Acclaimed Actress Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Dies at 89 Years Old.
This Oscar-nominated actress Diane Ladd passed away aged 89.
This actor, with credits included National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, died at her home in Ojai, California. Her passing was revealed through a message from her child, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern.
Laura Dern, who appeared with her mom in a number of films such as Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, described her as “my wonderful hero as well as my precious gift being my mom”, writing that she was by her side during her final moments.
“She was an exceptional grandmother, mother, daughter, actress, artist and compassionate soul that seemed almost dreamlike,” she stated. “We were blessed to have her. She is now with the angels.”
Beginnings and Rise to Fame
Her initial acting years saw supporting roles in television programs including Gunsmoke and the 1970s featured her performing alongside the legendary Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
In the same year, the year 1974, she appeared alongside Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role brought Ladd her initial Oscar nod for best supporting actress.
Subsequent Years
In the 1980s, she starred in the dramatic film Black Widow, a suspense story plus funny follow-up Christmas Vacation and appeared on the show Alice, a television series based on the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
During the next ten years, she received an additional best supporting actress nomination for her part in David Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mom of her actual daughter Dern’s character. The following year she was awarded an additional nod for her role in Rambling Rose that also featured Dern.
“This movie which Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she flew Laura and I to England for a special screening and an event for us,” Ladd shared about the film Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, grasping our hands, with tears, watching us perform.”
The nineties also saw roles in comedy The Cemetery Club joining her again with Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a comedy about politics, featuring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she played Dern’s mother once more. That period also earned her nominations for Emmy Awards for roles on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Partnerships with Her Daughter
She continued to star with Laura Dern in comedy drama Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s Inland Empire and Mike White’s comedy-drama series the program Enlightened. She additionally starred with actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Her later TV roles featured Ray Donovan, a drama plus Young Sheldon.
Behind the Camera
She additionally penned and oversaw the comedy Mrs Munck that included her and ex-husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “It was a privilege to guide him in a film. Indeed, I am the sole female in history to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I tell women, if you want revenge, helm a movie with your ex.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Personal Life
She happened to be a family member of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she called “a significant impact on my life”.
In 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a respiratory illness and told her life expectancy was six months but made a full recovery when her daughter moved her to another medical facility.
“If you can take your pain and avoid letting it accumulate like a sore or something, rather utilize it to investigate, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are succeeding,” Ladd expressed.
