Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Famed For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at the Age of 89.
The Academy Award-nominated performer Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran passed away at the age of 89.
This actor, with roles included National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, passed away at home in Ojai, California. The news was revealed via an announcement by her child, Academy Award-winning star her daughter Laura Dern.
Dern, who performed alongside her mom in various films including Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my wonderful hero plus my profound gift as a mother”, stating that she was at her bedside as she died.
“She was the most wonderful mother, daughter, grandmother, star, artist as well as compassionate soul that felt like a dream come true,” she stated. “We were lucky to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Beginnings and Breakthrough
The start of her career featured supporting roles on television series like The Fugitive whereas the 1970s featured her performing with the legendary Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
That very year, the year 1974, she performed with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s acclaimed dramatic comedy Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. The performance earned Ladd her initial Oscar nod as best supporting actress.
Subsequent Years
During the eighties, she appeared in the thriller Black Widow, a suspense story plus comedy sequel National Lampoon’s holiday comedy while also joining Alice, a television series derived from the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
In the subsequent decade, she received another supporting actress Oscar nomination for her performance in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart where she acted as the mom of her actual daughter Laura Dern’s role. A year later she was awarded a further nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose, another movie that also featured Dern.
“This was the picture which Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she invited us to England for a premiere and a celebration for us,” Ladd shared of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, taking our hands, and crying, seeing us act.”
The nineties included parts in the comedy Cemetery Club, a film bringing her back with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a comedy about politics, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed Dern’s mother again. The decade also saw her score nominations for Emmy Awards for roles on Dr Quinn, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.
Working with Laura Dern
She persisted in performing alongside her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and White’s dark comedy series Enlightened. She also appeared alongside Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Her later TV roles featured the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Writing and Directing
She additionally penned and directed the comedy film Mrs Munck which starred herself and previous spouse actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a movie. Indeed, I’m the only woman ever to helm a film with her ex. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, if you seek payback, guide your former spouse.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Personal Connections
She happened to be the third cousin of the great Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a great influence in my life”.
Back in 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and told her life expectancy was six months but made a full recovery once her daughter shifted her to a different hospital.
“If you can take your pain and avoid letting it accumulate like a sore or something, instead apply it to investigate, to clarify the journey for you and those around, then you are winning,” Ladd said.
