Acclaimed Actress Diane Ladd, Known For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at the Age of 89.
The award-nominated actor Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran has died aged 89.
The actress, whose filmography included Chinatown, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. The news was shared in a statement from her daughter, award-winning actress Laura Dern, her daughter.
Her daughter, who appeared with Diane Ladd in a number of films such as Rambling Rose, described her as “my incredible hero plus my special gift of a mother”, writing that she was present during her final moments.
“She was the most wonderful mother, daughter, grandmother, star, artist and compassionate soul that felt like a dream come true,” she wrote. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Initial Roles and Rise to Fame
Her initial acting years featured supporting roles in television programs like The Fugitive while that decade had her appearing with the legendary Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
In the same year, 1974, she performed with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s praised comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance landed Ladd her initial Oscar nod as best supporting actress.
Later Decades
During the eighties, she was seen in the dramatic film Black Widow and comedy sequel National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and also took part in the sitcom Alice, a television series inspired by Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
In the subsequent decade, she was given a further best supporting actress nomination for her part in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic in which she portrayed the mom of her actual daughter Dern’s character. The next year she was awarded another nomination for her role in Rambling Rose, another movie which included her daughter.
“This was the film that Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she flew me and Laura to London for a premiere and an event in our honor,” Ladd said of Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, taking our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”
The 1990s included parts in comedy Cemetery Club, a film joining her again with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, starring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne the movie Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed the mother of Dern another time. Those years also brought her TV award nominations for roles on Dr Quinn, the show Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.
Working with Laura Dern
She continued to star with Laura Dern in dramatic comedies the film Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire and Mike White’s dark comedy series the program Enlightened. She additionally starred with Sandra Bullock, a star in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in that movie and Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.
Her later TV roles featured Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon, a comedy.
Writing and Directing
She also authored and oversaw the comedy film Mrs Munck that included Diane Ladd and former husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she noted. “It was a privilege to guide him in a movie. Indeed, I’m the only woman ever who directed her former husband. I make a joke: ‘I say ladies, if you want revenge, helm a movie with your ex.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Family Ties
Ladd was also a family member of the great Tennessee Williams, who she called “a significant impact on my life”.
In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and told her life expectancy was six months yet she recovered completely when her daughter moved her to another medical facility.
“When you use your pain and avoid letting it accumulate like an injury, rather utilize it to explore, to clarify the journey for personal and collective growth, then you are succeeding,” Ladd remarked.
