🔗 Share this article

This Academy Award-nominated actor Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran has died at the age of 89.

This star, whose filmography included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. This announcement was shared through a message shared by her offspring, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern.

Her daughter, who performed alongside her mom in several movies like Wild at Heart, described her as “my amazing hero and my precious gift as a mother”, noting that she was at her bedside as she died.

“She was the greatest grandmother, mother, daughter, star, artist and compassionate soul that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. She is now with the angels.”

Initial Roles and Breakthrough

Ladd’s early career saw minor parts on television series like Gunsmoke whereas the 1970s saw her starring alongside actor Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.

During that year, 1974, she performed with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s acclaimed comedy drama the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role earned Ladd her first Oscar nomination in the supporting actress category.

Later Decades

In the 1980s, she appeared in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story as well as funny follow-up Christmas Vacation and appeared on Alice, a comedy program based on the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

During the next ten years, she was given another Oscar nomination for supporting actress Oscar nomination for her part in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart, a cult classic in which she portrayed the mother of her actual daughter Dern’s character. The following year she was awarded a further nomination for her role in Rambling Rose which also starred Dern.

“This was the picture which Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she flew us to the UK for a special screening and a party for us,” Ladd shared regarding Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, grasping our hands, with tears, viewing our performance.”

The nineties also saw roles in humorous films The Cemetery Club reuniting her with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, starring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy in which she portrayed Laura Dern’s mom again. The decade also saw her score TV award nominations for performances in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.

Collaborations with Daughter

She persisted in performing alongside her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire and Mike White’s dark comedy series Enlightened. She also appeared alongside Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film plus Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

Her later TV roles included Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon, a comedy.

Filmmaking Ventures

She additionally penned and oversaw the comedy the movie Mrs Munck which starred her and former husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she said. “I was honored to direct him on a project. Indeed, I am the sole female in history to helm a film with her ex. I make a joke: ‘I advise females, if you seek payback, helm a movie with your ex.’ However, I’m joking.”

Family Ties

She happened to be the third cousin of playwright Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a significant impact throughout my life”.

In 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a respiratory illness and advised she only had half a year left yet she recovered completely after her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.

“When you use your pain and avoid letting it accumulate like an injury, instead apply it to investigate, to clarify the journey for yourself and others, then you are succeeding,” Ladd expressed.