Diane Ladd, Known For Her Performance in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at Age 89.
The Oscar-nominated actress Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran left us aged 89.
This star, with roles spanned Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence at her Ojai, California home. Her passing was revealed in a statement shared by her daughter, Oscar-winning actor her daughter Laura Dern.
Dern, who appeared with her mother in several movies including Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, described her as “my amazing hero plus my profound gift as a mother”, writing that she was present when she passed.
“She was the greatest mother, daughter, grandmother, star, artist as well as compassionate soul that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she stated. “We were lucky to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Initial Roles and Major Success
Ladd’s early career saw supporting roles in television programs like Gunsmoke whereas the seventies featured her performing alongside Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
In the same year, 1974, she shared the screen alongside Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised dramatic comedy the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role brought Ladd an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.
Subsequent Years
In the 1980s, she was seen in the thriller Black Widow plus funny follow-up National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and appeared on the sitcom Alice, a comedy program derived from her earlier movie.
During the next ten years, she was given another Oscar nomination for supporting actress Oscar nomination for her part in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart where she acted as the mother of her biological child Dern’s character. The next year she received a further nomination for her acting in Rambling Rose that also featured Laura Dern.
“This was the picture that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she flew us to London for a premiere and a party dedicated to us,” Ladd recalled regarding Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, holding both our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”
The nineties featured performances in comedy Cemetery Club reuniting her with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a comedy about politics, starring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed Laura Dern’s mom another time. The decade also saw her score nominations for Emmy Awards for work on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom plus Touched by an Angel.
Partnerships with Her Daughter
She persisted in performing alongside her daughter in films blending humor and drama the film Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire and White’s dark comedy series Enlightened, a TV series. She was also seen with actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film plus Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.
Her later TV roles featured Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon.
Filmmaking Ventures
She also authored and helmed the comedy film Mrs Munck which starred Diane Ladd and former husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she mentioned. “It was a privilege to guide him on a project. Indeed, I am the sole female in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, should you desire retribution, guide your former spouse.’ However, I’m joking.”
Personal Connections
She was additionally a family member of the great Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a great influence in my life”.
Back in 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with lung disease and told her life expectancy was six months but made a full recovery once her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.
“When you use your pain and prevent it from festering like an injury, instead use it to discover, to clarify the journey for personal and collective growth, then you are triumphing,” Ladd remarked.
