Jessica Lange

Parents: Dorothy (1913-1968) and Al (1911-1988).

During the late 1960s and early 1970s in Manhattan, Lange was represented by Wilhelmina Models, the same agency that later discovered Gia Carangi.

Her only husband, Paco Grande, was a photographer. They met in 1968 and married two years later. He began losing his sight from retinitis pigmentosa in the early 1970s. They did not divorce until 1982, following a long separation, and she paid him alimony afterwards.

Her interpretation of the pushed-to-the-limit Cora in the remake of The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) was partially inspired by the downbeat life of B-movie actress Barbara Payton. In a Rolling Stone interview, Lange mentioned how she thought her character might have first drifted to Hollywood as an aspiring starlet, and costar Jack Nicholson gave her Payton's lurid, tell-all autobiography "I Am Not Ashamed" to look over on the set. Coincidentally, Lange and the blonde Payton were both born in Cloquet, Minn.

Lange has three children: Aleksandra "Shura" (1981) whose father is Mikhail Baryshnikov; Hanna Jane Shepard (January 13, 1986) and Samuel Walker Shepard (June 14, 1987) who goes by his middle name) whose father is Sam Shepard.

Had a long term relationship with actor Sam Shepard (1982-2009).

Her performance as Frances Farmer in Frances (1982) is ranked #85 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).

Beat Meryl Streep for the role of Patsy Cline in Sweet Dreams (1985), according to Streep. Streep said it was one of the few if not the only role she ever went after. Then later said that she couldn't however, imagine the movie without her (Lange).

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#64). [1995]

She was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 2001 (2000 season) for Best Actress for her performance in "Long Day's Journey into Night" at the Lyric Theatre.

Daughter Shura (Alexandra) Baryshnikov, whose father is Mikhail Baryshnikov, graduated from Marlboro College in Vermont, the same college that Chris Noth attended in the 70s. [2003]

Lived in Minnesota with Sam and their children for a few years, but now living in New York (2004).

Had a fall at her home in Minnesota on March 17, 2009, breaking her collarbone and dislocating her arm. After an overnight stay in the hospital, she was released the next day.