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The award-nominated actor Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran left us aged 89.

This star, whose filmography included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home at her Ojai, California home. The news was announced through a message by her child, award-winning actress Laura Dern.

Her daughter, who appeared with Diane Ladd in a number of films like Rambling Rose, described her as “my wonderful hero plus my special gift as a mother”, stating that she was present as she died.

“She was an exceptional mother, daughter, grandmother, star, artist and empathetic spirit that felt like a dream come true,” she stated. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Early Career and Major Success

Ladd’s early career saw minor parts on television series including Perry Mason whereas the seventies saw her starring with the legendary Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.

During that year, the year 1974, she appeared with actress Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s celebrated comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role brought Ladd her first Oscar nomination as best supporting actress.

Later Decades

During the eighties, she was seen in crime thriller Black Widow and comedy sequel National Lampoon’s holiday comedy while also joining the sitcom Alice, a television series derived from her earlier movie.

In the following decade, she earned an additional supporting actress Oscar nomination for her part in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she played the mom of her real-life daughter the character played by Dern. The next year she obtained another nomination for her role in Rambling Rose, another movie that also featured Laura Dern.

“This was the film that the late Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she brought me and Laura to England for a special screening and a party dedicated to us,” Ladd shared of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, grasping our hands, and crying, watching us perform.”

The nineties included parts in humorous films The Cemetery Club bringing her back with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, featuring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne the movie Citizen Ruth where she acted as the mother of Dern again. Those years also brought her Emmy nominations for performances on Dr Quinn, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She persisted in performing alongside her daughter in comedy drama Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and Mike White’s satirical show Enlightened. 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 with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Her later TV roles included Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.

Filmmaking Ventures

She also authored and oversaw the humorous movie Mrs Munck, a film that included Diane Ladd and former husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “I was honored to direct him on a project. Indeed, I am the sole female in recorded history who directed her former husband. I humorously say: ‘I tell women, if you seek payback, direct your ex-husband.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Personal Connections

She was additionally the third cousin of playwright Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a great influence in my life”.

During 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a respiratory illness and advised her life expectancy was six months but she regained full health after her daughter moved her to a different hospital.

“When you use your pain and prevent it from festering like a sore or something, rather utilize it to investigate, to clarify the journey for personal and collective growth, then you are winning,” Ladd expressed.