🔗 Share this article

This Academy Award-nominated actor the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away aged 89.

The star, whose roles spanned Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, passed away at home in Ojai, California. This announcement was shared in a statement shared by her child, award-winning actress Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who starred with her mother in various films like Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, described her as “my incredible hero as well as my precious gift being my mom”, writing that she was by her side when she passed.

“She was an exceptional daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist along with compassionate soul that felt like a dream come true,” she wrote. “We were blessed to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Initial Roles and Major Success

The start of her career featured minor parts in TV shows including The Fugitive whereas the 1970s had her appearing alongside actor Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.

That very year, 1974, she performed alongside Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised film the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance brought Ladd an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress.

Subsequent Years

In the 1980s, she was seen in crime thriller the movie Black Widow plus humorous film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and appeared on the sitcom Alice, a television series based on Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the following decade, she was given another Oscar nomination for supporting actress Oscar nomination for her part in the David Lynch film the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the parent of her actual daughter Laura Dern’s role. The following year she was awarded a further nomination for her acting in the film Rambling Rose which included Dern.

“This was the picture which Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she flew us to the UK for a royal premiere and a celebration for us,” Ladd recalled of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, taking our hands, and weeping, watching us perform.”

The nineties included parts in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film bringing her back with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a comedy about politics, starring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she played Laura Dern’s mom another time. Those years also earned her TV award nominations for roles on Dr Quinn, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Partnerships with Her Daughter

She persisted in performing alongside her daughter in dramatic comedies the film Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and Mike White’s satirical show Enlightened. She also appeared next to Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Subsequent TV appearances included Ray Donovan, a drama plus Young Sheldon.

Behind the Camera

She additionally penned and directed the comedy film Mrs Munck, a film which starred Diane Ladd and former husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “I was honored to direct him in a film. In fact, I’m the only woman in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I tell women, if you want revenge, direct your ex-husband.’ But I’m only kidding.”

Personal Connections

She was additionally the third cousin of Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a significant impact on my life”.

In 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a respiratory illness and told she had just six months to live but she regained full health after her daughter transferred her to another medical facility.

“When you use your pain and not let it back up like an injury, rather utilize it to explore, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are winning,” Ladd expressed.