Acclaimed Actress Diane Ladd, Famed For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at 89 Years Old.
The Academy Award-nominated actress the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away at the age of 89.
The star, with credits featured National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, passed away at home in Ojai, California. This announcement was revealed via an announcement from her daughter, award-winning actress her daughter Laura Dern.
Laura Dern, who appeared with her mom in a number of films including Rambling Rose, described her as “my amazing hero and my profound gift as a mother”, writing that she was by her side during her final moments.
“She was an exceptional daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist as well as caring individual that felt like a dream come true,” she wrote. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Early Career and Breakthrough
Her initial acting years saw minor parts on television series including Perry Mason whereas that decade had her appearing with actor Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
In the same year, 1974, she performed with actress Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese acclaimed dramatic comedy Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her acting brought Ladd her first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.
Subsequent Years
During the eighties, she starred in crime thriller the movie Black Widow plus funny follow-up National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and also took part in Alice, a comedy program inspired by her earlier movie.
During the next ten years, she received an additional best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role in Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic in which she portrayed the mother of her actual daughter the character played by Dern. The next year she obtained an additional nod for her role in Rambling Rose which also starred her daughter.
“This was the film that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she invited Laura and I to England for a premiere and an event in our honor,” Ladd shared regarding Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, holding both our hands, and crying, watching us perform.”
That decade featured performances in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film reuniting her with Ellen Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a satirical film, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as the mother of Dern again. Those years also saw her score nominations for Emmy Awards for roles in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Partnerships with Her Daughter
She kept appearing with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire and the series by Mike White dark comedy series Enlightened. She additionally starred next to Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in that movie and with Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.
Subsequent TV appearances consisted of Ray Donovan, a drama plus Young Sheldon.
Writing and Directing
Ladd also wrote and oversaw the comedy the movie Mrs Munck which starred herself and ex-husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a great actor,” she noted. “I was honored to direct him on a project. Indeed, I stand as the only woman in history to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I tell women, if you want revenge, direct your ex-husband.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Family Ties
Ladd was also the third cousin of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a major inspiration in my life”.
During 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with lung disease and advised she only had half a year left but she regained full health after her daughter transferred her to a new hospital.
“Should you harness your suffering and prevent it from festering like a sore or something, instead use it to explore, to make the path clearer for you and those around, then you are triumphing,” Ladd expressed.
