Diane Ladd, Known For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at 89 Years Old.
This Academy Award-nominated performer Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran passed away at the age of 89.
This star, whose roles featured National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, left this world in her residence in California’s Ojai. The news was shared via an announcement shared by her offspring, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern, her daughter.
Dern, who performed alongside her mom in a number of films such as Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my wonderful hero as well as my profound gift as a mother”, noting that she was at her bedside during her final moments.
“She was the greatest grandmother, mother, daughter, performer, creative along with empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were lucky to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Beginnings and Major Success
The start of her career saw supporting roles in TV shows like The Fugitive whereas the 1970s featured her performing with actor Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
That very year, 1974, she shared the screen alongside Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised dramatic comedy the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role landed Ladd an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.
Later Decades
In the 1980s, she appeared in the dramatic film the movie Black Widow plus comedy sequel National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and also took part in the show Alice, a sitcom derived from the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
In the subsequent decade, she earned another best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her part in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart where she played the mom of her biological child Laura Dern’s role. The next year she received an additional nod for her acting in Rambling Rose, another movie which also starred her daughter.
“This movie which Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she invited Laura and I to London for a royal premiere and a celebration dedicated to us,” Ladd said of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, grasping our hands, and crying, seeing us act.”
That decade featured performances in the comedy The Cemetery Club bringing her back with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political comedy, starring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy in which she portrayed Laura Dern’s mom once more. Those years also earned her TV award nominations for roles on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Working with Laura Dern
She kept appearing with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s satirical show Enlightened, a TV series. She also appeared with Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, a movie, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film plus Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.
Her more recent television parts included the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Writing and Directing
Ladd also wrote and directed the comedy film Mrs Munck which starred herself and previous spouse Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a talented star,” she noted. “It was a privilege to guide him in a film. In fact, I’m the only woman in recorded history who directed her former husband. I often joke: ‘I advise females, should you desire retribution, direct your ex-husband.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Personal Connections
She happened to be a family member of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a great influence throughout my life”.
Back in 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a respiratory illness and advised her life expectancy was six months but she regained full health when her daughter shifted her to a new hospital.
“When you use your pain and avoid letting it accumulate like a sore or something, instead apply it to investigate, to illuminate the way for personal and collective growth, then you are winning,” Ladd said.
