Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Known For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at 89 Years Old.
The Academy Award-nominated performer Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran passed away aged 89.
This actress, with roles included Chinatown, passed away at home at her Ojai, California home. The news was shared in a statement from her offspring, Academy Award-winning star her daughter Laura Dern.
Dern, who starred with her mom in several movies such as Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my incredible hero plus my profound gift of a mother”, stating that she was present when she passed.
“She was the most wonderful mother, daughter, grandmother, actress, artist along with empathetic spirit that felt like a dream come true,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Early Career and Major Success
Ladd’s early career featured minor parts in TV shows like The Fugitive and the 1970s had her appearing with actor Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
During that year, 1974, she appeared with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s acclaimed comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. The performance landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination in the supporting actress category.
Later Decades
In the 1980s, she was seen in the thriller Black Widow as well as comedy sequel Christmas Vacation while also joining the show Alice, a comedy program based on her earlier movie.
In the following decade, she received another supporting actress nomination for her role in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she played the parent of her actual daughter Dern’s character. A year later she was awarded a further nomination for her role in the film Rambling Rose that also featured Dern.
“This movie that the late Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she brought Laura and I to London for a royal premiere and an event dedicated to us,” Ladd shared regarding Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, taking our hands, with tears, viewing our performance.”
The nineties featured performances in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film joining her again with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, with John Travolta and Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she acted as Dern’s mother again. The decade also earned her nominations for Emmy Awards for roles on Dr Quinn, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.
Working with Laura Dern
She persisted in performing with her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s satirical show Enlightened. She was also seen alongside actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Her more recent television parts featured the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Writing and Directing
She additionally penned and oversaw the humorous movie the movie Mrs Munck which starred Diane Ladd and previous spouse Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a great actor,” she said. “It was a privilege to guide him in a movie. Indeed, I am the sole female ever to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I tell women, should you desire retribution, guide your former spouse.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Personal Life
Ladd was also a family member of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she called “a great influence throughout my life”.
During 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a pulmonary condition and advised her life expectancy was six months yet she recovered completely once her daughter transferred her to a new hospital.
“If you can take your pain and prevent it from festering similar to a wound, rather utilize it to investigate, to make the path clearer for you and those around, then you are triumphing,” Ladd remarked.
