Jessica Lange

Jessica Lange is an American actress and photographer who is one of the most decorated performers in Hollywood history. Born on April 20, 1949, in Cloquet, Minnesota, she grew up in a working-class family and studied art at the University of Minnesota before dropping out to travel and pursue her artistic ambitions. Her early career included studying mime in Paris and working as a model in New York City before she was cast in her first film.

Lange’s film debut came in the 1976 remake of King Kong, which was a commercial success but received mixed reviews. Despite the rocky start, she persevered and quickly established herself as a serious dramatic actress. She received back-to-back Academy Award nominations in 1983, winning Best Supporting Actress for Tootsie and earning a Best Actress nomination for Frances, becoming only the fifth person to receive two acting nominations in the same year. She won her second Oscar, this time for Best Actress, for Blue Sky in 1994.

Lange continued to deliver powerful performances throughout her career in films such as Sweet Dreams (1985), Music Box (1989), Cape Fear (1991), and Big Fish (2003). In 2011, she experienced a major career resurgence when she joined the cast of FX’s American Horror Story, winning Emmy Awards for her performances in the anthology series. Her work on the show introduced her to a new generation of fans and demonstrated her ability to command the screen across different genres and eras.

With an estimated net worth of $20 million as of 2026, Lange’s wealth reflects her long and distinguished career in film and television. Beyond acting, she is a respected photographer who has published several books of her work. Her combination of two Academy Awards, three Emmy Awards, a Tony Award nomination, and a SAG Lifetime Achievement Award places her among the most accomplished actresses of all time.