Acclaimed Actress Diane Ladd, Known For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at the Age of 89.
The Academy Award-nominated actor Diane Ladd passed away at the age of 89.
The star, with filmography included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home at her Ojai, California home. This announcement was shared through a message by her offspring, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern.
Her daughter, who performed alongside Diane Ladd in several movies like Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my incredible hero plus my precious gift being my mom”, noting that she was by her side during her final moments.
“She was the most wonderful grandmother, mother, daughter, actress, artist as well as caring individual that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Beginnings and Major Success
Her initial acting years saw supporting roles on television series like Gunsmoke and the 1970s had her appearing next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
During that year, 1974, she appeared with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s celebrated comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role landed Ladd her initial Oscar nod for best supporting actress.
Later Decades
In the 1980s, she was seen in crime thriller the movie Black Widow and funny follow-up National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and also took part in the sitcom Alice, a comedy program derived from her earlier movie.
In the following decade, she was given a further best supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her performance in Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mother of her real-life daughter the character played by Dern. A year later she obtained a further nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose which included her daughter.
“This was the film that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she invited Laura and I to London for a royal premiere and a party dedicated to us,” Ladd recalled regarding Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, holding both our hands, and crying, watching us perform.”
That decade featured performances in the comedy Cemetery Club reuniting her with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, with John Travolta and Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she played Laura Dern’s mom once more. The decade also saw her score TV award nominations for roles on Dr Quinn, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.
Working with Laura Dern
She persisted in performing with her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and White’s dark comedy series Enlightened. She additionally starred with Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Subsequent TV appearances included Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon, a comedy.
Behind the Camera
She also authored and oversaw the comedy Mrs Munck, a film which starred Diane Ladd and former husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she noted. “I was honored to direct him in a film. In fact, I am the sole female in history who directed her former husband. I humorously say: ‘I tell women, should you desire retribution, helm a movie with your ex.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Family Ties
She was additionally the third cousin of Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a great influence throughout my life”.
Back in 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a respiratory illness and informed her life expectancy was six months 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, rather utilize it to investigate, to make the path clearer for personal and collective growth, then you are winning,” Ladd expressed.
