Acclaimed Actress Diane Ladd, Known For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at the Age of 89.
This award-nominated actor Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran left us 89 years old.
The actor, with credits included Chinatown, passed away at home at her Ojai, California home. This announcement was shared via an announcement from her daughter, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern.
Her daughter, who performed alongside her mom in a number of films such as Rambling Rose, described her as “my amazing hero plus my profound gift being my mom”, stating that she was by her side during her final moments.
“She was an exceptional grandmother, mother, daughter, star, artist as well as empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she stated. “We were lucky to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Early Career and Breakthrough
Her initial acting years saw small roles in television programs such as Perry Mason whereas the 1970s had her appearing with actor Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
In the same year, 1974, she appeared with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. The performance earned Ladd an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.
1980s and Beyond
In the 1980s, she appeared in crime thriller the movie Black Widow and funny follow-up National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and appeared on the show Alice, a television series derived from her earlier movie.
During the next ten years, she received a further supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role in the David Lynch film the movie 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 a further nomination for her role in Rambling Rose that also featured her daughter.
“This was the film which Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she invited me and Laura to London for a royal premiere and an event for us,” Ladd shared about the film Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, grasping our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”
The 1990s also saw roles in humorous films The Cemetery Club joining her again with her co-star Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a political comedy, starring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she played Laura Dern’s mom once more. That period also earned her TV award nominations for work in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel.
Collaborations with Daughter
She persisted in performing with her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and White’s comedy-drama series Enlightened, a TV series. She additionally starred alongside Sandra Bullock, a star in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in that movie plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Her more recent television parts featured Ray Donovan, a drama plus Young Sheldon.
Filmmaking Ventures
She additionally penned and helmed the comedy Mrs Munck that included her and former husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a talented star,” she noted. “It was a privilege to guide him in a film. Actually, I am the sole female in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I make a 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 family member of Tennessee Williams, who she called “a great influence throughout my life”.
Back in 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a pulmonary condition and informed her life expectancy was six months but she regained full health when her daughter transferred her to a new hospital.
“If you can take your pain and prevent it from festering similar to a wound, instead use it to investigate, to clarify the journey for you and those around, then you are succeeding,” Ladd remarked.
