Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at the Age of 89.

This award-nominated actor the celebrated Diane Ladd has died aged 89.

The star, whose filmography featured Chinatown, passed away at home in Ojai, California. This announcement was revealed in a statement by her daughter, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern, her daughter.

Laura Dern, who performed alongside her mom in several movies like Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my amazing hero as well as my precious gift as a mother”, noting that she was present when she passed.

“She was an exceptional daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist as well as compassionate soul that felt like a dream come true,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Beginnings and Major Success

The start of her career included small roles in TV shows including The Fugitive whereas that decade saw her starring alongside Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

That very year, the year 1974, she shared the screen with actress Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her acting landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.

Subsequent Years

Throughout the 1980s, she starred in the dramatic film Black Widow and funny follow-up National Lampoon’s holiday comedy while also joining the sitcom Alice, a television series inspired by Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the following decade, she earned an additional supporting actress Oscar nomination for her part in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the parent of her real-life daughter Laura Dern’s role. A year later she was awarded a further nomination for her acting in the film Rambling Rose which also starred Laura Dern.

“This was the film that Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she flew Laura and I to England for a special screening and a party for us,” Ladd recalled regarding Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, grasping our hands, and crying, seeing us act.”

The 1990s also saw roles in comedy The Cemetery Club joining her again with Ellen Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a satirical film, featuring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she played Dern’s mother again. The decade also brought her TV award nominations for performances in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.

Partnerships with Her Daughter

She continued to star with her daughter in comedy drama the film Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s satirical show the program Enlightened. She additionally starred next to actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in that movie plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Subsequent TV appearances consisted of the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon, a comedy.

Behind the Camera

She also authored and oversaw the comedy film Mrs Munck, a film which starred her and ex-husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “I’m privileged to have directed him on a project. Indeed, I stand as the only woman in recorded history to helm a film with her ex. I often joke: ‘I advise females, if you seek payback, guide your former spouse.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Life

She happened to be a family member of the great Tennessee Williams, who she called “a great influence throughout my life”.

Back in 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a respiratory illness and advised her life expectancy was six months yet she recovered completely once 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 investigate, to illuminate the way for personal and collective growth, then you are winning,” Ladd expressed.