Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at 89 Years Old.
This Academy Award-nominated performer the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away at the age of 89.
The star, with roles included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home in California’s Ojai. The news was shared through a message from her daughter, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern, her daughter.
Dern, who performed alongside her mom in several movies such as Wild at Heart, described her as “my incredible hero plus my special gift of a mother”, stating that she was present when she passed.
“She was an exceptional grandmother, mother, daughter, performer, creative and caring individual that seemed almost dreamlike,” she stated. “We were fortunate to know her. She is now with the angels.”
Beginnings and Rise to Fame
Her initial acting years saw supporting roles in TV shows such as The Fugitive and the 1970s saw her starring with the legendary Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
During that year, 1974, she performed with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed film the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her acting landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination as best supporting actress.
Subsequent Years
During the eighties, she starred in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story as well as humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and also took part in the sitcom Alice, a sitcom inspired by her earlier movie.
In the following decade, she received another best supporting actress nomination for her part in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart where she played the mom of her biological child Laura Dern’s role. A year later she obtained a further nomination for her performance in the film Rambling Rose which also starred Laura Dern.
“This movie that Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she flew Laura and I to London for a special screening and a party in our honor,” Ladd recalled of Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, taking our hands, and crying, watching us perform.”
The nineties featured performances in the comedy The Cemetery Club reuniting her with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a satirical film, starring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she acted as Laura Dern’s mom again. The decade also earned her Emmy nominations for roles in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.
Working with Laura Dern
She persisted in performing with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and White’s dark comedy series the program Enlightened. She also appeared alongside Sandra Bullock, a star in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Subsequent TV appearances consisted of the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Behind the Camera
Ladd also wrote and oversaw the humorous movie Mrs Munck featuring her and previous spouse actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she mentioned. “I was honored to direct him in a movie. Actually, I stand as the only woman in recorded history to helm a film with her ex. I often joke: ‘I advise females, if you want revenge, guide your former spouse.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Personal Life
Ladd was also the third cousin of Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a significant impact on 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 after her daughter moved her to a new hospital.
“Should you harness your suffering and avoid letting it accumulate like a sore or something, instead use it to investigate, to clarify the journey for personal and collective growth, then you are triumphing,” Ladd expressed.
