Acclaimed Actress Diane Ladd, Known For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at Age 89.
This award-nominated actor the celebrated Diane Ladd has died aged 89.
The star, with filmography included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence in California’s Ojai. This announcement was revealed in a statement from her daughter, Academy Award-winning star her daughter Laura Dern.
Laura Dern, who appeared with her mom in a number of films like Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, described her as “my incredible hero as well as my profound gift as a mother”, writing that she was by her side as she died.
“She was the most wonderful daughter, mother, grandmother, star, artist as well as caring individual that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Early Career and Major Success
Ladd’s early career featured small roles in TV shows such as The Fugitive whereas the seventies saw her starring with the legendary Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
In the same year, 1974, she shared the screen with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s celebrated comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her acting landed Ladd an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.
1980s and Beyond
In the 1980s, she appeared in crime thriller the movie Black Widow and humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and appeared on Alice, a sitcom derived from Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
In the subsequent decade, she was given an additional Oscar nomination for supporting actress nomination for her role in David Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she played the mother of her real-life daughter Laura Dern’s role. The next year she received a further nomination for her role in the film Rambling Rose which included Laura Dern.
“This was the picture that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she invited us to England for a special screening and a party for us,” Ladd said about the film Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, holding both our hands, and crying, seeing us act.”
The 1990s included parts in humorous films The Cemetery Club reuniting her with Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a satirical film, starring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she played Laura Dern’s mom another time. Those years also brought her nominations for Emmy Awards for performances on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.
Partnerships with Her Daughter
She kept appearing with Laura Dern in comedy drama Daddy and Them, a movie, Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and Mike White’s comedy-drama series Enlightened, a TV series. She also appeared next to actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in that movie plus Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.
Subsequent TV appearances featured the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.
Writing and Directing
She additionally penned and helmed the comedy film Mrs Munck which starred her and ex-husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she said. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a film. Indeed, I stand as the only woman in history who directed her former husband. I make a joke: ‘I say ladies, should you desire retribution, guide your former spouse.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Personal Connections
Ladd was also the third cousin of Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a significant impact on my life”.
Back in 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a respiratory illness and told she only had half a year left but she regained full health once her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.
“When you use your pain and avoid letting it accumulate like a sore or something, rather utilize it to explore, to make the path clearer for you and those around, then you are succeeding,” Ladd expressed.
