Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Her Performance in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at Age 89.
This Academy Award-nominated performer Diane Ladd passed away aged 89.
The actor, whose filmography spanned Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, passed away at home in Ojai, California. This announcement was shared in a statement from her daughter, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern, her daughter.
Dern, who performed alongside her mother in various films such as Rambling Rose, called her “my wonderful hero and my precious gift of a mother”, stating that she was at her bedside during her final moments.
“She was an exceptional mother, daughter, grandmother, performer, creative and empathetic spirit that seemed almost dreamlike,” she wrote. “We were lucky to have her. She is now with the angels.”
Early Career and Major Success
Ladd’s early career saw minor parts in TV shows including The Fugitive whereas that decade had her appearing alongside Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
During that year, 1974, she performed with actress Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s praised film the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role earned Ladd an Academy Award nomination in the supporting actress category.
1980s and Beyond
During the eighties, she appeared in the dramatic film Black Widow, a suspense story and funny follow-up Christmas Vacation and appeared on Alice, a sitcom based on the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
In the subsequent decade, she received another best supporting actress nomination for her performance in Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she played the parent of her actual daughter Laura Dern’s role. The next year she obtained another nomination for her performance in the film Rambling Rose which included Laura Dern.
“This movie that Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she brought us to the UK for a premiere and a celebration for us,” Ladd recalled of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, taking our hands, with tears, viewing our performance.”
The nineties also saw roles in comedy The Cemetery Club joining her again with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a comedy about politics, starring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she acted as the mother of Dern once more. Those years also earned her Emmy nominations for work in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Collaborations with Daughter
She persisted in performing with her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, Lynch’s Inland Empire and Mike White’s dark comedy series the program Enlightened. She additionally starred with Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in that movie and Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.
Subsequent TV appearances included the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon, a comedy.
Writing and Directing
She also authored and directed the comedy the movie Mrs Munck featuring her and previous spouse actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “It was a privilege to guide him on a project. In fact, I am the sole female in history who directed her former husband. I humorously say: ‘I say ladies, should you desire retribution, helm a movie with your ex.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Personal Life
She was additionally a family member of Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a significant impact throughout my life”.
During 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and informed she only had half a year left but made a full recovery after her daughter moved her to a different hospital.
“When you use your pain and avoid letting it accumulate like an injury, instead use it to discover, to clarify the journey for personal and collective growth, then you are succeeding,” Ladd said.
