Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Famed For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at Age 89.
This award-nominated performer Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran has died 89 years old.
The star, with credits spanned Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence at her Ojai, California home. The news was announced via an announcement from her daughter, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern.
Dern, who performed alongside her mom in several movies like Rambling Rose, called her “my wonderful hero plus my precious gift of a mother”, stating that she was at her bedside as she died.
“She was the greatest grandmother, mother, daughter, performer, creative along with empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she wrote. “We were blessed to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Initial Roles and Major Success
The start of her career featured small roles in television programs like Perry Mason whereas the 1970s had her appearing next to actor Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
In the same year, 1974, she shared the screen alongside Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese acclaimed film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her acting brought Ladd her initial Oscar nod in the supporting actress category.
Later Decades
In the 1980s, she appeared in the thriller Black Widow, a suspense story plus comedy sequel National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation while also joining the sitcom Alice, a television series based on Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
During the next ten years, she was given another supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her part in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mom of her biological child Laura Dern’s role. A year later she obtained another nomination for her acting in the film Rambling Rose that also featured Laura Dern.
“This was the film which Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she flew us to London for a premiere and a party dedicated to us,” Ladd shared about the film Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, taking our hands, with tears, watching us perform.”
The 1990s featured performances in humorous films Cemetery Club reuniting her with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, starring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as Dern’s mother once more. Those years also earned her Emmy nominations for roles in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom plus Touched by an Angel.
Partnerships with Her Daughter
She kept appearing with her daughter in dramatic comedies the film Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and Mike White’s comedy-drama series Enlightened, a TV series. She also appeared next to Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Her more recent television parts included Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Filmmaking Ventures
Ladd also wrote and directed the comedy Mrs Munck featuring herself and former husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she mentioned. “I was honored to direct him in a film. In fact, I stand as the only woman in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I often joke: ‘I advise females, if you want revenge, helm a movie with your ex.’ However, I’m joking.”
Personal Connections
Ladd was also a family member of Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a significant impact in my life”.
During 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a respiratory illness and informed she only had half a year left yet she recovered completely once her daughter transferred her to a new hospital.
“When you use your pain and avoid letting it accumulate like an injury, instead apply it to investigate, to illuminate the way for personal and collective growth, then you are succeeding,” Ladd remarked.
