Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at 89 Years Old.
This award-nominated actor the celebrated Diane Ladd has died at the age of 89.
The actress, with credits featured National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, died at her home in Ojai, California. Her passing was announced in a statement from her child, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern.
Her daughter, who performed alongside her mother in various films including Rambling Rose, called her “my incredible hero as well as my precious gift being my mom”, stating that she was present during her final moments.
“She was the greatest grandmother, mother, daughter, star, artist as well as empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Beginnings and Major Success
The start of her career included small roles on television series like The Fugitive and the seventies featured her performing next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
In the same year, 1974, she shared the screen with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s celebrated comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role landed Ladd her initial Oscar nod as best supporting actress.
1980s and Beyond
During the eighties, she was seen in the thriller Black Widow, a suspense story and humorous film Christmas Vacation while also joining the show Alice, a television series derived from the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
During the next ten years, she earned an additional supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her role in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mom of her actual daughter Dern’s character. The following year she was awarded a further nomination for her performance in the film Rambling Rose that also featured her daughter.
“This was the film that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she flew Laura and I to London for a special screening and a party for us,” Ladd recalled about the film Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, taking our hands, and crying, seeing us act.”
The nineties featured performances in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film bringing her back with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a comedy about politics, starring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed Laura Dern’s mom once more. The decade also saw her score TV award nominations for performances on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Working with Laura Dern
She continued to star with Laura Dern in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and White’s dark comedy series Enlightened, a TV series. She additionally starred next to Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Her more recent television parts included the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Writing and Directing
She also authored and helmed the humorous movie the movie Mrs Munck which starred her and ex-husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a great actor,” she noted. “It was a privilege to guide him in a movie. Indeed, I stand as the only woman ever to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I tell women, if you want revenge, guide your former spouse.’ However, I’m joking.”
Family Ties
Ladd was also the third cousin of the great Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a major inspiration in my life”.
In 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with lung disease and told she had just six months to live but made a full recovery when her daughter transferred her to another medical facility.
“Should you harness your suffering and prevent it from festering similar to a wound, instead apply it to investigate, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are winning,” Ladd said.
