris said gently. “She wasn’t a volunteer, Mr. Walton. She’s homeless. She and her children are living in a car.”
Steve found himself so dizzy he had to sit down. “Homeless? My Susan? Children?” he gasped.
“I’m afraid so,” the pastor said. “And she wouldn’t even listen to me when I told her to come home.”
“But why?” asked Steve angrily. “She’s not with that loser anymore, is she?”
“Her husband passed away three years ago, Mr. Walton,” the pastor explained. “And she told me she wouldn’t bring her children into a house where their father is despised.”
Steve Walton felt that old familiar wave of rage sweep through him. Fifteen years later, Susan was still defying him! He remembered the scene in his study, and Susan’s steady eyes looking into his as he ranted.
“Pregnant at sixteen, and by the GARDNER!” he’d screamed. “Well, we are going to have THAT taken care of, and HE’S fired! You will never see that man again!”
“THAT is my baby, daddy,” Susan had said in a tremulous voice. “And HE is the man I love. I’m going to marry him.”
“You marry that man and you’re on your own, Susan, do you hear?” Steve shouted furiously. “No more money, nothing! You marry him and you get out of my house!”
Susan had looked at him with tears in her eyes. “I love you, daddy,” she’d said. Then she turned around and walked away. Even though Steve had set detectives to find her, no one had been able to trace her.
“How many children?” he asked Pastor Morris.
“Four,” the pastor said. “Three girls and a boy. Beautiful children.”
Steve picked up his phone and spat out orders for his plane to be readied. “Pastor, would you come with me to Los Angeles, take me to my little girl?” he asked quietly.
The pastor nodded, and within two hours, the two men were on board Steve’s private jet winging their way south. There was a limo waiting for them, and the pastor directed them to a parking lot outside a large mall.
At the furthest end of the lot, a pickup truck was parked, with a tent set up at the back. Pastor Morris had told Steve that when Susan’s husband died in a work accident, the insurance company had refused to pay out and the bank foreclosed on the mortgage.
Susan had piled the children and their few belongings into the old pickup. She worked at the mall as a cleaner. She and the children used the mall’s facilities and bought whatever was leftover at the restaurants at the end of the night.
Still, she had managed to keep the four children fed, clean, and in school. As the two men approached the truck, they heard cheerful voices and laughter. Then two children tumbled out of the back.
The biggest girl, about fourteen, was laughing as she tickled a boy of about seven. The children stopped and gaped at Steve and Pastor Morris. “Mom!” the girl yelled. “That old preacher friend of yours is here!”
A well-remembered voice asked from inside the tent, “Preacher Morris?” Then Susan climbed out and Steve could see the shock in her face when she saw him standing next to the pastor.
“Daddy?” she asked, and her eyes filled with tears.
Steve was shocked. His daughter was barely thirty-one, but she looked much older. Her face was worn and lined with worry and suffering, her hands coarsened by hard work.
“Susan,” Steve cried. “Look at you! Look at what HE did to my princess! I wanted so much for you! And you married that loser! What could he give you? Poverty?”
Susan shook her head and said, “He loved me, daddy, and he gave me 4 beautiful children. He died, and I had nowhere to go, but I’ve done what I can for my children. I will always love the father of my children, daddy, just like I’ve always loved you.”
Steve found that he had tears running down his face. “Forgive me, Susan,” he sobbed. “Please forgive me. Come home, I want you all to come home with me. Let me help you take care of the children!”
Steve found himself holding his weeping daughter and knew that everything was going to be alright. Susan introduced him to his three granddaughters, then she placed her hand on the boy’s shoulder. “And this,” she smiled, “is little Stevie!”
“You named him after me?” Steve asked, astounded. “After what I did?”
“I love you, daddy,” she said softly. “Don’t you know that?”
That afternoon, they all flew home to Texas. It was the beginning of a better life for all of them.
What can we learn from this story?
Love and accept your children unconditionally. Steve was furious with Susan for loving a poor man and made the biggest mistake of his life by losing his daughter.
Don’t judge people for their wealth or influence. Steve hated his son-in-law because he was poor, but he was a loving husband to Susan and a dedicated dad.
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
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