Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Known For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Dies at Age 89.
The award-nominated actress Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran has died 89 years old.
The actress, whose filmography spanned National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, passed away at home in Ojai, California. Her passing was shared via an announcement shared by her daughter, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern, her daughter.
Her daughter, who appeared with her mom in several movies including Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, described her as “my amazing hero as well as my profound gift of a mother”, writing that she was by her side as she died.
“She was an exceptional grandmother, mother, daughter, actress, artist along with caring individual that felt like a dream come true,” she expressed. “We were lucky to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Initial Roles and Major Success
Her initial acting years saw minor parts in television programs such as The Fugitive whereas that decade saw her starring alongside the legendary Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
During that year, 1974, she shared the screen alongside Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s acclaimed film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her acting landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination as best supporting actress.
Subsequent Years
During the eighties, she appeared in the dramatic film the movie Black Widow as well as humorous film Christmas Vacation and appeared on Alice, a comedy program inspired by the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
In the following decade, she received a further supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role in the David Lynch film the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mother of her actual daughter Dern’s character. A year later she was awarded a further nomination for her role in Rambling Rose, another movie which also starred her daughter.
“This movie which Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she invited me and Laura to London for a royal premiere and a celebration dedicated to us,” Ladd recalled of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, grasping our hands, and crying, watching us perform.”
The 1990s included parts in humorous films The Cemetery Club joining her again with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a comedy about politics, with John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she acted as Laura Dern’s mom again. Those years also saw her score nominations for Emmy Awards for roles in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.
Partnerships with Her Daughter
She persisted in performing with her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire and Mike White’s dark comedy series Enlightened. She was also seen next to Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Subsequent TV appearances consisted of Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.
Behind the Camera
She also authored and helmed the humorous movie Mrs Munck, a film that included Diane Ladd and former husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she noted. “I’m privileged to have directed him on a project. Actually, I’m the only woman ever to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I advise females, if you want revenge, direct your ex-husband.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Family Ties
Ladd was also a relative of Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a significant impact on my life”.
In 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a respiratory illness and advised her life expectancy was six months but made a full recovery when her daughter shifted her to a different hospital.
“Should you harness your suffering and not let it back up like an injury, instead apply it to explore, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are winning,” Ladd expressed.
