Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Famed For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at 89 Years Old.
The award-nominated actress Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran left us at the age of 89.
This actor, with roles included National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, passed away at home at her Ojai, California home. The news was revealed in a statement shared by her child, award-winning actress Laura Dern.
Laura Dern, who appeared with her mom in various films including Wild at Heart, called her “my amazing hero and my precious gift as a mother”, stating that she was at her bedside during her final moments.
“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and compassionate soul that felt like a dream come true,” she expressed. “We were fortunate to know her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Initial Roles and Rise to Fame
Her initial acting years included supporting roles on television series such as Gunsmoke whereas the 1970s featured her performing next to Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
In the same year, 1974, she appeared with actress Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese praised dramatic comedy Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role earned Ladd her first Oscar nomination in the supporting actress category.
Later Decades
In the 1980s, she appeared in crime thriller the movie Black Widow plus humorous film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and also took part in the sitcom Alice, a television series inspired by her earlier movie.
In the subsequent decade, she was given another supporting actress nomination for her performance in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart where she acted as the parent of her actual daughter Dern’s character. A year later she was awarded another nomination for her performance in the film Rambling Rose which also starred Laura Dern.
“This was the film that Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she invited me and Laura to the UK for a royal premiere and a party in our honor,” Ladd shared of Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, taking our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”
The 1990s featured performances in the comedy The Cemetery Club joining her again with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a political comedy, with John Travolta and Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she acted as Dern’s mother again. The decade also saw her score Emmy nominations for roles in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.
Collaborations with Daughter
She kept appearing with Laura Dern in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s comedy-drama series Enlightened. She was also seen next to actress Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and with Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.
Her later TV roles featured Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Behind the Camera
She additionally penned and directed the humorous movie the movie Mrs Munck which starred Diane Ladd and ex-husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she mentioned. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a film. In fact, I’m the only woman in history to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I advise females, should you desire retribution, helm a movie with your ex.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Personal Connections
Ladd was also a family member of Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a major inspiration throughout my life”.
Back in 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and told she only had half a year left but made a full recovery after her daughter transferred her to a new hospital.
“When you use your pain and not let it back up similar to a wound, rather utilize it to discover, to make the path clearer for you and those around, then you are triumphing,” Ladd expressed.
