Diane Ladd, Known For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at the Age of 89.
The award-nominated actress Diane Ladd left us aged 89.
The actor, with roles spanned Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home at her Ojai, California home. The news was revealed through a message by her child, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern.
Dern, who starred with her mother in several movies such as Rambling Rose, called her “my wonderful hero and my profound gift being my mom”, noting that she was by her side when she passed.
“She was an exceptional mother, daughter, grandmother, actress, artist as well as compassionate soul that seemed almost dreamlike,” she wrote. “We were lucky to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Initial Roles and Major Success
Her initial acting years saw small roles in TV shows such as Perry Mason and the seventies had her appearing with Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
During that year, 1974, she performed with actress Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s acclaimed film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her role landed Ladd an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress.
Later Decades
Throughout the 1980s, she appeared in the thriller Black Widow, a suspense story and funny follow-up National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation while also joining the show Alice, a television series based on her earlier movie.
In the following decade, she earned another best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her performance in the David Lynch film the movie Wild at Heart where she played the mother of her actual daughter Dern’s character. A year later she was awarded an additional nod for her performance in the film Rambling Rose which included Laura Dern.
“This was the film that the late Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she flew Laura and I to London for a premiere and a party for us,” Ladd shared about the film Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, holding both our hands, with tears, viewing our performance.”
That decade featured performances in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film reuniting her with Ellen Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a satirical film, starring John Travolta and Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she played the mother of Dern once more. Those years also brought her nominations for Emmy Awards for performances in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.
Working with Laura Dern
She continued to star alongside her daughter in dramatic comedies the film Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire, a surreal film and White’s dark comedy series Enlightened, a TV series. She additionally starred alongside Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in that movie plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Her more recent television parts featured Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon, a comedy.
Filmmaking Ventures
She also authored and directed the humorous movie Mrs Munck, a film which starred herself and former husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she said. “I was honored to direct him in a film. Indeed, I stand as the only woman in history to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I advise females, should you desire retribution, guide your former spouse.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Personal Life
She happened to be the third cousin of Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a significant impact on my life”.
During 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with lung disease and informed she only had half a year left yet she recovered completely when her daughter transferred her to a different hospital.
“When you use your pain and prevent it from festering similar to a wound, instead use it to investigate, to illuminate the way for personal and collective growth, then you are succeeding,” Ladd expressed.
