Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Dies at Age 89.
The award-nominated performer the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away aged 89.
This actor, with roles included Chinatown, died at her home in Ojai, California. This announcement was revealed through a message from her child, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern, her daughter.
Laura Dern, who appeared with her mother in a number of films like Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, described her as “my amazing hero as well as my special gift as a mother”, stating that she was present during her final moments.
“She was the most wonderful daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and caring individual that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she wrote. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Beginnings and Major Success
The start of her career featured small roles in TV shows including Perry Mason whereas that decade had her appearing next to actor Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
In the same year, 1974, she shared the screen with actress Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese acclaimed film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her acting earned Ladd an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress.
1980s and Beyond
Throughout the 1980s, she appeared in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story as well as comedy sequel Christmas Vacation and appeared on Alice, a sitcom based on her earlier movie.
In the subsequent decade, she earned an additional best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her performance in the David Lynch film the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the parent of her real-life daughter the character played by Dern. The following year she received an additional nod for her performance in Rambling Rose, another movie which included Dern.
“This was the film that the late Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she invited me and Laura to England for a special screening and a celebration dedicated to us,” Ladd shared of Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, taking our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”
The 1990s also saw roles 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 Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she acted as Dern’s mother again. The decade also saw her score nominations for Emmy Awards for work in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Partnerships with Her Daughter
She continued to star with Laura Dern in dramatic comedies the film Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire and Mike White’s dark comedy series the program Enlightened. She was also seen next to actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Subsequent TV appearances featured the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Writing and Directing
She also authored and helmed the comedy film the movie Mrs Munck featuring herself and former husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a talented star,” she noted. “I was honored to direct him on a project. Actually, I’m the only woman ever to direct her ex-husband. I make a joke: ‘I say ladies, should you desire retribution, direct your ex-husband.’ However, I’m joking.”
Family Ties
She happened to be a relative of Tennessee Williams, who she called “a great influence in my life”.
Back in 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with lung disease and advised she only had half a year left yet she recovered completely when her daughter transferred her to a different hospital.
“If you can take your pain and prevent it from festering like an injury, instead use it to explore, to make the path clearer for personal and collective growth, then you are triumphing,” Ladd said.
