Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at 89 Years Old.
This Academy Award-nominated actor Diane Ladd left us at the age of 89.
This star, with credits featured Chinatown, left this world in her residence in California’s Ojai. This announcement was shared via an announcement from her offspring, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern, her daughter.
Dern, who appeared with her mother in a number of films like Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, called her “my amazing hero and my precious gift being my mom”, noting that she was present when she passed.
“She was the most wonderful mother, daughter, grandmother, star, artist as well as empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she wrote. “We were blessed to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Early Career and Rise to Fame
Ladd’s early career included minor parts in television programs like Perry Mason whereas that decade had her appearing next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
That very year, 1974, she performed with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s acclaimed comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role brought Ladd her initial Oscar nod in the supporting actress category.
1980s and Beyond
During the eighties, she starred in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story as well as humorous film Christmas Vacation and also took part in the sitcom Alice, a television series based on her earlier movie.
In the following decade, she received a further supporting actress nomination for her role in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she acted as the mom of her actual daughter Laura Dern’s role. A year later she obtained a further nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose, another movie that also featured her daughter.
“This was the film that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she flew Laura and I to the UK for a special screening and an event for us,” Ladd shared regarding Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, holding both our hands, with tears, viewing our performance.”
The nineties also saw roles in humorous films The Cemetery Club reuniting her with Ellen Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a satirical film, with John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed the mother of Dern another time. That period also brought her nominations for Emmy Awards for work in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.
Working with Laura Dern
She persisted in performing alongside her daughter in comedy drama the film Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire, a surreal film and Mike White’s dark comedy series the program Enlightened. She also appeared alongside Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Her later TV roles featured Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Filmmaking Ventures
She additionally penned and oversaw the comedy the movie Mrs Munck that included her and former husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she noted. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a film. Indeed, I am the sole female in history to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I advise females, if you want revenge, guide your former spouse.’ However, I’m joking.”
Personal Connections
Ladd was also a family member of the great Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a significant impact in my life”.
In 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a pulmonary condition and told she only had half a year left but she regained full health when her daughter transferred her to a new hospital.
“When you use your pain and prevent it from festering like an injury, rather utilize it to investigate, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are triumphing,” Ladd remarked.
