Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Famed For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at the Age of 89.
This award-nominated performer the celebrated Diane Ladd left us at the age of 89.
This actor, whose credits included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. Her passing was shared via an announcement shared by her child, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern, her daughter.
Laura Dern, who performed alongside Diane Ladd in several movies such as Rambling Rose, described her as “my amazing hero plus my precious gift of a mother”, writing that she was present when she passed.
“She was the greatest grandmother, mother, daughter, actress, artist and compassionate soul that seemed almost dreamlike,” she stated. “We were lucky to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Initial Roles and Breakthrough
Ladd’s early career saw minor parts on television series such as The Fugitive while the seventies saw her starring next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
During that year, the year 1974, she performed alongside Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s praised comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. The performance landed Ladd an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress.
1980s and Beyond
In the 1980s, she appeared in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story and humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and also took part in the sitcom Alice, a sitcom based on Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
In the following decade, she received an additional Oscar nomination for supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart, a cult classic in which she portrayed the mom of her real-life daughter the character played by Dern. A year later she obtained an additional nod for her performance in Rambling Rose which also starred Dern.
“This movie that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she invited Laura and I to England for a premiere and a party dedicated to us,” Ladd recalled of Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, holding both our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”
The nineties also saw roles in the comedy Cemetery Club reuniting her with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a political comedy, with John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne the movie Citizen Ruth where she played Dern’s mother again. Those years also brought her TV award nominations for work on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.
Collaborations with Daughter
She continued to star alongside her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s comedy-drama series Enlightened. She additionally starred next to Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Her later TV roles consisted of Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Filmmaking Ventures
Ladd also wrote and helmed the comedy film the movie Mrs Munck featuring her and previous spouse Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she said. “I’m privileged to have directed him on a project. Actually, I am the sole female ever to helm a film with her ex. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, if you want revenge, helm a movie with your ex.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Personal Life
Ladd was also a relative of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she called “a significant impact throughout my life”.
In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a respiratory illness and told she had just six months to live but she regained full health when her daughter shifted her to a new hospital.
“When you use your pain and prevent it from festering similar to a wound, rather utilize it to explore, to illuminate the way for you and those around, then you are triumphing,” Ladd expressed.
