Diane Ladd, Known For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at the Age of 89.
This award-nominated performer Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran left us 89 years old.
This actress, whose roles included Chinatown, passed away at home in Ojai, California. The news was revealed through a message by her daughter, award-winning actress her daughter Laura Dern.
Her daughter, who performed alongside Diane Ladd in a number of films such as Wild at Heart, called her “my amazing hero as well as my precious gift as a mother”, noting that she was by her side when she passed.
“She was the most wonderful grandmother, mother, daughter, actress, artist and empathetic spirit that felt like a dream come true,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Early Career and Breakthrough
The start of her career saw minor parts in television programs such as Gunsmoke whereas that decade had her appearing next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
During that year, 1974, she shared the screen with actress Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese praised comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her acting brought Ladd an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress.
1980s and Beyond
Throughout the 1980s, she appeared in the thriller the movie Black Widow plus humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and appeared on Alice, a sitcom derived from her earlier movie.
In the subsequent decade, she was given an additional supporting actress nomination for her performance in David Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the mother of her real-life daughter Laura Dern’s role. A year later she was awarded a further nomination for her role in Rambling Rose which included Laura Dern.
“This was the picture that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she brought Laura and I to England for a royal premiere and a party in our honor,” Ladd recalled regarding Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, grasping our hands, and crying, viewing our performance.”
The nineties included parts in comedy The Cemetery Club reuniting her with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a comedy about politics, featuring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy in which she portrayed Dern’s mother again. That period also earned her nominations for Emmy Awards for roles in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel.
Working with Laura Dern
She continued to star with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, the David Lynch project Inland Empire and Mike White’s satirical show the program Enlightened. She was also seen alongside actress Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Subsequent TV appearances included the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Behind the Camera
She also authored and helmed the comedy film Mrs Munck that included Diane Ladd and previous spouse actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she mentioned. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a film. Actually, I am the sole female in history who directed her former husband. I make a joke: ‘I say ladies, if you want revenge, helm a movie with your ex.’ However, I’m joking.”
Personal Life
She happened to be a relative of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a major inspiration on my life”.
Back in 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with lung disease and told her life expectancy was six months yet she recovered completely after her daughter moved her to a new hospital.
“When you use your pain and not let it back up like an injury, instead use it to investigate, to illuminate the way for personal and collective growth, then you are succeeding,” Ladd remarked.
