Diane Ladd, Famed For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at 89 Years Old.
The award-nominated performer Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran passed away at the age of 89.
This actor, whose filmography spanned Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home in California’s Ojai. Her passing was shared through a message by her offspring, Academy Award-winning star her daughter Laura Dern.
Laura Dern, who appeared with Diane Ladd in several movies such as Rambling Rose, called her “my amazing hero and my precious gift as a mother”, noting that she was by her side during her final moments.
“She was an exceptional daughter, mother, grandmother, star, artist as well as compassionate soul that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she stated. “We were lucky to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Initial Roles and Rise to Fame
The start of her career saw supporting roles in television programs like Perry Mason whereas the seventies saw her starring next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
That very year, the year 1974, she shared the screen alongside Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s praised comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance landed Ladd her initial Oscar nod in the supporting actress category.
Later Decades
During the eighties, she appeared in the dramatic film the movie Black Widow as well as comedy sequel National Lampoon’s holiday comedy while also joining Alice, a sitcom derived from the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
In the following decade, she was given another best supporting actress nomination for her performance in the David Lynch film the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the mother of her real-life daughter Dern’s character. A year later she obtained an additional nod for her performance in the film Rambling Rose which included Laura Dern.
“This was the picture which Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she brought Laura and I to the UK for a royal premiere and a celebration for us,” Ladd said about the film Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, grasping our hands, with tears, viewing our performance.”
That decade also saw roles in comedy Cemetery Club, a film reuniting her with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a political comedy, featuring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she played the mother of Dern once more. Those years also saw her score TV award nominations for roles in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Collaborations with Daughter
She continued to star alongside her daughter in comedy drama Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and the series by Mike White comedy-drama series Enlightened, a TV series. She was also seen next to actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins in that movie and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Her later TV roles featured Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon.
Behind the Camera
She additionally penned and directed the comedy film Mrs Munck featuring Diane Ladd and former husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a talented star,” she noted. “I was honored to direct him in a movie. Indeed, I’m the only woman ever to direct her ex-husband. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, if you want revenge, guide your former spouse.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Personal Connections
She happened to be a family member of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she called “a significant impact on my life”.
During 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis 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 new hospital.
“Should you harness your suffering and avoid letting it accumulate similar to a wound, instead apply it to explore, to illuminate the way for personal and collective growth, then you are triumphing,” Ladd remarked.
