Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Famed For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Dies at Age 89.
The Academy Award-nominated actor Diane Ladd left us at the age of 89.
This star, whose roles featured Chinatown, left this world in her residence in California’s Ojai. The news was announced through a message shared by her offspring, Academy Award-winning star her daughter Laura Dern.
Her daughter, who starred with Diane Ladd in a number of films including Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my amazing hero as well as my precious gift being my mom”, noting that she was at her bedside when she passed.
“She was the most wonderful mother, daughter, grandmother, performer, creative and compassionate soul that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were lucky to have her. She is now with the angels.”
Initial Roles and Rise to Fame
The start of her career saw minor parts in TV shows such as The Fugitive while that decade had her appearing next to Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
During that year, 1974, she performed with actress Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her acting brought Ladd her first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.
Later Decades
In the 1980s, she starred in the dramatic film the movie Black Widow and humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and also took part in the show Alice, a television series derived from her earlier movie.
During the next ten years, she earned an additional best supporting actress nomination for her role in David Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mom of her actual daughter Laura Dern’s role. The following year she was awarded an additional nod for her role in Rambling Rose, another movie which also starred her daughter.
“This was the picture that the late Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she invited me and Laura to the UK for a royal premiere and an event dedicated to us,” Ladd said of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, taking our hands, and crying, viewing our performance.”
The 1990s featured performances in humorous films Cemetery Club bringing her back with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political comedy, with John Travolta and Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she acted as Dern’s mother again. That period also brought her Emmy nominations for performances in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.
Working with Laura Dern
She persisted in performing with her daughter in films blending humor and drama the film Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and the series by Mike White satirical show Enlightened. She was also seen with actress Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Subsequent TV appearances consisted of Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.
Behind the Camera
Ladd also wrote and oversaw the comedy film the movie Mrs Munck featuring Diane Ladd and former husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a talented star,” she noted. “It was a privilege to guide him in a film. Actually, I’m the only woman ever to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I advise females, if you want revenge, helm a movie with your ex.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Family Ties
She happened to be the third cousin of the great Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a major inspiration throughout my life”.
Back in 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a pulmonary condition and told she had just six months to live yet she recovered completely after her daughter moved her to a new hospital.
“When you use your pain and avoid letting it accumulate like a sore or something, rather utilize it to explore, to clarify the journey for yourself and others, then you are succeeding,” Ladd expressed.
