Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Known For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at Age 89.
This Oscar-nominated actress Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran has died aged 89.
This actress, whose filmography spanned Chinatown, left this world in her residence in California’s Ojai. The news was shared through a message by her child, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern, her daughter.
Laura Dern, who performed alongside her mom in a number of films such as Wild at Heart, described her as “my amazing hero and my precious gift being my mom”, stating that she was by her side as she died.
“She was an exceptional daughter, mother, grandmother, performer, creative and caring individual that felt like a dream come true,” she wrote. “We were lucky to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Early Career and Major Success
Ladd’s early career included minor parts in television programs such as The Fugitive and the 1970s had her appearing alongside actor Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
In the same year, the year 1974, she shared the screen with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s celebrated comedy drama the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination in the supporting actress category.
1980s and Beyond
During the eighties, she appeared in the dramatic film Black Widow plus comedy sequel Christmas Vacation and also took part in the show Alice, a comedy program based on Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
During the next ten years, she earned another best supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her part in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart where she acted as the mom of her actual daughter the character played by Dern. The next year she obtained an additional nod for her role in Rambling Rose that also featured Dern.
“This was the picture that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she brought Laura and I to England for a royal premiere and an event dedicated to us,” Ladd recalled about the film Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, grasping our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”
That decade featured performances in comedy The Cemetery Club bringing her back with her co-star Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a satirical film, starring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as Laura Dern’s mom once more. Those years also brought her nominations for Emmy Awards for work in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel.
Working with Laura Dern
She persisted in performing with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s dark comedy series Enlightened. She additionally starred next to Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.
Her later TV roles included the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Filmmaking Ventures
Ladd also wrote and directed the comedy film Mrs Munck, a film that included Diane Ladd and previous spouse Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she noted. “It was a privilege to guide him in a film. In fact, I am the sole female in history to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I advise females, should you desire retribution, direct your ex-husband.’ However, I’m joking.”
Personal Life
She happened to be a relative of playwright Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a major inspiration on my life”.
Back in 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a pulmonary condition and informed she had just six months to live yet she recovered completely when her daughter moved her to a different hospital.
“When you use your pain and avoid letting it accumulate similar to a wound, instead apply it to discover, to make the path clearer for you and those around, then you are succeeding,” Ladd said.
