Acclaimed Actress Diane Ladd, Known For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at Age 89.
This Oscar-nominated actor the celebrated Diane Ladd has died aged 89.
The actor, with credits included National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, left this world in her residence at her Ojai, California home. The news was announced through a message from her daughter, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern.
Her daughter, who appeared with Diane Ladd in a number of films like Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my incredible hero plus my profound gift of a mother”, stating that she was at her bedside as she died.
“She was an exceptional daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and caring individual that felt like a dream come true,” she expressed. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Beginnings and Breakthrough
Ladd’s early career included small roles in television programs such as Gunsmoke whereas the 1970s had her appearing next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
That very year, the year 1974, she performed alongside Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese celebrated film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her acting landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination in the supporting actress category.
1980s and Beyond
During the eighties, she was seen in the dramatic film Black Widow, a suspense story as well as humorous film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and appeared on the sitcom Alice, a sitcom based on her earlier movie.
In the subsequent decade, she received a further supporting actress nomination for her performance in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mom of her actual daughter Dern’s character. A year later she obtained another nomination for her role in the film Rambling Rose that also featured her daughter.
“This was the film that Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she invited Laura and I to the UK for a premiere and an event dedicated to us,” Ladd recalled about the film Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, taking our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.”
The nineties included parts in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film joining her again with Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a comedy about politics, with John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed the mother of Dern another time. That period also brought her TV award nominations for work in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.
Collaborations with Daughter
She continued to star with her daughter in dramatic comedies the film Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s dark comedy series Enlightened, a TV series. She additionally starred next to Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Subsequent TV appearances featured Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon, a comedy.
Behind the Camera
She additionally penned and directed the comedy film Mrs Munck, a film featuring Diane Ladd and ex-husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she noted. “It was a privilege to guide him in a film. Actually, I stand as the only woman ever who directed her former husband. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, if you seek payback, helm a movie with your ex.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Personal Connections
Ladd was also the third cousin of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she called “a major inspiration on my life”.
In 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with lung disease and told she had just six months to live yet she recovered completely when her daughter transferred her to another medical facility.
“Should you harness your suffering and prevent it from festering like an injury, instead use it to discover, to clarify the journey for yourself and others, then you are triumphing,” Ladd said.
