Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Famed For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Dies at Age 89.
The Oscar-nominated actress the celebrated Diane Ladd has died 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 revealed through a message shared by her offspring, award-winning actress her daughter Laura Dern.
Dern, who performed alongside her mother in a number of films like Rambling Rose, called her “my amazing hero as well as my precious gift as a mother”, noting that she was at her bedside when she passed.
“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and caring individual that seemed almost dreamlike,” she stated. “We were blessed to have her. She is now with the angels.”
Beginnings and Major Success
Ladd’s early career saw supporting roles in television programs including Gunsmoke while the seventies had her appearing alongside actor Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
During that year, 1974, she appeared alongside Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role brought Ladd her initial Oscar nod as best supporting actress.
Subsequent Years
During the eighties, she appeared in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story as well as funny follow-up National Lampoon’s holiday comedy while also joining the show Alice, a television series derived from her earlier movie.
In the following decade, she earned another Oscar nomination for supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her performance in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart where she acted as the mother of her biological child Laura Dern’s role. A year later she received another nomination for her role in Rambling Rose which included Dern.
“This was the picture that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she invited us to England for a royal premiere and an event dedicated to us,” Ladd shared of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, taking our hands, and crying, seeing us act.”
The nineties also saw roles in the comedy Cemetery Club, a film reuniting her with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a comedy about politics, starring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne the movie Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed the mother of Dern again. That period also saw her score TV award nominations for work in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom plus Touched by an Angel.
Working with Laura Dern
She kept appearing with her daughter in films blending humor and drama the film Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and Mike White’s comedy-drama series Enlightened, a TV series. She additionally starred next to Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Her more recent television parts featured the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.
Writing and Directing
She additionally penned and helmed the comedy film the movie Mrs Munck that included Diane Ladd and ex-husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she noted. “I was honored to direct him on a project. Indeed, I am the sole female in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I tell women, if you want revenge, direct your ex-husband.’ However, I’m joking.”
Personal Connections
She happened to be the third cousin of the great Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a great influence in my life”.
During 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and advised she had just six months to live but she regained full health when her daughter moved her to another medical facility.
“When you use your pain and prevent it from festering like an injury, rather utilize it to investigate, to illuminate the way for personal and collective growth, then you are winning,” Ladd remarked.
