Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Famed For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at 89 Years Old.
This Oscar-nominated performer Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran passed away at the age of 89.
The actress, with credits spanned Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, passed away at home at her Ojai, California home. This announcement was shared in a statement by her offspring, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern, her daughter.
Her daughter, who performed alongside Diane Ladd in several movies such as Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, called her “my incredible hero and my precious gift as a mother”, stating that she was present during her final moments.
“She was an exceptional grandmother, mother, daughter, star, artist as well as caring individual that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. She is now with the angels.”
Beginnings and Major Success
Her initial acting years featured minor parts in TV shows like Gunsmoke whereas that decade had her appearing next to Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
In the same year, 1974, she performed alongside Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s praised film the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. 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 and comedy sequel Christmas Vacation and also took part in the show Alice, a comedy program derived from her earlier movie.
During the next ten years, she was given another supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her part in Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the parent of her real-life daughter Laura Dern’s role. The next year she received another nomination for her role in Rambling Rose, another movie that also featured her daughter.
“This movie which Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she brought us to London for a premiere and a celebration for us,” Ladd recalled regarding Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, taking our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.”
The 1990s featured performances in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film bringing her back with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a political comedy, starring John Travolta and Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she acted as the mother of Dern another time. That period also earned her Emmy nominations for roles in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.
Partnerships with Her Daughter
She persisted in performing alongside her daughter in comedy drama Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire and White’s dark comedy series Enlightened, a TV series. She was also seen alongside Sandra Bullock, a star in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in that movie and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Subsequent TV appearances included Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Filmmaking Ventures
She also authored and oversaw the comedy Mrs Munck which starred her and former husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “It was a privilege to guide him in a movie. Indeed, I’m the only woman in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I say ladies, should you desire retribution, direct your ex-husband.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Family Ties
She happened to be a relative of the great Tennessee Williams, who she called “a major inspiration throughout my life”.
In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and informed her life expectancy was six months yet she recovered completely once her daughter transferred her to another medical facility.
“When you use your pain and not let it back up similar to a wound, instead use it to discover, to illuminate the way for you and those around, then you are winning,” Ladd said.
