Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Her Performance in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at the Age of 89.
The Oscar-nominated actor Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran passed away aged 89.
The actress, with roles included National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, died at her home in Ojai, California. Her passing was announced through a message shared by her child, award-winning actress her daughter Laura Dern.
Dern, who appeared with Diane Ladd in various films including Rambling Rose, described her as “my wonderful hero as well as my special gift being my mom”, noting that she was present when she passed.
“She was the most wonderful daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and caring individual that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she stated. “We were blessed to have her. She is now with the angels.”
Beginnings and Major Success
Her initial acting years included small roles on television series including Perry Mason whereas that decade saw her starring alongside the legendary Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
In the same year, the year 1974, she performed with 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 as best supporting actress.
1980s and Beyond
Throughout the 1980s, she appeared in the dramatic film Black Widow as well as comedy sequel Christmas Vacation and appeared on the sitcom Alice, a television series derived from the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
During the next ten years, she was given a further supporting actress Oscar nomination for her part in David Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the mom of her biological child the character played by Dern. A year later she obtained a further nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose which also starred Laura Dern.
“This was the picture that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she invited Laura and I to England for a special screening and a party for us,” Ladd shared about the film Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, holding both our hands, and crying, watching us perform.”
That decade featured performances in comedy Cemetery Club, a film reuniting her with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a comedy about politics, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she played Laura Dern’s mom once more. Those years also brought her TV award nominations for performances in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel.
Partnerships with Her Daughter
She continued to star with Laura Dern in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and the series by Mike White comedy-drama series Enlightened, a TV series. She was also seen with Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, a movie, Sir Anthony Hopkins in that movie and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Her later TV roles consisted of Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.
Writing and Directing
Ladd also wrote and helmed the humorous movie the movie Mrs Munck that included Diane Ladd and previous spouse actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she noted. “I was honored to direct him in a movie. In fact, I’m the only woman in history to direct her ex-husband. I often joke: ‘I advise females, if you seek payback, guide your former spouse.’ However, I’m joking.”
Family Ties
Ladd was also a relative of the great Tennessee Williams, who she called “a major inspiration on my life”.
In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a respiratory illness and advised she had just six months to live but she regained full health once her daughter moved her to another medical facility.
“When you use your pain and not let it back up like an injury, rather utilize it to discover, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are triumphing,” Ladd remarked.
