Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Her Performance in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at the Age of 89.
This Oscar-nominated performer Diane Ladd passed away aged 89.
This actress, whose roles spanned Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. The news was announced in a statement by her child, award-winning actress her daughter Laura Dern.
Laura Dern, who appeared with Diane Ladd in various films such as Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, called her “my amazing hero plus my precious gift being my mom”, stating that she was present when she passed.
“She was the most wonderful mother, daughter, grandmother, actress, artist and empathetic spirit that seemed almost dreamlike,” she wrote. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Initial Roles and Major Success
The start of her career included supporting roles in television programs like The Fugitive and the seventies featured her performing with Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
During that year, 1974, she shared the screen alongside Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese praised film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance earned Ladd an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress.
1980s and Beyond
During the eighties, she was seen in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story as well as comedy sequel National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and appeared on the show Alice, a sitcom inspired by the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
During the next ten years, she earned an additional best supporting actress nomination for her part in Lynch’s Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the parent of her real-life daughter Laura Dern’s role. A year later she obtained a further nomination for her role in Rambling Rose, another movie which included her daughter.
“This was the film that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she brought me and Laura to England for a premiere and a party for us,” Ladd said of Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, grasping our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.”
The nineties included parts in the comedy Cemetery Club joining her again with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a political comedy, starring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy in which she portrayed Dern’s mother another time. Those years also brought her TV award nominations for work in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Working with Laura Dern
She continued to star with Laura Dern in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and White’s dark comedy series the program Enlightened. She additionally starred next to Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian and with Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.
Her later TV roles consisted of Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.
Filmmaking Ventures
She also authored and directed the comedy film the movie Mrs Munck which starred herself and former husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a great actor,” she mentioned. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a film. In fact, I stand as the only woman ever to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I say ladies, if you seek payback, direct your ex-husband.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Personal Connections
She happened to be a relative of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a major inspiration on my life”.
Back in 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with lung disease and informed she had just six months to live but made a full recovery when her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.
“If you can take your pain and avoid letting it accumulate like an injury, rather utilize it to discover, to make the path clearer for you and those around, then you are winning,” Ladd remarked.