Acclaimed Actress Diane Ladd, Famed For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at Age 89.
The Academy Award-nominated performer the celebrated Diane Ladd has died at the age of 89.
The actress, with filmography included Chinatown, passed away at home in California’s Ojai. The news was announced via an announcement from her offspring, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern, her daughter.
Laura Dern, who appeared with her mom in various films including Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, described her as “my wonderful hero as well as my precious gift of a mother”, noting that she was present when she passed.
“She was the most wonderful grandmother, mother, daughter, actress, artist as well as caring individual that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Beginnings and Major Success
Her initial acting years saw minor parts in television programs like Perry Mason and the 1970s had her appearing alongside the legendary Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
That very year, 1974, she performed with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed dramatic comedy the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance landed Ladd her initial Oscar nod in the supporting actress category.
Subsequent Years
Throughout the 1980s, she starred in the thriller the movie Black Widow plus comedy sequel National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and appeared on the show Alice, a comedy program inspired by her earlier movie.
In the following decade, she earned an additional supporting actress nomination for her performance in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart, a cult classic in which she portrayed the parent of her real-life daughter Laura Dern’s role. A year later she received another nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose that also featured Laura Dern.
“This was the picture that the late Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she brought Laura and I to London for a special screening and a celebration for us,” Ladd said regarding Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, taking our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”
The 1990s also saw roles in comedy Cemetery Club joining her again with Ellen Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a political comedy, featuring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she played the mother of Dern another time. That period also earned her TV award nominations for roles on Dr Quinn, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Partnerships with Her Daughter
She persisted in performing with her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire and the series by Mike White comedy-drama series Enlightened, a TV series. She also appeared alongside Sandra Bullock, a star in the film 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Her later TV roles consisted of the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.
Writing and Directing
Ladd also wrote and helmed the comedy film Mrs Munck, a film featuring herself and ex-husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she said. “I was honored to direct him in a movie. Actually, I stand as the only woman ever to helm a film with her ex. I make a joke: ‘I advise females, if you want revenge, guide your former spouse.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Personal Connections
She happened to be a family member of Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a great influence throughout my life”.
During 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a respiratory illness and told she only had half a year left yet she recovered completely once her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.
“Should you harness your suffering 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 winning,” Ladd remarked.
