Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Famed For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Dies at 89 Years Old.
This award-nominated performer Diane Ladd left us at the age of 89.
The actor, with filmography featured Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. This announcement was shared via an announcement by her daughter, award-winning actress Laura Dern.
Dern, who appeared with her mother in a number of films including Rambling Rose, called her “my wonderful hero plus my profound gift as a mother”, noting that she was by her side as she died.
“She was the most wonderful mother, daughter, grandmother, star, artist and compassionate soul 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 included supporting roles in television programs such as Gunsmoke whereas the 1970s saw her starring alongside the legendary Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
During that year, 1974, she appeared with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s celebrated comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. The performance landed Ladd an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress.
1980s and Beyond
During the eighties, she was seen in the thriller the movie Black Widow plus comedy sequel National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and appeared on Alice, a sitcom based on Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
During the next ten years, she received an additional supporting actress nomination for her part in Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the mom of her actual daughter Dern’s character. A year later she received a further nomination for her acting in Rambling Rose, another movie which included Dern.
“This movie that Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she invited Laura and I to England for a premiere and a celebration dedicated to us,” Ladd said regarding Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, holding both our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”
The 1990s included parts in the comedy Cemetery Club bringing her back with Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a satirical film, with John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she acted as Laura Dern’s mom another time. That period also brought her Emmy nominations for performances on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.
Collaborations with Daughter
She persisted in performing alongside her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s satirical show Enlightened. She was also seen with actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Her more recent television parts included the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Filmmaking Ventures
Ladd also wrote and helmed the comedy the movie Mrs Munck featuring Diane Ladd and ex-husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a great actor,” she said. “I’m privileged to have directed him on a project. Indeed, I stand as the only woman ever to direct her ex-husband. I make a joke: ‘I say ladies, if you want revenge, helm a movie with your ex.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Family Ties
She was additionally a relative of the great Tennessee Williams, who she called “a major inspiration throughout my life”.
In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and informed she only had half a year left but she regained full health once her daughter shifted her to a new hospital.
“If you can take your pain and not let it back up like an injury, instead use it to discover, to illuminate the way for you and those around, then you are triumphing,” Ladd said.
