Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Known For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Dies at Age 89.
The award-nominated actress Diane Ladd left us aged 89.
The actress, whose credits included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. Her passing was revealed in a statement by her daughter, award-winning actress her daughter Laura Dern.
Her daughter, who starred with Diane Ladd in a number of films including Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, called her “my wonderful hero as well as my precious gift being my mom”, writing that she was present during her final moments.
“She was the greatest mother, daughter, grandmother, star, artist along with caring individual that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she stated. “We were lucky to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Initial Roles and Breakthrough
Her initial acting years saw small roles in television programs such as Gunsmoke whereas that decade had her appearing with Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
During that year, the year 1974, she appeared with Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese celebrated comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance brought Ladd her first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.
Later Decades
During the eighties, she was seen in the dramatic film the movie Black Widow plus comedy sequel Christmas Vacation while also joining Alice, a sitcom derived from the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
In the subsequent decade, she received an additional Oscar nomination for supporting actress Oscar nomination for her part in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart where she acted as the mother of her actual daughter Laura Dern’s role. A year later she was awarded another nomination for her performance in the film Rambling Rose which also starred her daughter.
“This was the film that the late Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she flew us to London for a royal premiere and an event for us,” Ladd shared about the film Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, holding both our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”
The nineties included parts in comedy Cemetery Club, a film reuniting her with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, with John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as Dern’s mother again. Those years also saw her score nominations for Emmy Awards for performances on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Collaborations with Daughter
She continued to star with Laura Dern in comedy drama Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s comedy-drama series Enlightened. She also appeared alongside actress Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian plus Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.
Her more recent television parts consisted of the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.
Behind the Camera
She also authored and helmed the humorous movie the movie Mrs Munck which starred herself and former husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she mentioned. “I was honored to direct him in a movie. Actually, I am the sole female in history who directed her former husband. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, if you want revenge, direct your ex-husband.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Family Ties
She happened to be the third cousin of the great Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a great influence in my life”.
Back in 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and informed she only had half a year left but she regained full health after her daughter shifted her to a new hospital.
“If you can take your pain and not let it back up similar to a wound, rather utilize it to investigate, to make the path clearer for you and those around, then you are succeeding,” Ladd said.
