Diane Ladd, Known For Her Performance in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at Age 89.
The award-nominated performer the celebrated Diane Ladd has died aged 89.
The actress, whose credits featured Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home in Ojai, California. This announcement was announced in a statement shared by her child, Oscar-winning actor her daughter Laura Dern.
Dern, who appeared with her mom in various films like Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, described her as “my amazing hero and my precious gift being my mom”, stating that she was at her bedside during her final moments.
“She was the most wonderful grandmother, mother, daughter, actress, artist and empathetic spirit that seemed almost dreamlike,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. She is now with the angels.”
Early Career and Rise to Fame
Ladd’s early career included small roles in TV shows such as Perry Mason whereas the seventies had her appearing next to actor Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
During that year, 1974, she shared the screen with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination as best supporting actress.
Subsequent Years
Throughout the 1980s, she appeared in the dramatic film Black Widow, a suspense story and humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and appeared on the sitcom Alice, a television series based on Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
In the following decade, she earned another supporting actress Oscar nomination for her performance in the David Lynch film the movie Wild at Heart where she played the mom of her actual daughter Laura Dern’s role. A year later she received another nomination for her acting in the film Rambling Rose which included Dern.
“This movie which Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she brought Laura and I to the UK for a special screening and a celebration dedicated to us,” Ladd said of Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, grasping our hands, with tears, viewing our performance.”
The nineties featured performances in comedy Cemetery Club, a film joining her again with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a satirical film, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she acted as the mother of Dern once more. The decade also saw her score Emmy nominations for work on Dr Quinn, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.
Working with Laura Dern
She continued to star alongside her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, a movie, the David Lynch project Inland Empire, a surreal film and the series by Mike White comedy-drama series Enlightened. She was also seen with Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian and Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.
Subsequent TV appearances included Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Behind the Camera
Ladd also wrote and helmed the comedy film Mrs Munck which starred herself and ex-husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “I was honored to direct him in a movie. In fact, I stand as the only woman in history who directed her former husband. I often joke: ‘I advise females, if you want revenge, guide your former spouse.’ However, I’m joking.”
Personal Life
She was additionally the third cousin of Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a major inspiration on my life”.
During 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and advised her life expectancy was six months yet she recovered completely when her daughter moved her to a new hospital.
“When you use your pain and avoid letting it accumulate like an injury, rather utilize it to explore, to illuminate the way for you and those around, then you are winning,” Ladd remarked.
