Diane Ladd, Famed For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at the Age of 89.
The Academy Award-nominated actor Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran has died at the age of 89.
This actor, with roles included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence at her Ojai, California home. Her passing was announced in a statement shared by her offspring, Academy Award-winning star her daughter Laura Dern.
Laura Dern, who appeared with Diane Ladd in various films such as Wild at Heart, called her “my amazing hero plus my precious gift being my mom”, noting that she was at her bedside during her final moments.
“She was the most wonderful grandmother, mother, daughter, performer, creative and caring individual that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were fortunate to know her. She is now with the angels.”
Beginnings and Major Success
Her initial acting years included small roles in television programs like Perry Mason whereas that decade had her appearing alongside Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
In the same year, the year 1974, she performed alongside Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s acclaimed dramatic comedy the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role brought Ladd an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.
Later Decades
In the 1980s, she was seen in the dramatic film Black Widow and comedy sequel National Lampoon’s holiday comedy while also joining Alice, a television series based on her earlier movie.
During the next ten years, she earned another best supporting actress nomination for her role in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mom of her real-life daughter Dern’s character. The following year she received a further nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose that also featured Dern.
“This movie that the late Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she brought me and Laura to London for a premiere and an event dedicated to us,” Ladd said about the film Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, grasping our hands, with tears, watching us perform.”
The 1990s featured performances in the comedy The Cemetery Club bringing her back with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a political comedy, starring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as Laura Dern’s mom another time. That period also brought her Emmy nominations for performances on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Collaborations with Daughter
She persisted in performing with her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and White’s satirical show Enlightened, a TV series. She also appeared alongside Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, a movie, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Subsequent TV appearances included Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon.
Behind the Camera
Ladd also wrote and oversaw the humorous movie the movie Mrs Munck that included herself and ex-husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she noted. “It was a privilege to guide him on a project. Actually, I stand as the only woman ever who directed her former husband. I make a joke: ‘I advise females, if you want revenge, helm a movie with your ex.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Family Ties
She was additionally the third cousin of Tennessee Williams, who she called “a major inspiration in my life”.
Back in 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with lung disease and informed she had just six months to live yet she recovered completely after her daughter moved her to a different hospital.
“Should you harness your suffering and not let it back up like an injury, instead apply it to discover, to clarify the journey for personal and collective growth, then you are winning,” Ladd expressed.
