Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at the Age of 89.
The Academy Award-nominated performer Diane Ladd has died aged 89.
The actor, whose filmography included National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, passed away at home in California’s Ojai. Her passing was announced in a statement by her child, award-winning actress her daughter Laura Dern.
Her daughter, who performed alongside Diane Ladd in various films like Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my amazing hero and my special gift being my mom”, writing that she was present during her final moments.
“She was the most wonderful grandmother, mother, daughter, performer, creative along with caring individual that seemed almost dreamlike,” she wrote. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Initial Roles and Breakthrough
Ladd’s early career included small roles in TV shows like Perry Mason whereas the seventies saw her starring next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
That very year, the year 1974, she performed with actress Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese celebrated film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role brought Ladd her first Oscar nomination as best supporting actress.
1980s and Beyond
Throughout the 1980s, she was seen in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story and funny follow-up Christmas Vacation while also joining the sitcom Alice, a sitcom inspired by her earlier movie.
In the following decade, she received a further supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her part in the David Lynch film the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the parent of her actual daughter the character played by Dern. The following year she was awarded an additional nod for her role in the film Rambling Rose that also featured Laura Dern.
“This movie that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she flew Laura and I to London for a royal premiere and a party in our honor,” Ladd shared about the film Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, holding both our hands, and crying, watching us perform.”
That decade included parts in the comedy Cemetery Club joining her again with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a political comedy, starring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she acted as the mother of Dern once more. That period also brought her TV award nominations for work in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Partnerships with Her Daughter
She continued to star with her daughter in comedy drama Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and White’s satirical show Enlightened, a TV series. She additionally starred with actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in that movie and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Her more recent television parts included Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon.
Behind the Camera
She also authored and oversaw the humorous movie Mrs Munck that included herself and ex-husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she mentioned. “I’m privileged to have directed him on a project. In fact, I’m the only woman in history to helm a film with her ex. I make a joke: ‘I tell women, should you desire retribution, guide your former spouse.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Personal Connections
She was additionally the third cousin of the great Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a great influence on my life”.
Back in 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a respiratory illness and advised she only had half a year left yet she recovered completely once her daughter moved her to another medical facility.
“If you can take your pain and not let it back up like a sore or something, instead use it to explore, to illuminate the way for you and those around, then you are winning,” Ladd said.
