Oscar-Nominated Star Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Her Performance in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Dies at Age 89.
The award-nominated performer the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away 89 years old.
The actor, whose filmography included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence at her Ojai, California home. The news was revealed through a message from her offspring, award-winning actress her daughter Laura Dern.
Her daughter, who appeared with her mother in various films like Rambling Rose, described her as “my amazing hero plus my special gift as a mother”, noting that she was present as she died.
“She was an exceptional mother, daughter, grandmother, actress, artist along with compassionate soul that seemed almost dreamlike,” she wrote. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Early Career and Rise to Fame
Her initial acting years saw supporting roles in television programs like Perry Mason while the 1970s featured her performing with Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
In the same year, the year 1974, she appeared with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s praised dramatic comedy Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role landed Ladd an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.
Subsequent Years
In the 1980s, she starred in the thriller Black Widow as well as humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and also took part in the show Alice, a television series based on the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
In the following decade, she was given another supporting actress Oscar nomination for her performance in Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mom of her biological child Laura Dern’s role. The next year she received an additional nod for her acting in Rambling Rose 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 royal premiere and a celebration for us,” Ladd said regarding Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, grasping our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.”
The 1990s included parts in the comedy The Cemetery Club reuniting her with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a satirical film, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed Dern’s mother once more. Those years also earned her Emmy nominations for performances in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.
Working with Laura Dern
She continued to star with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire and Mike White’s comedy-drama series Enlightened, a TV series. She additionally starred next to Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian plus Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.
Her more recent television parts consisted of Ray Donovan, a drama plus Young Sheldon.
Filmmaking Ventures
She also authored and directed the humorous movie Mrs Munck featuring her and previous spouse Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she mentioned. “I was honored to direct him on a project. Indeed, I’m the only woman ever to helm a film with her ex. I make a joke: ‘I advise females, if you want revenge, guide your former spouse.’ However, I’m joking.”
Personal Life
Ladd was also a family member of Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a major inspiration on my life”.
During 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a respiratory illness and told she had just six months to live yet she recovered completely after her daughter transferred her to a different hospital.
“Should you harness your suffering and avoid letting it accumulate like a sore or something, instead use it to discover, to make the path clearer for you and those around, then you are winning,” Ladd remarked.
