Acclaimed Actress Diane Ladd, Famed For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at the Age of 89.
The Academy Award-nominated actress Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran left us aged 89.
The actress, whose credits featured Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, passed away at home in Ojai, California. Her passing was shared in a statement shared by her offspring, Oscar-winning actor her daughter Laura Dern.
Dern, who appeared with Diane Ladd in several movies including Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, called her “my incredible hero and my profound gift of a mother”, noting that she was at her bedside during her final moments.
“She was the greatest grandmother, mother, daughter, actress, artist as well as compassionate soul that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she wrote. “We were lucky to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Early Career and Breakthrough
Her initial acting years saw small roles on television series including Perry Mason while that decade featured her performing alongside the legendary Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
During that year, 1974, she appeared with Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese acclaimed film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her role landed Ladd her initial Oscar nod for best supporting actress.
1980s and Beyond
During the eighties, she was seen in the thriller the movie Black Widow and funny follow-up National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and also took part in Alice, a comedy program inspired by her earlier movie.
In the subsequent decade, she was given an additional best supporting actress nomination for her part in Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the parent of her actual daughter Dern’s character. The following year she received another nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose, another movie which also starred Dern.
“This movie that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she flew us to the UK for a special screening and a celebration dedicated to us,” Ladd shared of Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, holding both our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.”
That decade included parts in humorous films The Cemetery Club bringing her back with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a comedy about politics, with John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as Laura Dern’s mom again. The decade also brought her TV award nominations for work on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.
Working with Laura Dern
She kept appearing with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, Lynch’s Inland Empire and White’s satirical show the program Enlightened. She was also seen alongside actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Her later TV roles featured the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Filmmaking Ventures
She additionally penned and directed the comedy film Mrs Munck that included Diane Ladd and former husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she mentioned. “It was a privilege to guide him on a project. Indeed, I stand as the only woman in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I often joke: ‘I advise females, if you want revenge, helm a movie with your ex.’ However, I’m joking.”
Personal Connections
She was additionally a family member of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a major inspiration in my life”.
In 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with lung disease and advised she had just six months to live but she regained full health when her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.
“When you use your pain and prevent it from festering like an injury, instead apply it to explore, to make the path clearer for yourself and others, then you are winning,” Ladd remarked.