Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at 89 Years Old.
The Oscar-nominated performer Diane Ladd has died at the age of 89.
The star, with filmography featured Chinatown, left this world in her residence in California’s Ojai. This announcement was revealed in a statement by her daughter, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern.
Dern, who performed alongside her mother in various films such as Rambling Rose, described her as “my incredible hero as well as my precious gift being my mom”, writing that she was by her side during her final moments.
“She was the most wonderful mother, daughter, grandmother, star, artist and empathetic spirit that seemed almost dreamlike,” she stated. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Initial Roles and Major Success
Her initial acting years saw supporting roles on television series like Gunsmoke whereas that decade saw her starring with the legendary Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
That very year, 1974, she appeared with actress Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed dramatic comedy Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her role earned Ladd her initial Oscar nod in the supporting actress category.
1980s and Beyond
In the 1980s, she starred in the dramatic film Black Widow as well as humorous film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and also took part in the show Alice, a comedy program inspired by the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
In the subsequent decade, she received another Oscar nomination for supporting actress nomination for her part in Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the parent of her biological child Laura Dern’s role. The next year she was awarded another nomination for her acting in the film Rambling Rose that also featured Laura Dern.
“This movie that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she flew me and Laura to London for a premiere and a party dedicated to us,” Ladd said of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, grasping our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”
The 1990s also saw roles in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film joining her again with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political comedy, with John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed Laura Dern’s mom another time. That period also brought her Emmy nominations for roles in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom plus Touched by an Angel.
Working with Laura Dern
She continued to star alongside her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and White’s comedy-drama series Enlightened, a TV series. She also appeared with Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian and with Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.
Subsequent TV appearances consisted of Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon.
Behind the Camera
Ladd also wrote and oversaw the comedy film Mrs Munck which starred her and previous spouse Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a great actor,” she said. “It was a privilege to guide him in a film. In fact, I am the sole female in history to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I advise females, if you want revenge, direct your ex-husband.’ However, I’m joking.”
Personal Life
Ladd was also a relative of the great Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a great influence throughout my life”.
Back in 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with lung disease and told she had just six months to live but she regained full health once her daughter moved her to a new hospital.
“If you can take your pain and not let it back up like an injury, instead apply it to discover, to make the path clearer for yourself and others, then you are succeeding,” Ladd expressed.
