Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Her Performance in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at Age 89.
This Oscar-nominated actor Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran left us at the age of 89.
The actor, whose credits featured National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. The news was announced in a statement shared by her daughter, award-winning actress Laura Dern, her daughter.
Laura Dern, who appeared with her mom in several movies like Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, described her as “my wonderful hero as well as my precious gift as a mother”, noting that she was by her side during her final moments.
“She was an exceptional mother, daughter, grandmother, actress, artist as well as caring individual that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. She is now with the angels.”
Beginnings and Major Success
Her initial acting years saw minor parts on television series like Gunsmoke whereas that decade saw her starring with the legendary Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
In the same year, 1974, she performed with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised dramatic comedy Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. The performance earned Ladd her first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.
1980s and Beyond
In the 1980s, she was seen in the thriller Black Widow plus funny follow-up National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation while also joining Alice, a comedy program inspired by the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
In the following decade, she was given an additional supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her performance in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart where she acted as the mother of her real-life daughter the character played by Dern. The next year she was awarded another nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose that also featured Laura Dern.
“This was the picture which Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she flew Laura and I to the UK for a premiere and a party for us,” Ladd shared regarding Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, holding both our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”
The 1990s included parts in humorous films The Cemetery Club bringing her back with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a comedy about politics, featuring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she acted as the mother of Dern again. That period also brought her Emmy nominations for roles on Dr Quinn, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.
Partnerships with Her Daughter
She continued to star with her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and White’s dark comedy series Enlightened. She was also seen alongside Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in that movie plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Her more recent television parts included the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon, a comedy.
Filmmaking Ventures
Ladd also wrote and helmed the comedy Mrs Munck, a film which starred Diane Ladd and former husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a great actor,” she said. “It was a privilege to guide him in a movie. Actually, I am the sole female ever to helm a film with her ex. I make a joke: ‘I say ladies, if you seek payback, direct your ex-husband.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Personal Life
Ladd was also a family member of the great Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a significant impact in my life”.
Back in 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with lung disease and told her life expectancy was six months but made a full recovery when her daughter transferred her to a new hospital.
“When you use your pain and prevent it from festering similar to a wound, rather utilize it to explore, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are winning,” Ladd remarked.
