Surprising Facts You Didn’t Know About These Iconic ’70s Stars

Jessica Lange was plucked from modeling and thrown into stardom with King Kong in 1976, despite having no formal acting training. The production offered little guidance, assuming beauty and presence would be enough to carry a massive studio film.

The experience was punishing. Critics were brutal, and Lange was left to rebuild her confidence almost alone. Rather than retreat, she sought out serious directors and demanding roles. Her reinvention stands as one of the decade’s most dramatic recoveries from a studio’s reckless bet.