Acclaimed Actress Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Her Performance in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at 89 Years Old.
The award-nominated actor the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away 89 years old.
The actress, whose credits featured Chinatown, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. Her passing was announced through a message from her daughter, Academy Award-winning star her daughter Laura Dern.
Dern, who appeared with Diane Ladd in several movies such as Rambling Rose, called her “my amazing hero as well as my precious gift of a mother”, writing that she was at her bedside when she passed.
“She was the greatest grandmother, mother, daughter, actress, artist and caring individual that seemed almost dreamlike,” she expressed. “We were lucky to have her. She is now with the angels.”
Beginnings and Rise to Fame
Ladd’s early career saw supporting roles on television series such as Perry Mason and the 1970s saw her starring with actor Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
In the same year, the year 1974, she performed alongside Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised dramatic comedy Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. The performance landed Ladd her initial Oscar nod as best supporting actress.
Later Decades
Throughout the 1980s, she appeared in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story as well as humorous film Christmas Vacation and also took part in Alice, a television series inspired by Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
In the following decade, she was given a further Oscar nomination for supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role in the David Lynch film the movie Wild at Heart where she played the parent of her actual daughter the character played by Dern. The following year she was awarded an additional nod for her acting in Rambling Rose, another movie that also featured Laura Dern.
“This was the picture which Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she flew us to London for a premiere and a party in our honor,” Ladd shared regarding Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, holding both our hands, and crying, watching us perform.”
The nineties also saw roles in comedy The Cemetery Club reuniting her with Ellen Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a satirical film, starring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy in which she portrayed the mother of Dern once more. Those years also brought her nominations for Emmy Awards for roles in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Working with Laura Dern
She kept appearing with her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s comedy-drama series Enlightened, a TV series. She also appeared next to Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Her later TV roles included Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon, a comedy.
Filmmaking Ventures
Ladd also wrote and oversaw the comedy film the movie Mrs Munck featuring her and former husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she mentioned. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a movie. Actually, I’m the only woman in recorded history to helm a film with her ex. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, if you want revenge, guide your former spouse.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Personal Life
She happened to be the third cousin of the great Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a major inspiration in my life”.
In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with lung disease and advised her life expectancy was six months yet she recovered completely when her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.
“If you can take your pain and prevent it from festering like an injury, instead use it to explore, to make the path clearer for you and those around, then you are triumphing,” Ladd said.
