Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Dies at the Age of 89.
This Academy Award-nominated actor Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran left us at the age of 89.
This star, with filmography featured National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, left this world in her residence in California’s Ojai. Her passing was revealed in a statement by her daughter, award-winning actress Laura Dern.
Dern, who starred with her mom in several movies like Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my incredible hero and my special gift of a mother”, stating that she was by her side as she died.
“She was an exceptional mother, daughter, grandmother, actress, artist along with compassionate soul that felt like a dream come true,” she wrote. “We were lucky to have her. She is now with the angels.”
Beginnings and Breakthrough
Her initial acting years saw small roles on television series like Perry Mason while the seventies had her appearing alongside the legendary Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
That very year, 1974, she shared the screen with actress Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s praised comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her role earned Ladd an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress.
1980s and Beyond
During the eighties, she was seen in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story as well as humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy while also joining Alice, a comedy program based on the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
In the following decade, she received a further best supporting actress nomination for her role in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart where she played the parent of her actual daughter Dern’s character. The next year she obtained an additional nod for her performance in Rambling Rose which included Dern.
“This was the film that Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she brought me and Laura to the UK for a special screening and an event in our honor,” Ladd shared of Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, grasping our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”
That decade featured performances in humorous films The Cemetery Club joining her again with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a political comedy, starring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she acted as Laura Dern’s mom once more. The decade also saw her score nominations for Emmy Awards for work on Dr Quinn, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Partnerships with Her Daughter
She persisted in performing with Laura Dern in comedy drama Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire and Mike White’s dark comedy series Enlightened, a TV series. She also appeared with actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Subsequent TV appearances consisted of Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon, a comedy.
Behind the Camera
She also authored and directed the comedy film the movie Mrs Munck that included her and ex-husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she said. “I was honored to direct him on a project. In fact, I’m the only woman in history to direct her ex-husband. I make a joke: ‘I say ladies, should you desire retribution, helm a movie with your ex.’ However, I’m joking.”
Personal Life
She happened to be a relative of the great Tennessee Williams, who she called “a significant impact throughout my life”.
Back in 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a pulmonary condition and informed she had just six months to live but made a full recovery when her daughter shifted her to a new hospital.
“When you use your pain and avoid letting it accumulate similar to a wound, instead use it to investigate, to clarify the journey for yourself and others, then you are winning,” Ladd expressed.
