🔗 Share this article

This Oscar-nominated actress the celebrated Diane Ladd left us at the age of 89.

This actress, with filmography included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home at her Ojai, California home. This announcement was revealed through a message by her child, award-winning actress Laura Dern, her daughter.

Her daughter, who appeared with her mom in several movies including Wild at Heart, called her “my incredible hero as well as my special gift of a mother”, stating that she was at her bedside during her final moments.

“She was the greatest grandmother, mother, daughter, star, artist and caring individual that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she wrote. “We were fortunate to know her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Early Career and Rise to Fame

Her initial acting years included supporting roles in TV shows like Perry Mason whereas that decade had her appearing alongside Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

That very year, the year 1974, she shared the screen with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s celebrated film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance landed Ladd her initial Oscar nod in the supporting actress category.

1980s and Beyond

During the eighties, she starred in the dramatic film Black Widow and humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy while also joining the sitcom Alice, a comedy program derived from the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the subsequent decade, she received a further best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role in the David Lynch film the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mother of her real-life daughter the character played by Dern. A year later she was awarded a further nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose, another movie which included Laura Dern.

“This movie that Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she flew us to London for a royal premiere and a party in our honor,” Ladd recalled regarding Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, grasping our hands, and crying, viewing our performance.”

That decade featured performances in the comedy Cemetery Club bringing her back with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, with John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth where she played the mother of Dern another time. That period also earned her Emmy nominations for roles on Dr Quinn, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Partnerships with Her Daughter

She kept appearing with her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s Inland Empire and Mike White’s satirical show Enlightened. She additionally starred alongside actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in that movie plus Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

Subsequent TV appearances included the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.

Filmmaking Ventures

She additionally penned and helmed the humorous movie the movie Mrs Munck that included Diane Ladd and former husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she mentioned. “I’m privileged to have directed him on a project. Actually, I’m the only woman in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I tell women, if you want revenge, direct your ex-husband.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Family Ties

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

In 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with lung disease and advised she had just six months to live but she regained full health once her daughter shifted her to a different hospital.

“If you can take your pain and prevent it from festering like an injury, instead apply it to discover, to make the path clearer for yourself and others, then you are winning,” Ladd remarked.