Acclaimed Actress Diane Ladd, Famed For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at Age 89.

This Oscar-nominated actor Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran passed away 89 years old.

This actor, whose credits included Chinatown, died at her home in Ojai, California. Her passing was shared in a statement from her offspring, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who appeared with Diane Ladd in a number of films including Wild at Heart, called her “my wonderful hero plus my profound gift as a mother”, writing that she was present when she passed.

“She was the most wonderful daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist as well as compassionate soul that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were lucky to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Early Career and Rise to Fame

Ladd’s early career included minor parts on television series such as The Fugitive while that decade saw her starring with actor Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

That very year, 1974, she appeared with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. The performance landed Ladd her initial Oscar nod for best supporting actress.

Subsequent Years

Throughout the 1980s, she was seen in the dramatic film Black Widow, a suspense story as well as humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy while also joining the show Alice, a sitcom derived from Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

During the next ten years, she earned another supporting actress Oscar nomination for her part in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mom of her real-life daughter Dern’s character. A year later she obtained a further nomination for her acting in Rambling Rose that also featured Laura Dern.

“This was the film that Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she brought us to England for a special screening and a celebration in our honor,” Ladd shared of Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, grasping our hands, and weeping, watching us perform.”

The nineties included parts in the comedy The Cemetery Club joining her again with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as Laura Dern’s mom again. That period also saw her score Emmy nominations for roles in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Working with Laura Dern

She persisted in performing with her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and the series by Mike White satirical show Enlightened. She was also seen alongside actress Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

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

Writing and Directing

She also authored and directed the humorous movie Mrs Munck, a film featuring Diane Ladd and former husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she mentioned. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a movie. In fact, I’m the only woman ever to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I say ladies, if you want revenge, direct your ex-husband.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Life

Ladd was also a relative of the great Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a significant impact in my life”.

In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with lung disease and advised she had just six months to live yet she recovered completely when her daughter moved her to a new hospital.

“If you can take your pain and avoid letting it accumulate like an injury, instead use it to explore, to illuminate the way for you and those around, then you are triumphing,” Ladd remarked.