🔗 Share this article

The Academy Award-nominated actor Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran left us at the age of 89.

The star, whose filmography featured Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, passed away at home at her Ojai, California home. This announcement was revealed through a message shared by her offspring, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern, her daughter.

Dern, who appeared with her mother in various films like Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, called her “my wonderful hero as well as my profound gift being my mom”, writing that she was at her bedside during her final moments.

“She was an exceptional mother, daughter, grandmother, actress, artist and caring individual that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were fortunate to know her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Beginnings and Major Success

The start of her career included minor parts on television series such as Gunsmoke whereas the seventies had her appearing alongside actor Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.

During that year, 1974, she shared the screen alongside Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised dramatic comedy Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her acting brought Ladd her initial Oscar nod for best supporting actress.

Subsequent Years

During the eighties, she appeared in crime thriller the movie Black Widow as well as comedy sequel National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and also took part in the sitcom Alice, a comedy program based on the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the following decade, she received another supporting actress nomination for her performance in Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the parent of her real-life daughter the character played by Dern. The following year she received another nomination for her role in Rambling Rose, another movie which also starred her daughter.

“This was the picture that Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she invited us to England for a royal premiere and an event for us,” Ladd shared regarding Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, taking our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”

The nineties included parts in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film joining her again with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political comedy, starring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she acted as Laura Dern’s mom again. That period also saw her score nominations for Emmy Awards for performances in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel.

Collaborations with Daughter

She continued to star with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama the film Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire and the series by Mike White satirical show the program Enlightened. She additionally starred alongside Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in that movie and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.

Her more recent television parts featured Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon.

Filmmaking Ventures

She additionally penned and helmed the comedy film Mrs Munck, a film which starred Diane Ladd and previous spouse Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she mentioned. “It was a privilege to guide him on a project. In fact, I’m the only woman ever to helm a film with her ex. I make a joke: ‘I say ladies, if you seek payback, direct your ex-husband.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Connections

Ladd was also a relative of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she called “a major inspiration in my life”.

Back in 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a pulmonary condition and informed her life expectancy was six months but made a full recovery after her daughter transferred her to a new hospital.

“If you can take your pain and not let it back up like an injury, rather utilize it to discover, to make the path clearer for personal and collective growth, then you are triumphing,” Ladd expressed.