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
I Rushed to the Hospital After My Husband’s Serious Accident — Only to Find His ‘Other Wife’ at the Reception Asking to Visit Him
My marriage wasn’t perfect, but I thought I knew the man I had built a life with. That illusion shattered the moment I rushed to the hospital after my husband’s accident, only to find another woman there, claiming to be his wife too.
I never thought I’d be one of those women; the kind who discovers her entire marriage was a lie in the most ridiculous, soap opera-worthy way possible.
You know the type. The ones you read about online, the ones whose husbands lead secret lives with second families across town.
A thoughtful woman staring out the window of her room | Source: Midjourney
I used to shake my head at their stories, thinking, How do you not know? How blind do you have to be?
But there I was, standing in the hospital lobby, frozen in shock.
Because the woman at the reception desk? The one frantically asking about my husband?
She was calling him her husband too.
And in that moment, I knew; Brian was about to regret every single lie he ever told.
It started with a phone call.
A closeup shot of a smart phone’s display screen | Source: Pexels
I was at the sink, scrubbing away at a stubborn stain on a wine glass. The house was quiet, except for the low hum of the dishwasher. Brian had been away on one of his so-called “business trips” all week, and I was preparing for another night of mindless TV and leftover lasagna.
Then, my phone rang.
Unknown Number.
I almost ignored it. Probably spam. But something, some instinct I couldn’t explain, made me dry my hands and answer.
“Hello?”
A tight, professional voice responded, “Is this Ms. Donna?”
My stomach dropped. “Yes?”
A woman talking on her phone in the kitchen | Source: Midjourney
“This is St. Mary’s Hospital. Your husband, Brian, has been in a serious car accident. You need to come immediately.”
The world around me tilted.
I gripped the counter. “Is he—” My throat closed up.
“He’s alive,” the nurse reassured me. “But in critical condition. Please come quickly.”
My keys. My shoes. I barely remember grabbing them. My body moved on autopilot as I ran out the door, my mind racing with fear.
Brian. My husband. Lying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life.
A closeup shot of a patient’s blood pressure and pulse being measured in a hospital | Source: Pexels
I didn’t know that the real disaster was waiting for me at the hospital.
The hospital smelled like antiseptic and despair. I practically sprinted to the front desk, my pulse pounding in my ears.
“My husband, Brian,” I gasped. “He was in an accident. Where is he?”
The receptionist, a middle-aged woman with tired eyes, glanced at her screen. “Room 314. But—”
She stopped mid-sentence, looking over my shoulder.
I turned and that’s when I saw her.
A surprised woman standing in a hospital corridor | Source: Midjourney
A woman. Maybe late twenties. Blonde, pretty, dressed casually in yoga pants and a sweatshirt. Her face was flushed with panic, her hands gripping the edge of the reception desk.
And the words that came out of her mouth made my blood turn to ice.
“I’m here to see my husband, Brian,” she told the receptionist.
My husband.
My. Husband.
I blinked, sure I misheard her. But the receptionist looked between us, confused.
“Uh… you both said you’re his wife?”
The woman, this stranger, turned to me, brows knitting together. “I’m sorry, who are you?”
A worried blonde-haired woman standing in a hospital corridor | Source: Midjourney
I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Who am I? Who the hell are you?”
Her face paled.
The silence stretched. Then, like puzzle pieces falling into place, realization hit us both at the same time.
We had been married to the same man.
For years.
The floor felt like it had vanished beneath me.
I gripped the reception desk, trying to breathe through the dizziness.
A shocked woman standing next to the reception desk in a hospital | Source: Midjourney
Stephanie, that was her name, as I later learned, took a shaky step back, her mouth opening and closing like she wanted to say something, but no words came out.
Finally, she whispered, “That’s impossible. We’ve been in a civil marriage for five years.”
I let out a bitter, disbelieving laugh. “Try ten.”
Her eyes widened in horror.
We stared at each other, two strangers connected by the same man, the same lies.
The air between us crackled with a silent, shared realization.
“Oh my God,” she whispered.
A shocked blonde-haired woman standing in a hospital corridor | Source: Midjourney
The betrayal settled in. The rage boiled over.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Stephanie and I just stood there, staring at each other, the weight of our shared betrayal settling between us.
But then something happened.
We really looked at each other.
And instead of seeing a rival, I saw a woman just like me. Someone who had been lied to, manipulated, and made a fool of by the same man.
A reflective woman standing in a hospital corridor | Source: Midjourney
And in that moment, I knew: Brian was about to have the worst wake-up call of his life.
We didn’t even need to say it out loud.
The plan formed between us in an instant, an unspoken understanding solidifying like concrete.
Stephanie turned to the receptionist. “Can we both go up?”
The woman looked nervous. “Only family is allowed.”
A receptionist holding a tablet computer in a hospital | Source: Pexels
I smiled sweetly, resting an elbow on the counter. “Oh, we’re family. Trust me.”
