Diane Ladd, Famed For Her Performance in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Dies at the Age of 89.
The award-nominated performer Diane Ladd passed away 89 years old.
The actor, whose credits spanned Chinatown, passed away at home in Ojai, California. Her passing was announced via an announcement shared by her offspring, award-winning actress her daughter Laura Dern.
Laura Dern, who appeared with Diane Ladd in a number of films such as Rambling Rose, described her as “my incredible hero and my special gift as a mother”, writing that she was at her bedside when she passed.
“She was an exceptional daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and empathetic spirit that felt like a dream come true,” she expressed. “We were lucky to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Beginnings and Rise to Fame
Ladd’s early career saw minor parts on television series such as The Fugitive whereas that decade featured her performing alongside Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
During that year, 1974, she shared the screen with actress Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s praised dramatic comedy Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her acting landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination in the supporting actress category.
Later Decades
Throughout the 1980s, she appeared in the dramatic film Black Widow, a suspense story plus comedy sequel National Lampoon’s holiday comedy while also joining the sitcom Alice, a comedy program inspired by her earlier movie.
In the following decade, she received another best supporting actress nomination for her role in Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic in which she portrayed the mom of her real-life daughter Dern’s character. The next year she obtained a further nomination for her role in Rambling Rose, another movie that also featured Laura Dern.
“This movie which Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she invited Laura and I to the UK for a special screening and a celebration dedicated to us,” Ladd shared of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, taking our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”
The nineties also saw roles in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film joining her again with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a political comedy, featuring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she played the mother of Dern again. The decade also earned her nominations for Emmy Awards for performances in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.
Partnerships with Her Daughter
She kept appearing with her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, the David Lynch project Inland Empire, a surreal film and Mike White’s comedy-drama series Enlightened, a TV series. She also appeared with actress Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in that movie and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Subsequent TV appearances featured the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.
Behind the Camera
She also authored and oversaw the comedy film Mrs Munck featuring Diane Ladd and former husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she said. “I was honored to direct him on a project. Indeed, I stand as the only woman ever to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I advise females, should you desire retribution, helm a movie with your ex.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Personal Life
Ladd was also a family member of Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a significant impact on my life”.
In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a respiratory illness and informed her life expectancy was six months but made a full recovery after her daughter transferred her to a new hospital.
“When you use your pain and not let it back up like a sore or something, instead use it to investigate, to illuminate the way for you and those around, then you are winning,” Ladd remarked.
