Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at the Age of 89.
The award-nominated actress Diane Ladd passed away aged 89.
The star, whose credits featured National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, died at her home in California’s Ojai. Her passing was revealed via an announcement by her child, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern, her daughter.
Dern, who appeared with her mother in several movies like Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, called her “my amazing hero and my precious gift as a mother”, stating that she was by her side during her final moments.
“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, performer, creative and caring individual that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she wrote. “We were lucky to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Initial Roles and Major Success
Her initial acting years saw small roles in TV shows including The Fugitive while the seventies featured her performing alongside Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
During that year, the year 1974, she shared the screen with actress Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her acting landed Ladd her initial Oscar nod in the supporting actress category.
Subsequent Years
In the 1980s, she appeared in the dramatic film the movie Black Widow and humorous film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation while also joining Alice, a television series inspired by Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
During the next ten years, she received a further supporting actress nomination for her part in the David Lynch film the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mother of her actual daughter the character played by Dern. The following year she obtained an additional nod for her role in Rambling Rose which included Dern.
“This was the picture that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she invited us to England for a royal premiere and a party dedicated to us,” Ladd shared about the film Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, taking our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”
The 1990s included parts in comedy Cemetery Club joining her again with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed Dern’s mother another time. Those years also brought her nominations for Emmy Awards for performances in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Collaborations with Daughter
She persisted in performing with Laura Dern in comedy drama the film Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire and White’s dark comedy series the program Enlightened. She also appeared with Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Her more recent television parts consisted of Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Filmmaking Ventures
She also authored and helmed the comedy film Mrs Munck, a film that included Diane Ladd and former husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she noted. “I’m privileged to have directed him on a project. Indeed, I’m the only woman in history to helm a film with her ex. I make a joke: ‘I advise females, if you seek payback, guide your former spouse.’ However, I’m joking.”
Family Ties
Ladd was also the third cousin of the great Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a great influence in my life”.
In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and told she only had half a year left but she regained full health once her daughter shifted her to a different hospital.
“If you can take your pain and not let it back up like an injury, instead use it to discover, to clarify the journey for you and those around, then you are succeeding,” Ladd expressed.
