Diane Ladd, Known For Her Performance in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at Age 89.
The Academy Award-nominated performer the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away at the age of 89.
This star, with roles included National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. Her passing was revealed via an announcement by her child, award-winning actress her daughter Laura Dern.
Her daughter, who appeared with her mother in various films such as Wild at Heart, described her as “my incredible hero plus my special gift as a mother”, writing that she was present when she passed.
“She was the greatest grandmother, mother, daughter, actress, artist and compassionate soul that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she wrote. “We were fortunate to know her. She is now with the angels.”
Beginnings and Rise to Fame
The start of her career featured supporting roles in television programs including Perry Mason while the seventies had her appearing with actor Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
In the same year, the year 1974, she appeared alongside Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese celebrated comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance brought Ladd an Academy Award nomination in the supporting actress category.
Later Decades
During the eighties, she starred in crime thriller Black Widow and humorous film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation while also joining the sitcom Alice, a comedy program based on Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
During the next ten years, she earned an additional Oscar nomination for supporting actress nomination for her part in Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she played the mom of her biological child Dern’s character. The next year she was awarded an additional nod for her role in Rambling Rose, another movie which also starred her daughter.
“This movie that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she flew us to the UK for a special screening and a celebration in our honor,” Ladd said about the film Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, holding both our hands, with tears, viewing our performance.”
That decade included parts in comedy Cemetery Club, a film reuniting her with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a comedy about politics, with John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy in which she portrayed Dern’s mother another time. The decade also earned her TV award nominations for work on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.
Working with Laura Dern
She persisted in performing with Laura Dern in comedy drama Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and the series by Mike White satirical show Enlightened. She was also seen next to Sandra Bullock, a star in the film 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Subsequent TV appearances consisted of the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Writing and Directing
She additionally penned and directed the humorous movie Mrs Munck which starred her and previous spouse actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she mentioned. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a movie. In fact, I’m the only woman in history who directed her former husband. I make a joke: ‘I advise females, should you desire retribution, helm a movie with your ex.’ However, I’m joking.”
Personal Connections
She was additionally a family member of the great Tennessee Williams, who she called “a great influence throughout my life”.
In 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a respiratory illness and advised her life expectancy was six months but she regained full health after her daughter shifted her to a different hospital.
“If you can take your pain and not let it back up like a sore or something, instead apply it to investigate, to illuminate the way for personal and collective growth, then you are succeeding,” Ladd remarked.
