Diane Ladd, Famed For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at 89 Years Old.
The award-nominated actress the celebrated Diane Ladd left us aged 89.
The actress, whose roles featured Chinatown, died at her home in California’s Ojai. This announcement was revealed through a message by her child, award-winning actress her daughter Laura Dern.
Laura Dern, who performed alongside her mother in several movies including Rambling Rose, called her “my amazing hero and my special gift being my mom”, writing that she was at her bedside as she died.
“She was the most wonderful grandmother, mother, daughter, actress, artist as well as empathetic spirit that seemed almost dreamlike,” she expressed. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Beginnings and Rise to Fame
The start of her career included minor parts in television programs such as Perry Mason and the 1970s had her appearing with actor Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
That very year, 1974, she appeared with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her role landed Ladd her initial Oscar nod for best supporting actress.
Subsequent Years
In the 1980s, she starred in the thriller Black Widow, a suspense story and comedy sequel National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and also took part in Alice, a sitcom inspired by her earlier movie.
In the subsequent decade, she earned another supporting actress nomination for her role in David Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mother of her real-life daughter Laura Dern’s role. The following year she was awarded a further nomination for her acting in the film Rambling Rose which also starred Dern.
“This movie that Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she flew Laura and I to London for a royal premiere and a celebration in our honor,” Ladd recalled regarding Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, taking our hands, and weeping, watching us perform.”
The 1990s featured performances in comedy The Cemetery Club joining her again with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a political comedy, with John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as the mother of Dern once more. Those years also brought her nominations for Emmy Awards for work in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.
Partnerships with Her Daughter
She persisted in performing with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s Inland Empire and the series by Mike White comedy-drama series Enlightened. She was also seen next to Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Her more recent television parts included Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon, a comedy.
Writing and Directing
She also authored and helmed the comedy Mrs Munck, a film that included Diane Ladd and ex-husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a great actor,” she said. “I was honored to direct him in a film. Indeed, I stand as the only woman ever to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I advise females, if you seek payback, helm a movie with your ex.’ However, I’m joking.”
Personal Connections
She was additionally a family member of Tennessee Williams, who she called “a great influence throughout my life”.
In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a respiratory illness and told she only had half a year left but she regained full health when her daughter moved her to a different hospital.
“When you use your pain and not let it back up like an injury, rather utilize it to discover, to clarify the journey for personal and collective growth, then you are succeeding,” Ladd remarked.
