Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Known For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at Age 89.
The Oscar-nominated actress the celebrated Diane Ladd has died at the age of 89.
This star, with credits spanned National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, left this world in her residence at her Ojai, California home. Her passing was announced through a message shared by her child, award-winning actress Laura Dern.
Her daughter, who performed alongside her mom in various films including Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my incredible hero plus my precious gift of a mother”, writing that she was present as she died.
“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, performer, creative and empathetic spirit that seemed almost dreamlike,” she expressed. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Early Career and Rise to Fame
Her initial acting years saw minor parts in television programs including Gunsmoke while the 1970s saw her starring alongside actor Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
In the same year, the year 1974, she shared the screen with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed dramatic comedy Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her role brought Ladd an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.
1980s and Beyond
During the eighties, she appeared in the thriller Black Widow, a suspense story as well as comedy sequel Christmas Vacation and appeared on the sitcom Alice, a television series inspired by her earlier movie.
During the next ten years, she was given a further best supporting actress nomination for her part in David Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she played the parent of her real-life daughter the character played by Dern. A year later she received a further nomination for her role in the film Rambling Rose which included Laura Dern.
“This was the picture that the late Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she brought Laura and I to London for a premiere and an event dedicated to us,” Ladd recalled regarding Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, grasping our hands, and crying, viewing our performance.”
The 1990s also saw roles in the comedy The Cemetery Club joining her again with Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a comedy about politics, starring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as Laura Dern’s mom once more. Those years also earned her Emmy nominations for work in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom plus Touched by an Angel.
Collaborations with Daughter
She persisted in performing with her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and the series by Mike White satirical show the program Enlightened. She was also seen next to Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in that movie and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Her more recent television parts included Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon, a comedy.
Behind the Camera
Ladd also wrote and directed the humorous movie the movie Mrs Munck featuring herself and previous spouse Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she mentioned. “I was honored to direct him in a movie. Indeed, I am the sole female in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I often joke: ‘I tell women, should you desire retribution, guide your former spouse.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Personal Life
She happened to be a relative of Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a major inspiration throughout my life”.
During 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a pulmonary condition and advised her life expectancy was six months yet she recovered completely after her daughter moved her to a different hospital.
“Should you harness your suffering and prevent it from festering like an injury, instead apply it to discover, to make the path clearer for yourself and others, then you are winning,” Ladd expressed.
