Diane Ladd, Famed For Her Performance in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at Age 89.

This Academy Award-nominated actress Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran has died at the age of 89.

The star, whose filmography spanned National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. Her passing was announced in a statement by her child, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern, her daughter.

Her daughter, who starred with her mom in a number of films such as Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my incredible hero plus my precious gift being my mom”, noting that she was by her side during her final moments.

“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, star, artist along with caring individual that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she wrote. “We were fortunate to know her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Initial Roles and Major Success

The start of her career saw small roles on television series such as Perry Mason whereas the 1970s saw her starring with Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.

In the same year, 1974, she appeared with actress Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed dramatic comedy the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance landed Ladd her initial Oscar nod as best supporting actress.

Later Decades

In the 1980s, she appeared in crime thriller the movie Black Widow as well as comedy sequel Christmas Vacation while also joining the sitcom Alice, a television series inspired by Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the subsequent decade, she earned another supporting actress nomination for her part in Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mother of her real-life daughter the character played by Dern. The next year she was awarded an additional nod for her performance in the film Rambling Rose that also featured her daughter.

“This was the film which Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she brought me and Laura to the UK for a royal premiere and a celebration dedicated to us,” Ladd shared regarding Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, holding both our hands, and crying, seeing us act.”

That decade included parts in comedy Cemetery Club bringing her back with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political comedy, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she acted as Laura Dern’s mom another time. The decade also saw her score nominations for Emmy Awards for work in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She continued to star with Laura Dern in comedy drama Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire and the series by Mike White satirical show the program Enlightened. She also appeared alongside actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.

Her more recent television parts consisted of the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.

Writing and Directing

She additionally penned and directed the humorous movie Mrs Munck that included herself and ex-husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she noted. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a movie. Actually, I’m the only woman in history who directed her former husband. I make a joke: ‘I advise females, if you want revenge, guide your former spouse.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Personal Connections

She happened to be a relative of the great Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a major inspiration in my life”.

In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and advised her life expectancy was six months yet she recovered completely when her daughter shifted her to a different hospital.

“If you can take your pain and not let it back up like a sore or something, rather utilize it to discover, to make the path clearer for you and those around, then you are succeeding,” Ladd said.