Acclaimed Actress Diane Ladd, Famed For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at the Age of 89.
The award-nominated performer Diane Ladd passed away at the age of 89.
The actress, with credits spanned Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home in California’s Ojai. Her passing was announced via an announcement from her offspring, award-winning actress Laura Dern.
Her daughter, who performed alongside Diane Ladd in several movies like Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, described her as “my wonderful hero and my special gift of a mother”, noting that she was at her bedside during her final moments.
“She was an exceptional daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist along with compassionate soul that seemed almost dreamlike,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. She is now with the angels.”
Early Career and Major Success
Ladd’s early career included small roles in television programs including Perry Mason whereas that decade featured her performing alongside Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
In the same year, the year 1974, she shared the screen with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s celebrated dramatic comedy the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role landed Ladd an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress.
1980s and Beyond
In the 1980s, she starred in the thriller the movie Black Widow and comedy sequel Christmas Vacation while also joining the sitcom Alice, a sitcom based on Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
During the next ten years, she received an additional Oscar nomination for supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her performance in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the parent of her biological child Dern’s character. The next year she was awarded another nomination for her role in Rambling Rose, another movie which included Laura Dern.
“This was the film which Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she brought Laura and I to England for a premiere and a party dedicated to us,” Ladd shared regarding Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, taking our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.”
The 1990s also saw roles in comedy The Cemetery Club reuniting her with her co-star Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a political comedy, featuring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she played the mother of Dern another time. That period also saw her score Emmy nominations for work on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.
Partnerships with Her Daughter
She persisted in performing with Laura Dern in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s comedy-drama series Enlightened, a TV series. She was also seen next to Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, a movie, Sir Anthony Hopkins in that movie and with Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.
Subsequent TV appearances consisted of the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.
Behind the Camera
Ladd also wrote and helmed the comedy the movie Mrs Munck that included Diane Ladd and previous spouse Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she mentioned. “I was honored to direct him on a project. Indeed, I stand as the only woman ever to helm a film with her ex. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, if you want revenge, helm a movie with your ex.’ However, I’m joking.”
Personal Life
She happened to be a family member of the great Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a major inspiration on my life”.
Back in 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with lung disease and advised her life expectancy was six months but she regained full health when her daughter transferred her to a different hospital.
“When you use your pain and prevent it from festering similar to a wound, rather utilize it to investigate, to make the path clearer for personal and collective growth, then you are succeeding,” Ladd remarked.