Diane Ladd, Known For Her Performance in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at 89 Years Old.

This Oscar-nominated actress Diane Ladd left us 89 years old.

The star, whose roles spanned Chinatown, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. Her passing was shared via an announcement by her offspring, Oscar-winning actor her daughter Laura Dern.

Dern, who starred with her mom in several movies such as Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my wonderful hero plus my profound gift being my mom”, noting that she was at her bedside during her final moments.

“She was an exceptional grandmother, mother, daughter, performer, creative and caring individual that felt like a dream come true,” she wrote. “We were lucky to have her. She is now with the angels.”

Initial Roles and Major Success

Her initial acting years saw small roles on television series like Perry Mason whereas that decade had her appearing alongside Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

During that year, the year 1974, she performed with actress Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s praised comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her acting landed Ladd an Academy Award nomination in the supporting actress category.

Subsequent Years

In the 1980s, she appeared in the thriller Black Widow, a suspense story as well as comedy sequel Christmas Vacation while also joining the sitcom Alice, a comedy program inspired by her earlier movie.

In the subsequent decade, she was given a further supporting actress Oscar nomination for her performance in Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she acted as the parent of her biological child Laura Dern’s role. The next year she obtained a further nomination for her acting in Rambling Rose, another movie which also starred Laura Dern.

“This movie which Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she brought me and Laura to England for a royal premiere and a celebration in our honor,” Ladd shared of Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, taking our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”

That decade also saw roles in the comedy Cemetery Club, a film bringing her back with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political comedy, starring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed Laura Dern’s mom again. The decade also brought her nominations for Emmy Awards for work on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.

Collaborations with Daughter

She persisted in performing alongside 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. She additionally starred next to actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in that movie and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Subsequent TV appearances included Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon.

Behind the Camera

She also authored and directed the comedy film Mrs Munck which starred her and ex-husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she mentioned. “It was a privilege to guide him on a project. Indeed, I stand as the only woman ever to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I say ladies, if you seek payback, helm a movie with your ex.’ But I’m only kidding.”

Family Ties

Ladd was also the third cousin of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she called “a great influence in my life”.

Back in 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a respiratory illness and told she only had half a year left yet she recovered completely after her daughter transferred her to a different hospital.

“When you use your pain and avoid letting it accumulate like an injury, instead use it to explore, to clarify the journey for you and those around, then you are succeeding,” Ladd remarked.