Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Famed For Her Performance in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Dies at 89 Years Old.
The Academy Award-nominated actress the celebrated Diane Ladd left us at the age of 89.
This actress, with roles spanned Chinatown, passed away at home in California’s Ojai. The news was announced through a message from her child, Oscar-winning actor her daughter Laura Dern.
Laura Dern, who starred with her mother in various films including Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my incredible hero plus my precious gift of a mother”, writing that she was present as she died.
“She was an exceptional mother, daughter, grandmother, star, artist and compassionate soul that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Beginnings and Breakthrough
Her initial acting years included small roles on television series such as Perry Mason while that decade featured her performing with actor Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
In the same year, the year 1974, she performed with actress Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s acclaimed film the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role brought Ladd her initial Oscar nod as best supporting actress.
Subsequent Years
In the 1980s, she appeared in the dramatic film Black Widow plus humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and appeared on the sitcom Alice, a comedy program inspired by Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
In the following decade, she was given an additional best supporting actress nomination for her part in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart where she acted as the mom of her real-life daughter the character played by Dern. The next year she was awarded a further nomination for her role in Rambling Rose, another movie which also starred Laura Dern.
“This was the film that Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she flew me and Laura to the UK for a royal premiere and a celebration dedicated to us,” Ladd recalled about the film Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, holding both our hands, and crying, viewing our performance.”
The 1990s also saw roles in comedy Cemetery Club, a film joining her again with her co-star Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a comedy about politics, with John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as Dern’s mother another time. The decade also earned her nominations for Emmy Awards for work in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Collaborations with Daughter
She persisted in performing with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama the film Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and White’s satirical show the program Enlightened. She also appeared with Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and with Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.
Her later TV roles featured Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon, a comedy.
Writing and Directing
She also authored and helmed the humorous movie Mrs Munck featuring herself and ex-husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she mentioned. “It was a privilege to guide him on a project. Indeed, I am the sole female in history to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I say ladies, 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 great influence on my life”.
During 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a pulmonary condition and advised she only had half a year left but she regained full health when her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.
“When you use your pain and prevent it from festering like a sore or something, instead apply it to discover, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are winning,” Ladd expressed.