The receptionist hesitated, her eyes flickering between us. There was something about the way we stood — unified, brimming with quiet fury — that must’ve convinced her not to argue.
She exhaled sharply. “Fine. Room 314.”
Stephanie and I exchanged a look.
We walked side by side toward the elevator, silent but seething. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as we stepped inside.
Neither of us spoke.
But by the time we reached Brian’s room?
A hospital hallway | Source: Pexels
We were smiling.
Because this man had no idea what was coming.
Brian was a mess.
Bruised, bandaged, and hooked up to machines, he looked half-conscious, his face pale against the stark white pillow.
When he spotted me, his expression shifted to relief. “Babe—thank God you’re here.”
Then his eyes flicked to the woman standing beside me.
And all the color drained from his face.
Stephanie smiled sweetly. “Hi, babe. Or should I say… husband?”
Brian looked like a deer caught in headlights. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
A closeup shot of an injured man lying in a hospital bed | Source: Midjourney
I crossed my arms. “Hey, sweetheart. You remember Stephanie, don’t you?”
His breathing turned shallow. “I—I can explain—”
“Oh, please.” I rolled my eyes. “You had a WHOLE SECOND LIFE, Brian. Two wives. Two homes. Two entire marriages.”
Stephanie smirked. “Classic narcissist behavior.”
Brian swallowed hard. “Listen—I never meant—”
“Save it,” I interrupted. “We’re not here for an apology. We’re here to give you a little news update.”
A woman looks serious and determined while standing in a hospital room | Source: Midjourney
His eyes darted between us, panic creeping in.
Stephanie leaned against the foot of the hospital bed, casually inspecting her nails. “Fun fact, Brian,” she said, her voice light. “Your hospital bill? Donna and I aren’t paying for it. You can rot here.”
Brian’s mouth parted in disbelief. “Wha—You can’t just leave me here!”
I tilted my head. “Oh, we can.”
Stephanie folded her arms. “And we will.”
Brian shifted in his bed, wincing. “Wait, wait—Stephanie, please. Baby…”
A bruised man with a pained expression lying in a hospital bed | Source: Midjourney
Her expression hardened. “Baby? Oh, that’s rich. You had me thinking we were starting a family. We were looking at houses. You wanted a baby, Brian!”
I flinched. A baby? Jesus Christ. This was worse than I thought.
Brian squeezed his eyes shut. “I was—I was gonna tell you both—”
“Oh, yeah?” I scoffed. “When? On your deathbed? When you got caught? Oh wait—that already happened.”
Stephanie snorted.
Brian’s chest rose and fell rapidly. “Look, we can fix this—”
“Fix what?” I snapped. “You are the problem, Brian.”
An extremely hurt woman standing in a hospital room | Source: Midjourney
Stephanie shook her head. “And you know what’s funny? I defended you. I believed every lie you ever told me.”
Brian reached a hand toward her, wincing. “Steph, please, just listen…”
Stephanie took a slow step back, her voice eerily calm. “You don’t get to say my name. Not anymore.”
The silence was thick, suffocating.
Brian’s jaw clenched. His eyes flickered between us, desperate. “So what? That’s it? You’re both just leaving me?”
I gave him a mock-sympathetic look. “That’s the general idea, yeah.”
Stephanie smirked. “Hope you like hospital gowns, babe.”
A blonde-haired woman smirks while standing in a hospital room and looking at someone | Source: Midjourney
Brian opened his mouth to argue, maybe to beg.
But we were already gone.
Brian’s web of lies unraveled fast.
Turns out?
He wasn’t just a liar. He was a fraud.
His boss found out about the fake business trips; they were real, but he had been funding personal vacations with company money. He got fired immediately.
Stephanie and I both filed for divorce. Turns out, bigamy is very illegal, and Brian was looking at a very expensive legal battle.
A photo showing two pens lying on divorce papers | Source: Pexels
His family? Oh, they disowned him. His mother called me personally to apologize, crying about how she “raised him better than this.” (Spoiler: She did not.)
And his living situation?
Well, let’s just say when you lie to two wives and use their money to pay for your life, things tend to go south real quick.
He got evicted.
His credit was trashed.
And last I heard? He was living in his car.
A gloomy man sitting in his car | Source: Midjourney
I never thought I’d be bonded for life to my husband’s other wife.
But Stephanie and I? We’re friends now. We meet for coffee every Sunday. We even went on a girls’ trip to Cancún last summer, paid for with the money we got from selling Brian’s precious collectibles.
As for Brian?
Well, karma did the rest of the work.
And I sleep great at night knowing that.
A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
If you found this story heartwarming, here’s another one: When my husband told me he had a work party to go to, I never suspected anything untoward until I received a call that made me stop in my tracks! What I heard on the other line had me grabbing my car keys to confront him and packing his things the next day!
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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