Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Dies at the Age of 89.
The award-nominated performer Diane Ladd passed away at the age of 89.
This actor, with filmography included National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. This announcement was revealed through a message shared by her child, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern.
Dern, who starred with her mother in various films like Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, called her “my incredible hero and my precious gift being my mom”, stating that she was by her side during her final moments.
“She was the greatest mother, daughter, grandmother, performer, creative and empathetic spirit that seemed almost dreamlike,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Beginnings and Rise to Fame
Her initial acting years saw supporting roles in TV shows such as The Fugitive while the seventies had her appearing alongside Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
That very year, 1974, she appeared alongside Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed comedy drama the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role brought Ladd an Academy Award nomination in the supporting actress category.
Subsequent Years
Throughout the 1980s, she was seen in the thriller the movie Black Widow as well as funny follow-up Christmas Vacation and also took part in the show Alice, a television series based on Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
During the next ten years, she earned a further supporting actress nomination for her performance in David Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she played the parent of her actual daughter Laura Dern’s role. A year later she obtained an additional nod for her performance in Rambling Rose, another movie which included Laura Dern.
“This movie that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she brought Laura and I to the UK for a royal premiere and an event in our honor,” Ladd said about the film Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, grasping our hands, with tears, watching us perform.”
The nineties also saw roles in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film joining her again with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political comedy, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she played the mother of Dern once more. Those years also earned her Emmy nominations for work in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Working with Laura Dern
She continued to star with Laura Dern in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s Inland Empire and Mike White’s comedy-drama series Enlightened. She additionally starred next to Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins in that movie and Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.
Her more recent television parts included the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.
Filmmaking Ventures
Ladd also wrote and directed the humorous movie Mrs Munck which starred her and ex-husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “It was a privilege to guide him in a film. Indeed, I stand as the only woman in history to helm a film with her ex. I often joke: ‘I tell women, if you seek payback, guide your former spouse.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Family Ties
She happened to be the third cousin of Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a great influence in my life”.
In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with lung disease and informed she had just six months to live yet she recovered completely when her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.
“If you can take your pain and prevent it from festering like an injury, instead use it to explore, to make the path clearer for you and those around, then you are succeeding,” Ladd said.
