Diane Ladd, Famed For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Dies at Age 89.
This Oscar-nominated actor Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran passed away at the age of 89.
The actor, whose credits spanned National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, died at her home at her Ojai, California home. This announcement was shared through a message from her child, Oscar-winning actor her daughter Laura Dern.
Her daughter, who starred with her mom in various films including Rambling Rose, called her “my wonderful hero plus my profound gift as a mother”, noting that she was at her bedside as she died.
“She was an exceptional mother, daughter, grandmother, performer, creative along with compassionate soul that felt like a dream come true,” she expressed. “We were fortunate to know her. She is now with the angels.”
Initial Roles and Breakthrough
The start of her career saw small roles in TV shows including Perry Mason while the 1970s featured her performing alongside actor Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
During that year, the year 1974, she appeared alongside Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese praised comedy drama the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance brought Ladd an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress.
Later Decades
During the eighties, she was seen in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story and funny follow-up Christmas Vacation while also joining the sitcom Alice, a comedy program inspired by her earlier movie.
During the next ten years, she earned another best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role in David Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mom of her biological child Laura Dern’s role. A year later she obtained an additional nod for her acting in Rambling Rose which included her daughter.
“This was the picture that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she flew us to London for a royal premiere and an event in our honor,” Ladd shared regarding Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, grasping our hands, and weeping, watching us perform.”
The 1990s also saw roles in comedy Cemetery Club, a film bringing her back with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a satirical film, starring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she played Dern’s mother again. Those years also earned her Emmy nominations for roles in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Working with Laura Dern
She continued to star with her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, a movie, the David Lynch project Inland Empire, a surreal film and White’s comedy-drama series the program Enlightened. She additionally starred alongside actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in that movie plus Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.
Her later TV roles featured Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon, a comedy.
Behind the Camera
She also authored and helmed the comedy film the movie Mrs Munck featuring her and former husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she said. “I was honored to direct him on a project. In fact, I’m the only woman in history to helm a film with her ex. I make a joke: ‘I tell women, if you seek payback, guide your former spouse.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Personal Connections
She was additionally a family member of the great Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a major inspiration throughout my life”.
In 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a respiratory illness and told she had just six months to live but made a full recovery once her daughter moved her to a new hospital.
“When you use your pain and prevent it from festering like an injury, instead use it to discover, to make the path clearer for you and those around, then you are triumphing,” Ladd remarked.
