Diane Ladd, Famed For Her Performance in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at the Age of 89.
The Oscar-nominated performer Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran has died at the age of 89.
The star, whose credits included National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, died at her home in Ojai, California. Her passing was announced through a message by her daughter, Academy Award-winning star her daughter Laura Dern.
Dern, who appeared with Diane Ladd in several movies such as Wild at Heart, described her as “my wonderful hero and my profound gift as a mother”, noting that she was present during her final moments.
“She was the most wonderful grandmother, mother, daughter, star, artist and compassionate soul that felt like a dream come true,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Beginnings and Breakthrough
Her initial acting years featured supporting roles in TV shows like Gunsmoke whereas the 1970s featured her performing with the legendary Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
During that year, the year 1974, she performed alongside Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s acclaimed comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her role landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination in the supporting actress category.
Later Decades
In the 1980s, she appeared in the dramatic film the movie Black Widow and comedy sequel National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and also took part in the sitcom Alice, a comedy program inspired by Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
During the next ten years, she earned an additional best supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her part in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she acted as the parent of her actual daughter Dern’s character. A year later she received an additional nod for her performance in the film Rambling Rose which included Dern.
“This was the picture that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she brought us to London for a special screening and an event dedicated to us,” Ladd recalled of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, holding both our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.”
The nineties also saw roles in the comedy Cemetery Club, a film bringing her back with her co-star Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a political comedy, with John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as the mother of Dern again. Those years also brought her TV award nominations for roles on Dr Quinn, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.
Working with Laura Dern
She continued to star alongside her daughter in dramatic comedies the film Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and White’s dark comedy series Enlightened. She additionally starred alongside Sandra Bullock, a star in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in that movie plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Subsequent TV appearances consisted of the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.
Filmmaking Ventures
She also authored and helmed the comedy film Mrs Munck, a film featuring herself and ex-husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she noted. “It was a privilege to guide him in a film. Indeed, I’m the only woman in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I tell women, should you desire retribution, guide your former spouse.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Personal Life
Ladd was also the third cousin of Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a major inspiration in my life”.
During 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a respiratory illness and informed she only had half a year left but made a full recovery after her daughter moved her to a different hospital.
“When you use your pain and prevent it from festering similar to a wound, rather utilize it to discover, to make the path clearer for personal and collective growth, then you are triumphing,” Ladd remarked.
