Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Famed For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at Age 89.

This Academy Award-nominated actor the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away aged 89.

The actor, with roles included Chinatown, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. Her passing was shared through a message from her child, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern, her daughter.

Her daughter, who starred with Diane Ladd in several movies such as Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, called her “my amazing hero plus my precious gift being my mom”, stating that she was at her bedside as she died.

“She was the most wonderful grandmother, mother, daughter, actress, artist and caring individual that felt like a dream come true,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Beginnings and Rise to Fame

Her initial acting years included small roles in TV shows including Gunsmoke and the 1970s featured her performing next to actor Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

In the same year, the year 1974, she appeared with actress Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese acclaimed film the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination in the supporting actress category.

Subsequent Years

Throughout the 1980s, 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 Alice, a television series derived from the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the subsequent decade, she earned a further Oscar nomination for supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her performance in Lynch’s Wild at Heart where she played the parent of her real-life daughter Dern’s character. The following year she was awarded another nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose which also starred Laura Dern.

“This was the picture which Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she flew us to England for a royal premiere and an event in our honor,” Ladd recalled about the film Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, taking our hands, with tears, viewing our performance.”

The 1990s included parts in the comedy Cemetery Club, a film reuniting her with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a comedy about politics, starring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she played Laura Dern’s mom once more. Those years also brought her Emmy nominations for performances in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.

Collaborations with Daughter

She kept appearing alongside her daughter in comedy drama the film Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire and White’s comedy-drama series the program Enlightened. She was also seen alongside Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, a movie, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and with Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

Her more recent television parts featured the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.

Filmmaking Ventures

She also authored and oversaw the comedy film Mrs Munck featuring herself and former husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she mentioned. “It was a privilege to guide him on a project. Indeed, I stand as the only woman in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, if you want revenge, guide your former spouse.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Family Ties

She happened to be the third cousin of playwright Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a great influence on my life”.

During 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a respiratory illness and advised she only had half a year left but she regained full health once her daughter shifted her to a different hospital.

“When you use your pain and not let it back up like a sore or something, instead apply it to investigate, to make the path clearer for yourself and others, then you are winning,” Ladd expressed.