Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Famed For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at the Age of 89.
The Academy Award-nominated performer Diane Ladd left us aged 89.
This actress, whose filmography spanned National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, left this world in her residence at her Ojai, California home. The news was revealed in a statement from her daughter, award-winning actress Laura Dern.
Dern, who performed alongside her mom in several movies including Wild at Heart, referred to her as “my incredible hero plus my special gift being my mom”, stating that she was present during her final moments.
“She was the most wonderful grandmother, mother, daughter, star, artist and compassionate soul that seemed almost dreamlike,” she stated. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Initial Roles and Breakthrough
The start of her career featured supporting roles in television programs like The Fugitive while that decade saw her starring with Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
During that year, the year 1974, she appeared with actress Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s acclaimed comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her acting brought Ladd an Academy Award nomination in the supporting actress category.
Later Decades
Throughout the 1980s, she starred in the dramatic film Black Widow as well as funny follow-up National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and also took part in the sitcom Alice, a sitcom based on Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
In the following decade, she received another Oscar nomination for supporting actress nomination for her performance in Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the parent of her actual daughter Dern’s character. A year later she obtained a further nomination for her role in Rambling Rose, another movie which included Dern.
“This was the film that Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she flew us to the UK for a special screening and a celebration in our honor,” Ladd said of Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, taking our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”
The nineties also saw roles in comedy The Cemetery Club reuniting her with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a comedy about politics, starring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she played Dern’s mother another time. Those years also saw her score TV award nominations for performances in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Partnerships with Her Daughter
She kept appearing with her daughter in films blending humor and drama the film Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire and Mike White’s dark comedy series the program Enlightened. She additionally starred with Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian plus Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.
Her more recent television parts featured Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon.
Behind the Camera
She also authored and helmed the comedy film Mrs Munck, a film that included Diane Ladd and former husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “It was a privilege to guide him on a project. Indeed, I am the sole female in recorded history to helm a film with her ex. I make a joke: ‘I say ladies, if you want revenge, guide your former spouse.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Personal Connections
She happened to be the third cousin of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a significant impact on my life”.
In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a respiratory illness and advised she only had half a year left yet she recovered completely after her daughter shifted her to a new hospital.
“If you can take your pain and not let it back up like an injury, instead use it to explore, to illuminate the way for you and those around, then you are winning,” Ladd expressed.
