Jessica Lange

Jessica Lange

Date of Birth

Birthday: April 20
Birthplace: Cloquet, Minnesota

Acclaimed as one of the greatest actresses of her generation, two-time Academy Award winner Jessica Lange has dazzled the screen with over thirty credits to her name.

Acclaimed as one of the greatest actresses of her generation, two-time Academy Award winner Jessica Lange has dazzled the screen with over thirty credits to her name.

Lange made her Hollywood debut in John Guillermin’s King Kong opposite Jeff Bridges and Charles Grodin, winning a Golden Globe for Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture. She then permanently put her name on the map by receiving dual Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations in the same year for her challenging performances in Frances and in Sydney Pollack’s memorable comedy Tootsie starringopposite Dustin Hoffman, for which she took home the Oscar for Supporting Actress. In 1994, Lange won her first Oscar for her Best Actress in Blue Sky, which she starred opposite Tommy Lee Jones.

Following her previous dynamic performances, Lange amazed audiences with projects such as Country, which paired her with Frances co-star Sam Shepard, to tell the story of a struggling farmer and his wife. Lange’s performance again earned her Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Success continued with Sweet Dreams and Music Box, both which garnered her Academy Award nominations and an additional Golden Globe nom for Music Box. In 1996 Lange picked up her first Emmy nomination for the made for TV adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire in which Lange played Blanche DuBois.

Lange continued to take diverse roles in acclaimed movies which include Martin Scorsese’s Cape Fear alongside Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, and Juliette Lewis; Losing Isaiah opposite Halle Barry; Rob Roy with Liam Neeson; and Tim Burton’s Big Fish alongside an outstanding ensemble cast including Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, and Helena Bonham Carter. Lange also appeared in Jim Jarmusch’s Broken Flowers starring Bill Murray, in which Lange played a former flame of Murray’s character.

In 2005, Lange starred in the independent film Don’t Come Knocking. The film, written and co-starring Sam Shepard, marked their first collaboration after over 15 years. In 2006, she starred alongside fellow award winning actresses Joan Allen and Kathy Bates in Bonneville. The film was written by Daniel Davis and Christopher Rowley and directed by Rowley. Next she dabbed into TV with the remake of the critically acclaimed Sybil. Lange played Dr. Wilbur, a psychiatrist who attempts to unravel the abusive childhood which results in Sybil developing a multiple personality disorder.

In 2009, Lange won an Emmy Award for her performance in HBO’s Grey Gardens. She played "Big" Edith Bouvier, the eccentric aunt of Jackie Kennedy, alongside Drew Barrymore who played her daughter "Little" Edith Bouvier.

Following her Emmy win for Grey Gardens, Lange starred in the TV series American Horror Story with Glee producers Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. She won a Golden Globe, Emmy and SAG Award in 2012 for her portrayal as character Constance Langdon. Referred to as a “psycho sexual thriller,” the show premiered on FX on October 5th, 2011. She subsequently starred as Sister Jude Martin in American Horror Story: Asylum, won her third Emmy for playing Fiona Goode in American Horror Story: Coven, and appeared again in the fourth season, American Horror Story: Freak Show, as Elsa Mars.

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Awards & Nominations

10 Nominations | 3 Emmys
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series - 2019
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie - 2017
Outstanding Limited Series - 2017
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or A Movie - 2015
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie - 2014
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie - 2013
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie - 2012
  • Winner
  • Jessica Lange, as Constance Langdon
  • American Horror Story
  • FX Networks
  • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie - 2009
  • Winner
  • Jessica Lange, as Big Edie
  • Grey Gardens
  • HBO
  • Specialty Films and Locomotive in association with HBO Films

The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more

Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange at the 69th Emmys Governors Ball.
Susan Sarandon, from left, Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson and Jackie Hoffman at the 69th Emmys Governors Ball.
Jessica Lange on the red carpet at the 67th Emmy Awards.
Danny Huston, Jessica Lange
Jessica Lange of American Horror Story celebrates at the 66th Emmys.
Angela Bassett (l) and Jessica Lange (r) of American Horror Story: Coven backstage at the 66th Emmys.
Jessica Lange (l) of American Horror Story and Kerry Washington (r) of Scandal at the 66th Emmys.
Liev Schreiber (l) and Kerry Washington (r) present an award to Jessica Lange (c) of American Horror Story: Coven at the 66th Emmy Awards.
Jessica Lange of American Horror Story: Coven accepts an award at the 66th Emmy Awards.
A frightfully fun place to sit for the 65th Emmy Awards.
Actresses Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange
Actress Jessica Lange
Actress Jessica Lange
Actors Jessica Lange and Ken Howard
Actresses Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange
Actress Jessica Lange
Fill 1
Fill 1
Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange at the 69th Emmys Governors Ball.
Camera

Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange at the 69th Emmys Governors Ball. 

Invision/AP
Susan Sarandon, from left, Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson and Jackie Hoffman at the 69th Emmys Governors Ball.
Camera

Susan Sarandon, from left, Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson and Jackie Hoffman at the 69th Emmys Governors Ball. 

Invision/AP
Jessica Lange on the red carpet at the 67th Emmy Awards.
Camera

Jessica Lange on the red carpet at the 67th Emmy Awards.  

Invision/AP
Danny Huston, Jessica Lange
Camera

Danny Huston of Masters of Sex and Jessica Lange of American Horror Story celebrate her win at the 66th Emmys Governors Ball.

Invision/AP
Jessica Lange of American Horror Story celebrates at the 66th Emmys.
Camera

Jessica Lange of American Horror Story celebrates at the 66th Emmys. 

Invision/AP
Angela Bassett (l) and Jessica Lange (r) of American Horror Story: Coven backstage at the 66th Emmys.
Camera

Angela Bassett (l) and Jessica Lange (r) of American Horror Story: Coven backstage at the 66th Emmys. 

Invision/AP
Jessica Lange (l) of American Horror Story and Kerry Washington (r) of Scandal at the 66th Emmys.
Camera

Jessica Lange (l) of American Horror Story and Kerry Washington (r) of Scandal at the 66th Emmys. 

Invision/AP
Liev Schreiber (l) and Kerry Washington (r) present an award to Jessica Lange (c) of American Horror Story: Coven at the 66th Emmy Awards.
Camera

Liev Schreiber (l) and Kerry Washington (r) present an award to Jessica Lange (c) of American Horror Story: Coven at the 66th Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
Jessica Lange of American Horror Story: Coven accepts an award at the 66th Emmy Awards.
Camera

Jessica Lange of American Horror Story: Coven accepts an award at the 66th Emmy Awards.

Invision/AP
A frightfully fun place to sit for the 65th Emmy Awards.
Camera
AP/Invision
Actresses Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange
Actress Jessica Lange
Actress Jessica Lange
Actors Jessica Lange and Ken Howard
Actresses Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange
Actress Jessica Lange
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