Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at the Age of 89.
This Oscar-nominated performer the celebrated Diane Ladd has died at the age of 89.
This actress, with roles spanned Chinatown, died at her home at her Ojai, California home. This announcement was revealed through a message shared by her offspring, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern, her daughter.
Laura Dern, who starred with her mother in various films including Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my incredible hero as well as my profound gift of a mother”, writing that she was at her bedside when she passed.
“She was the greatest grandmother, mother, daughter, star, artist along with empathetic spirit that felt like a dream come true,” she expressed. “We were lucky to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Early Career and Breakthrough
Ladd’s early career saw minor parts on television series including Gunsmoke while the 1970s saw her starring next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
In the same year, 1974, she performed with actress Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese acclaimed film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her role earned Ladd her initial Oscar nod as best supporting actress.
Subsequent Years
During the eighties, she was seen in crime thriller the movie Black Widow and humorous film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation while also joining Alice, a sitcom inspired by her earlier movie.
In the following decade, she received an additional best supporting actress nomination for her performance in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart where she acted as the parent of her real-life daughter Laura Dern’s role. The following year she received another nomination for her acting in Rambling Rose that also featured her daughter.
“This was the film that the late Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she brought us to England for a premiere and an event in our honor,” Ladd recalled regarding Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, holding both our hands, with tears, viewing our performance.”
The 1990s included parts in comedy Cemetery Club, a film bringing her back with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a comedy about politics, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed Laura Dern’s mom once more. That period also saw her score Emmy nominations for roles in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.
Collaborations with Daughter
She continued to star with her daughter in comedy drama Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire, a surreal film and Mike White’s dark comedy series Enlightened, a TV series. She was also seen with actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Subsequent TV appearances featured the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon, a comedy.
Filmmaking Ventures
She also authored and oversaw the humorous movie the movie Mrs Munck which starred herself and former husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she noted. “It was a privilege to guide him in a film. Indeed, I stand as the only woman in recorded history who directed her former husband. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, should you desire retribution, direct your ex-husband.’ However, I’m joking.”
Personal Connections
She happened to be a relative of the great Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a significant impact on my life”.
During 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and told her life expectancy was six months but made a full recovery after her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.
“When you use your pain and not let it back up like a sore or something, instead use it to explore, to make the path clearer for yourself and others, then you are succeeding,” Ladd remarked.