Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at 89 Years Old.
The award-nominated performer the celebrated Diane Ladd has died at the age of 89.
This actor, whose filmography spanned Chinatown, passed away at home in California’s Ojai. The news was shared through a message by her offspring, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern.
Her daughter, who starred with Diane Ladd in a number of films such as Wild at Heart, referred to her as “my wonderful hero and my special gift being my mom”, writing that she was at her bedside as she died.
“She was the greatest mother, daughter, grandmother, star, artist as well as empathetic spirit that seemed almost dreamlike,” she stated. “We were fortunate to know her. She is now with the angels.”
Initial Roles and Rise to Fame
The start of her career featured minor parts in TV shows including Perry Mason whereas the 1970s saw her starring next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
That very year, the year 1974, she appeared with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s acclaimed comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her role landed Ladd an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress.
Later Decades
During the eighties, she starred in crime thriller the movie Black Widow and funny follow-up Christmas Vacation while also joining Alice, a television series derived from her earlier movie.
During the next ten years, she earned another best supporting actress nomination for her performance in Lynch’s Wild at Heart where she acted as the parent of her real-life daughter the character played by Dern. The next year she received an additional nod for her role in the film Rambling Rose which included her daughter.
“This was the picture which Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she flew us to England for a special screening and a party for us,” Ladd recalled regarding Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, taking our hands, and crying, watching us perform.”
The 1990s also saw roles in humorous films Cemetery Club joining her again with Ellen Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a satirical film, with John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy in which she portrayed the mother of Dern once more. That period also brought her TV award nominations for roles in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Working with Laura Dern
She persisted in performing alongside her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire, a surreal film and Mike White’s dark comedy series the program Enlightened. She also appeared with Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Subsequent TV appearances included Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon, a comedy.
Behind the Camera
Ladd also wrote and oversaw the comedy Mrs Munck that included her and ex-husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she said. “It was a privilege to guide him in a movie. Indeed, I’m the only woman in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I often joke: ‘I advise females, should you desire retribution, guide your former spouse.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Family Ties
She was additionally a family member of Tennessee Williams, who she called “a significant impact on my life”.
During 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a respiratory illness and advised her life expectancy was six months but she regained full health after her daughter moved her to a different hospital.
“If you can take your pain and not let it back up similar to a wound, rather utilize it to discover, to make the path clearer for yourself and others, then you are winning,” Ladd said.
