Nestled in a treehouse built in the cottonwoods, Sissy Spacek and Jack Fisk dodged the bright searchlights of the Badlands’ crew that desperately tried to find the film’s star.
The young couple, who found love on the set of the 1973 crime film, had slipped away for some alone time. But when a massive storm struck, a flash flood sinking their rowboat, the crew panicked and launched a search party.
This is how the love story, shared by Spacek and her husband, started almost 50 years ago, making the pair one of Hollywood’s longest lasting marriages.
Born Mary Elizabeth, Sissy Spacek grew up in a small Texas town, chasing around her two older brothers, who called her “Sissy.”
One of her brothers, Robbie, died of leukemia when he was only 18, and she 17. Describing his death as “the most meaningful event” in her life, Spacek said she found power through his loss and “became more fearless because of it.”
Spacek, now 73, might best be remembered for her Oscar-nominated role as the title character in Carrie (1976), whose crowning moment at prom sees her covered in pig’s blood.
In one of the scariest scenes of all times, Carrie, believed to be dead, has one final appearance at the end when her bloody arm reaches through her grave, gripping the hand of a former classmate.
Spacek, who enjoys a laid-back lifestyle, has never been afraid of showing a less glamorous side of herself. While shooting Carrie, Spacek decided to not brush her teeth in order to embrace her character.
”I wanted to feel really badly about myself,” Spacek explained. “There’s nothing like not washing your teeth or washing your face or brushing your teeth in the morning. I put Vaseline in my hair. … That made me feel really bad about myself. And that helps with the character,” she told CBS.
Speaking with NPR about her career, Spacek–whose cousin in Rip Torn–said she enjoyed the fear factor of that scene: “I would go to theaters just for the last five minutes of the film to watch everyone jump out of their chairs.” She continued, “…the film ends–as (director Brian De Palma) said–about eight times. And so, you’re, people are all relaxed. The music is really beautiful and relaxing, and all of a sudden that comes up, and people just go crazy.”
Following several highly acclaimed performances in other films, Spacek, who originally wanted to be a singer, was then cast in her Oscar-winning role as Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner’s Daughter, singing tunes made popular by the country musician. Spacek also earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance.
The star of The Help has played everything from a psychokinetic teenager, a killer’s love interest, a homicidal homewrecker, a single mom and about 200 other characters, earning her numerous awards–including three Golden Globes–in her more than 50 years of acting.
And in those 50 years, fans have watched her grow from a disheveled high schooler to a stunning, mature natural beauty.
“At less she doesn’t look like abnormal with plastic surgery. Pretty lady very natural,” while another fan writes, “Beautiful inside and out brilliant Actress!!”
Some fans were asking the star of The River for another season of their favorite show: “When are we going to get another season of Night Sky?”
Her latest role is in the Sci-Fi drama Night Sky–a show that aired only one season in 2022–where she plays Irene, whose relationship with her husband helps her overcome great loss.
Speaking with Esquire about her role, the Missing star said she found inspiration from her real-life relationship with her husband, director Jack Fisk, whom she married almost 50 years ago.
“It was the relationship between Franklin and Irene that really pulled me in. One of the things I recognized in her was she had this long-term relationship with her husband. I’ve had that with my husband. 50 years. It’s crazy. It goes so fast,” Spacek said. “I recognized in Irene that when you’ve been married that long, sometimes you want to bop them on the head. You want to strangle them. That’s just part of the long-term relationship. You go through so many things that it just deepens and deepens and deepens.”
Spacek met Fisk on the set of Badlands, the movie she starred, and he worked as the art director.
Recalling their first date, which happened one evening after filming, Spacek explained how Fisk invited her to ride with him in the rowboat, for the almost 10-mile journey back to the hotel they were staying.
“He had built this wonderful treehouse out among the cottonwoods, and it was just the most magical place. And I thought, oh, this is a great idea. No one has ever asked me to take a boat anywhere.” She continued, “And then a huge storm came, lightning and thunder and torrential rains, and the boat sank about 100 yards down the river, and the crew members were really nervous, because the storm was so big. They sent out search parties for us, and, of course, we were so much in love we were dodging the headlights. We would hide in the wet ditches when we would see headlights. And we finally made it back late that night. And we were dripping wet and just exhilarated.”
The young couple married in 1974 and swapping out the traditional ceremony, they wore jeans and had their dog as the only witness to the big day.
But neither was expecting the relationship to be lifelong.
Explaining their skepticism over marriage, Spacek said, “In fact, we even opened a bank account and put $30 in it, because that’s how much it cost to get divorced. Now I think it would take something dramatic like death to end.”
The two surprised themselves by growing closer and collaborated on several films, including Raggedy Man (1981) and Violets are Blue (1986), both directed by Fisk.
“The husband and wife were not allowed on the set,” Spacek said. “The director and the actress dealt with each other as professionals.”
A Texas girl at heart, the Crimes of the Heart actor and her husband moved to a farm in Virginia, leaving Los Angeles behind.
The couple share two children, Schuyler (born 1982), and Madison (born 1988), and now also have two grandchildren.
Schuyler, an actor with appearances in the film Orange County (2002) and TV series like Law and Order:SVU and Castle Rock–is now a well-known folk artist. Madison on the other hand, is following in her dad’s footsteps in production design.
Raising her children on the farm allowed her and Fisk the space to “live a regular life with normal people around.”
Referring to her husband as a “wonderful artist,” Spacek praises his talents and his efforts in their relationship. “He’s phenomenal, and I learned so much from him about the artist’s life, and about work, and what it involves, and how much you have to give,” she said. “You have to give everything up and be focused when you’re working. We’ve shared that.”
When Spacek is asked what she’s learned after five decades of a supportive marriage, she simply says, “Just pick your battles.”
Sissy Spacek and Jack Fisk really are inspiring! It’s great to know that some celebrity couples marry for love and not just for a moment. And she is such a fabulous actor! What are your favorite Spacek films?
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