Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Famed For Her Performance in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at Age 89.
The award-nominated actress the celebrated Diane Ladd left us aged 89.
This star, whose roles featured Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home in Ojai, California. Her passing was shared through a message shared by her child, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern.
Her daughter, who starred with her mom in various films including Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, called her “my amazing hero as well as my profound gift being my mom”, noting that she was present during her final moments.
“She was the greatest mother, daughter, grandmother, star, artist as well as caring individual that felt like a dream come true,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Beginnings and Rise to Fame
The start of her career saw small roles in television programs such as Perry Mason while that decade saw her starring with Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
During that year, the year 1974, she appeared with actress Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s celebrated film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her acting brought Ladd her first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.
Subsequent Years
Throughout the 1980s, she starred in the thriller Black Widow, a suspense story as well as humorous film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation while also joining Alice, a television series based on her earlier movie.
During the next ten years, she earned a further supporting actress Oscar nomination for her part in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mother of her biological child Dern’s character. A year later she was awarded an additional nod for her role in Rambling Rose, another movie which included Laura Dern.
“This was the film that Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she invited Laura and I to the UK for a premiere and a celebration in our honor,” Ladd shared regarding Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, grasping our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.”
The 1990s also saw roles in the comedy The Cemetery Club joining her again with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political comedy, starring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth where she played the mother of Dern once more. That period also brought her Emmy nominations for work on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Partnerships with Her Daughter
She kept appearing with Laura Dern in comedy drama the film Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire and the series by Mike White comedy-drama series Enlightened. She additionally starred with Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in that movie and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Subsequent TV appearances included the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Writing and Directing
Ladd also wrote and directed the comedy Mrs Munck, a film featuring herself and ex-husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she noted. “I was honored to direct him in a film. Actually, I’m the only woman in history who directed her former husband. I humorously say: ‘I say ladies, if you seek payback, direct your ex-husband.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Personal Life
She happened to be a relative of playwright Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a significant impact throughout my life”.
Back in 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with lung disease and advised she only had half a year left but she regained full health after her daughter transferred her to another medical facility.
“When you use your pain and avoid letting it accumulate similar to a wound, instead apply it to explore, to illuminate the way for personal and collective growth, then you are succeeding,” Ladd said.
