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The Oscar-nominated actress Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran passed away at the age of 89.

This actor, with roles spanned Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home in California’s Ojai. The news was announced in a statement by her offspring, award-winning actress Laura Dern, her daughter.

Laura Dern, who starred with her mom in several movies including Wild at Heart, called her “my amazing hero plus my special gift being my mom”, noting that she was at her bedside as she died.

“She was the most wonderful daughter, mother, grandmother, star, artist as well as compassionate soul that felt like a dream come true,” she stated. “We were blessed to have her. She is now with the angels.”

Initial Roles and Rise to Fame

The start of her career included supporting roles in television programs such as The Fugitive and that decade saw her starring with Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

During that year, 1974, she performed alongside Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s celebrated comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role brought Ladd an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress.

1980s and Beyond

During the eighties, she starred in the dramatic film Black Widow, a suspense story and comedy sequel Christmas Vacation while also joining the sitcom Alice, a sitcom based on her earlier movie.

In the following decade, she earned an additional best supporting actress nomination for her performance in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart where she acted as the mom of her actual daughter Laura Dern’s role. The following year she was awarded a further nomination for her role in Rambling Rose which included her daughter.

“This was the picture that Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she flew Laura and I to England for a premiere and a party dedicated to us,” Ladd said of Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, holding both our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.”

The nineties included parts in the comedy The Cemetery Club bringing her back with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a comedy about politics, with John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy in which she portrayed Dern’s mother another time. The decade also saw her score TV award nominations for work in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Partnerships with Her Daughter

She persisted in performing with her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s Inland Empire and Mike White’s dark comedy series Enlightened, a TV series. She also appeared alongside Sandra Bullock, a star in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in that movie and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.

Her later TV roles featured Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon.

Filmmaking Ventures

She additionally penned and directed the comedy Mrs Munck which starred her and ex-husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she said. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a movie. Indeed, I’m the only woman in recorded history who directed her former husband. I make a joke: ‘I tell women, should you desire retribution, helm a movie with your ex.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Personal Connections

Ladd was also a relative of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a major inspiration in my life”.

Back in 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and advised her life expectancy was six months but made a full recovery after her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.

“If you can take your pain and not let it back up like a sore or something, rather utilize it to discover, to clarify the journey for you and those around, then you are winning,” Ladd said.