Acclaimed Actress Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at 89 Years Old.
The Oscar-nominated performer the celebrated Diane Ladd left us 89 years old.
The actor, with filmography spanned National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. This announcement was shared in a statement from her child, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern, her daughter.
Laura Dern, who starred with Diane Ladd in various films including Wild at Heart, described her as “my amazing hero and my profound gift being my mom”, noting that she was by her side as she died.
“She was the most wonderful grandmother, mother, daughter, star, artist and empathetic spirit that seemed almost dreamlike,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. She is now with the angels.”
Initial Roles and Rise to Fame
The start of her career featured small roles in television programs like Gunsmoke and the 1970s had her appearing alongside actor Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
During that year, the year 1974, she performed with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed film the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance brought Ladd an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.
1980s and Beyond
During the eighties, she starred in the dramatic film Black Widow plus humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and also took part in Alice, a television series based on her earlier movie.
In the subsequent decade, she was given another supporting actress nomination for her performance in David Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the mom of her biological child the character played by Dern. A year later she was awarded another nomination for her acting in Rambling Rose, another movie which also starred her daughter.
“This was the film which Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she invited us to London for a royal premiere and a party for us,” Ladd shared regarding Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, grasping our hands, with tears, watching us perform.”
The nineties included parts in comedy Cemetery Club, a film reuniting her with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a satirical film, featuring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she played Dern’s mother again. That period also brought her TV award nominations for work on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Partnerships with Her Daughter
She continued to star with her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire and White’s satirical show the program Enlightened. She also appeared next to Sandra Bullock, a star in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Her more recent television parts included Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.
Filmmaking Ventures
She additionally penned and oversaw the comedy film the movie Mrs Munck featuring herself and previous spouse actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she noted. “I was honored to direct him in a movie. In fact, I stand as the only woman in history to direct her ex-husband. I make a joke: ‘I advise females, should you desire retribution, direct your ex-husband.’ However, I’m joking.”
Personal Connections
She happened to be a family member of the great Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a great influence throughout my life”.
Back in 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with lung disease and informed her life expectancy was six months but she regained full health after her daughter transferred her to a different hospital.
“If you can take your pain and prevent it from festering like a sore or something, rather utilize it to explore, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are triumphing,” Ladd remarked.
