Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at Age 89.
This award-nominated actress Diane Ladd passed away at the age of 89.
This actress, with roles featured Chinatown, passed away at home at her Ojai, California home. Her passing was revealed in a statement by her daughter, award-winning actress Laura Dern, her daughter.
Dern, who performed alongside Diane Ladd in various films such as Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, called her “my incredible hero plus my special gift as a mother”, noting that she was present during her final moments.
“She was an exceptional mother, daughter, grandmother, performer, creative along with caring individual that felt like a dream come true,” she wrote. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Initial Roles and Breakthrough
Her initial acting years included small roles in television programs like The Fugitive and the 1970s featured her performing next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
During that year, 1974, she performed alongside Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s celebrated comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her acting earned Ladd her initial Oscar nod for best supporting actress.
Subsequent Years
During the eighties, she was seen in the dramatic film the movie Black Widow plus funny follow-up National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and also took part in the show Alice, a comedy program derived from her earlier movie.
During the next ten years, she earned an additional supporting actress nomination for her performance in Lynch’s Wild at Heart where she played the parent of her real-life daughter Dern’s character. The following year she was awarded an additional nod for her acting in the film Rambling Rose which included Dern.
“This was the picture which Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she invited Laura and I to the UK for a premiere and a celebration for us,” Ladd shared regarding Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, grasping our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”
The nineties also saw roles in humorous films The Cemetery Club joining her again with Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a comedy about politics, featuring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed Laura Dern’s mom once more. That period also brought her nominations for Emmy Awards for work in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.
Partnerships with Her Daughter
She continued to star with her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s Inland Empire and Mike White’s dark comedy series Enlightened. She also appeared alongside Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Her later TV roles consisted of the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.
Behind the Camera
She also authored and helmed the comedy film Mrs Munck which starred herself and previous spouse actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she noted. “It was a privilege to guide him on a project. In fact, I stand as the only woman in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I make a joke: ‘I advise females, should you desire retribution, guide your former spouse.’ However, I’m joking.”
Family Ties
She was additionally the third cousin of playwright Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a significant impact on my life”.
Back in 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with lung disease and informed she only had half a year left yet she recovered completely after her daughter moved her to a new hospital.
“If you can take your pain and not let it back up similar to a wound, rather utilize it to explore, to make the path clearer for yourself and others, then you are triumphing,” Ladd expressed.
