Acclaimed Actress Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at Age 89.
This Oscar-nominated actress Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran has died at the age of 89.
This star, whose filmography spanned National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, passed away at home at her Ojai, California home. Her passing was announced in a statement from her daughter, award-winning actress her daughter Laura Dern.
Laura Dern, who appeared with her mother in several movies 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, star, artist as well as empathetic spirit that seemed almost dreamlike,” she wrote. “We were fortunate to know her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Initial Roles and Breakthrough
Her initial acting years featured supporting roles in TV shows like Perry Mason whereas the 1970s had her appearing with Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
During that year, the year 1974, she performed alongside Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s acclaimed comedy drama the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination in the supporting actress category.
Later Decades
During the eighties, she appeared in the dramatic film Black Widow, a suspense story as well as comedy sequel National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and appeared on the show Alice, a comedy program based on her earlier movie.
During the next ten years, she earned another supporting actress nomination for her performance in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart where she acted as the mother of her real-life daughter the character played by Dern. A year later she was awarded an additional nod for her acting in Rambling Rose, another movie which included Dern.
“This was the picture which Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she flew us to the UK for a royal premiere and an event dedicated to us,” Ladd shared of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, holding both our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”
The nineties included parts in humorous films Cemetery Club bringing her back with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy in which she portrayed Dern’s mother again. Those years also earned her nominations for Emmy Awards for performances on Dr Quinn, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.
Collaborations with Daughter
She kept appearing with Laura Dern in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s Inland Empire and the series by Mike White comedy-drama series the program Enlightened. She additionally starred with Sandra Bullock, a star in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in that movie and with Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.
Subsequent TV appearances consisted of Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon.
Behind the Camera
Ladd also wrote and oversaw the comedy Mrs Munck, a film featuring her and ex-husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a film. In fact, I am the sole female ever to direct her ex-husband. I often joke: ‘I advise females, should you desire retribution, helm a movie with your ex.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Family Ties
Ladd was also a relative of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a great influence in my life”.
In 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with lung disease and informed her life expectancy was six months but she regained full health once her daughter shifted her to a new hospital.
“Should you harness your suffering and not let it back up like a sore or something, instead use it to discover, to clarify the journey for yourself and others, then you are succeeding,” Ladd expressed.
