Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at Age 89.
The Oscar-nominated actress Diane Ladd left us at the age of 89.
This actress, with filmography spanned Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home in Ojai, California. This announcement was revealed in a statement shared by her child, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern.
Her daughter, who appeared with her mother in several movies like Wild at Heart, referred to her as “my amazing hero and my special gift being my mom”, stating that she was present when she passed.
“She was an exceptional daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist along with caring individual that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she stated. “We were blessed to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Early Career and Major Success
Her initial acting years included minor parts in television programs such as The Fugitive while the seventies featured her performing alongside Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
That very year, the year 1974, she appeared with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her acting brought Ladd an Academy Award nomination in the supporting actress category.
Subsequent Years
In the 1980s, she appeared in crime thriller Black Widow plus funny follow-up National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation while also joining the sitcom Alice, a sitcom based on Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
In the following decade, she received another Oscar nomination for supporting actress nomination for her part in David Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the mother of her actual daughter Laura Dern’s role. The next year she received an additional nod for her acting in Rambling Rose that also featured Laura Dern.
“This movie that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she flew us to England for a royal premiere and a party dedicated to us,” Ladd shared of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, holding both our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.”
That decade featured performances in humorous films The Cemetery Club bringing her back with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a satirical film, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as the mother of Dern another time. The decade also earned her Emmy nominations for roles in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.
Working with Laura Dern
She kept appearing with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama the film Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire, a surreal film and the series by Mike White satirical show the program Enlightened. She was also seen with Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in that movie and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Her more recent television parts featured the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.
Filmmaking Ventures
She also authored and helmed the comedy Mrs Munck which starred Diane Ladd and previous spouse Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a great actor,” she noted. “I was honored to direct him in a film. Actually, I stand as the only woman in history to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I advise females, if you seek payback, guide your former spouse.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Personal Life
She was additionally a family member of Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a great influence in my life”.
In 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with lung disease and informed she had just six months to live but she regained full health when her daughter moved her to a different hospital.
“If you can take your pain and not let it back up like a sore or something, instead use it to explore, to illuminate the way for personal and collective growth, then you are succeeding,” Ladd remarked.
