Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Known For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at Age 89.
This Academy Award-nominated actress Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran passed away aged 89.
The star, with filmography spanned National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, died at her home in Ojai, California. The news was revealed in a statement by her child, Academy Award-winning star her daughter Laura Dern.
Laura Dern, who performed alongside her mother in several movies like Rambling Rose, described her as “my incredible hero plus my special gift being my mom”, writing that she was present as she died.
“She was an exceptional mother, daughter, grandmother, star, artist along with caring individual that felt like a dream come true,” she stated. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Beginnings and Major Success
Her initial acting years included minor parts on television series like The Fugitive and the seventies had her appearing alongside actor Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
During that year, the year 1974, she shared the screen with actress Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s celebrated comedy drama the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance brought Ladd an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.
1980s and Beyond
During the eighties, she starred in the thriller Black Widow, a suspense story plus funny follow-up Christmas Vacation while also joining the sitcom Alice, a comedy program based on Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
In the subsequent decade, she received an additional supporting actress Oscar nomination for her performance in the David Lynch film the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the mom of her biological child Dern’s character. The following year she received an additional nod for her acting in the film Rambling Rose which included her daughter.
“This movie which Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she invited Laura and I to the UK for a royal premiere and a party for us,” Ladd recalled about the film Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, grasping our hands, and crying, watching us perform.”
The 1990s also saw roles in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film reuniting her with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a political comedy, with John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she played Laura Dern’s mom another time. That period also earned her TV award nominations for performances in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Working with Laura Dern
She continued to star with her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and White’s dark comedy series Enlightened, a TV series. She was also seen next to Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins in that movie and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Her later TV roles featured Ray Donovan, a drama plus Young Sheldon.
Writing and Directing
She additionally penned and oversaw the humorous movie the movie Mrs Munck featuring her and ex-husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she said. “I was honored to direct him in a movie. Actually, I’m the only woman ever to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I advise females, if you want revenge, guide your former spouse.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Personal Life
Ladd was also a family member of the great Tennessee Williams, who she called “a significant impact on my life”.
Back in 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with lung disease and advised her life expectancy was six months but made a full recovery once her daughter shifted her to a different hospital.
“Should you harness your suffering and not let it back up like an injury, instead use it to investigate, to make the path clearer for you and those around, then you are triumphing,” Ladd said.
