Acclaimed Actress Diane Ladd, Famed For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at Age 89.
The award-nominated actor the celebrated Diane Ladd has died at the age of 89.
The actor, with filmography featured National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. Her passing was shared via an announcement by her daughter, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern.
Laura Dern, who starred with Diane Ladd in various films including Rambling Rose, called her “my incredible hero and my special gift being my mom”, noting that she was at her bedside as she died.
“She was an exceptional grandmother, mother, daughter, performer, creative and compassionate soul that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were fortunate to know her. She is now with the angels.”
Beginnings and Breakthrough
The start of her career saw supporting roles on television series including Perry Mason while that decade featured her performing next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
During that year, the year 1974, she performed with actress Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s acclaimed film the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role earned Ladd her first Oscar nomination in the supporting actress category.
Subsequent Years
In the 1980s, she was seen in the dramatic film Black Widow, a suspense story as well as humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy while also joining Alice, a sitcom inspired by the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
During the next ten years, she earned a further best supporting actress nomination for her part in the David Lynch film the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mother of her biological child Dern’s character. The next year she was awarded a further nomination for her acting in Rambling Rose, another movie which included her daughter.
“This movie which Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she flew me and Laura to England for a royal premiere and an event for us,” Ladd shared about the film Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, taking our hands, and crying, seeing us act.”
The nineties featured performances in comedy The Cemetery Club joining her again with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a comedy about politics, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed Laura Dern’s mom another time. That period also brought her TV award nominations for roles in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.
Collaborations with Daughter
She persisted in performing with her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s Inland Empire and Mike White’s satirical show Enlightened. She also appeared with actress Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Her later TV roles included the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Behind the Camera
She also authored and helmed the humorous movie Mrs Munck featuring her and previous spouse actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she noted. “It was a privilege to guide him on a project. Indeed, I stand as the only woman in recorded history to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I advise females, if you want revenge, direct your ex-husband.’ However, I’m joking.”
Family Ties
She happened to be a family member of the great Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a significant impact in my life”.
In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and told her life expectancy was six months but made a full recovery once her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.
“When you use your pain and prevent it from festering like an injury, instead use it to explore, to clarify the journey for yourself and others, then you are triumphing,” Ladd said.
