Sad news, but not surprising news. According to Jessica Lange’s representative, Jessica and her long-time lover/partner/baby-daddy Sam Shepard are no longer together. The split isn’t recent either – they’re been over for nearly two years. Although they were often held up as an example of one of those famously unmarried couples who make it work year after year, Sam and Jessica’s relationship was always tumultuous, from what I’ve heard. And both have taken extended absences from Hollywood, allegedly to work on other projects, but probably to work on their relationship too. I’m just saying – they should be proud of making it work for so long, because I get the feeling that neither of them were God’s gift to relationships.
Actress Jessica Lange and her longtime partner, playwright and actor Sam Shepard, ended their relationship almost two years ago, PEOPLE has learned exclusively.
The couple, who have been together since 1982, have two children, Hannah and Samuel, together.
“They both are pursuing independent lives,” says a source.
Lange, 62, who stars as Constance in FX’s hit series, American Horror Story, was just nominated for a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award. She will be seen next in The Vow, costarring Rachel McAdams, in February.
A rep for Lange confirms the split – but has no additional comment. Shepard’s rep could not be reached.
[From People]
Now that Jessica has a new hit show (American Horror Story), I suspect that she’s been fielding some questions about her personal life, so this announcement has probably come out ahead of some tabloid report. Personally, I can’t wait to read any tabloid story about them – I’ve always thought Sam was incredibly sexy, but I have no illusions, he’s probably a bastard in real life. As for Jessica… well, if you told me she was flat-out insane, I wouldn’t doubt you. Here’s to a new beginning… two years later!
Photos courtesy of WENN, and Bruce Weber/Vanity Fair.
I admire them for keeping their private life private.
As long as Goldie and Kurt don’t split up, I’m good.
Agreed!
i was always such a jessica lange fan, until the cosmetic surgery. so very disappointing.
I had to ask myself “THAT’s Jessica Lange”? I don’t watch her show and haven’t really seen her for years. She doesn’t look like the woman I remember…
He IS oddly attractive, isn’t he?
Not for a LONG time now.
Judging by one of the more recent photos you’ve included, looks like he finally had those teeth capped (/shudder).
http://wwwutopicosanimicos.blogspot.com/2010/07/cronicas-de-motel-sam-shepard.html
Wow, I never even heard a rumour about them splitting. I wonder if either of them are in new relationships???
She rocks American Horror Story…a serious talent!!! She does Southern Gothic like no other!
Agreed! I totally dig her character in American Horror Story. It’s one of the main reasons I watch it. She’s a mean girl once beauty has faded…lol
Props for them being able to keep it out of the spotlight. I don’t know why celebs always feel the need to give the public every update about their lovelife and then moan when it all goes wrong and people ask questions about it. If you never say anything, it doesn’t become newsworthy to report.
Btw, that dress in the third picture looks like that one that Jolie wore.
This breakup was an item 2 years ago (about the time Sam got that DUI)- that, like the DUI, didn’t get much attention. Now that Jessica is in the spotlight, it becomes “news”…I love her in AHS and he is a great writer- I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED him in Assassination of Jesse James… all the acting and everything else was so tremendous in that movie. “sidekick!…I don’t know what it is about you, but the more you talk, the more you give me the willies”.
@not news – True. I heard this some time ago too. I agree with u that it’s now become ‘news’ because of the popularity of her new show & herself now.
She’s really great in AHS. OMG. Could you imagine anybody else playing that role? Hell no.
She is a great example of why I hate plastic surgery. I have friends older than jessica lange, that look much better and younger than her. Sometimes plastic surgery does the exact opposite of what you are expecting…hers makes her look ten years older than she is….
Time for her to cover those aging arms. The sad thing is that when you get a young face, your other parts are in greater contrast. Anyone check out Jane Fonda’s hands? Age is a losing battle, unfortunately.
If I was 62 and some young tart told me to ‘cover my arms’ I’d tell her to f off.
Jessica Lange is unbelievable on American Horror Story. She’s a very talented actress.
Sam Shepard may be an alcoholic. Look at that selection of pictures. In one, he’s drinking. In another, his beer gut is massive.
Seriously in mourning over this one. Wow, this one hurt.
They both used to drink a lot. And there has been stories in the past about bad behavior from both of them. But they tend to keep their crazy on the down low. And out of LA and NYC.
Jessica’s face has not been tweaked.
She did botox in the past. With scary results. But that is still her natural face. And I am a girl who can spot the signs of a face lift. I have seen enough of them up close… and with Christmas coming up… I will get to see all those tweaked face Aunts of mine… this weekend. 🙂
What it does look like… is Jessica spent a lot time in the sun. Without using a good sun screen.
Yeah, I was going to say, she obviously has not had any face lift action at all. Not sure what others are talking about?
these are gorgeous pictures
They were the hotness when they first got together…you could just see the heat waves emanating off them both. Loved her in Big Fish!
Heat! That is exactly the word I was going to use to describe these two together. Both incredibly sexy apart but together…combustible. Sam was also the hotness!! So sad.
I remember seeing a brief mention of them being split, perhaps in regards to that DUI. I didn’t see anything else, so thought it might be a mistake.
It’s a bummer, but I also recall hearing about an alleged long-term affair he’s had with Gena Rowlands. Also, flame away, but after SO many years together and 2 kids, why not marry? He is once divorced, not sure about her. I can *kind of* see never getting married after bad divorces, but still.
who cares…..i do love her on AMERICAN HORROR SHOW though
I always thought jessica was a delicate beauty but the ps destroyed that imo. sam seems like a man with many demons and that sort of man is hard to partner with..i hope she has found/finds a man who can be totally present for her. the last awards show where i saw her present she looked so sad. life’s too short to be unhappy.
Sam Shepherd was f***ing HOT when he was young. And you know, I probably still would.
Hm. That union was certainly the best thing thing to come out of FRANCES. Sam’s shot himself to hell, I wonder if if she thinks. ‘Hm, what’s that Russian dancer doing with his free time?’
I was thinking that, too. lol They do have a daughter, so she probably knows. 😉
I don’t see any plastic surgery. It looks like a normal aging face for her age.
People are so quick to judge someone as having bad plastic surgery when nothing has been done to their face. No wonder women do have plastic surgery, because most often you will look much worse without it.
Anyway, it’s a stupid story to discuss the fact they split up two years ago. Here in Minnesota we knew that two years ago when it was reported in our papers. Jessica is from Minnesota.
Really? Because my husband is a Lange .. as in raised in Cloquet. Extended family didn’t even now about this until yesterday. So .. calling bullshit on this little made up factoid. Unless you can pull a Strib or Pioneer Press link to prove family wrong.
I love older couples.
They look so good together in that casual picture walking in the sun. Reminds me of my parents. awwww sad sad.
I don’t think she looks jacked at all……..come on she’s 63, she’s still hot, not tweaked to me
They were such a beautiful couple when they were younger. I think both had drinking problems. I also get the sense that Jessica is a little crazy or out there and Sam Shepard is difficult.
Let’s hope Kurt and Goldie keep it going forever. Love those two.
Love her on ahs. She’s gorgeous and not just for her age either.