Acclaimed Actress Diane Ladd, Known For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at the Age of 89.
The award-nominated performer Diane Ladd has died aged 89.
This actor, whose roles featured Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, passed away at home in Ojai, California. Her passing was announced via an announcement shared by her daughter, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern.
Dern, who performed alongside her mother in various films such as Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my wonderful hero and my profound gift being my mom”, stating that she was by her side as she died.
“She was the most wonderful daughter, mother, grandmother, star, artist and caring individual that seemed almost dreamlike,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Early Career and Rise to Fame
The start of her career included supporting roles on television series including Perry Mason and the 1970s saw her starring next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.
That very year, the year 1974, she appeared alongside Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s acclaimed comedy drama the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role landed Ladd an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.
1980s and Beyond
During the eighties, she starred in the thriller Black Widow plus comedy sequel National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and appeared on Alice, a television series based on her earlier movie.
In the following decade, she was given another best supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her role in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart where she acted as the parent of her real-life daughter Laura Dern’s role. The next year she obtained an additional nod for her role in the film Rambling Rose which also starred Dern.
“This was the film that the late Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she invited me and Laura to England for a premiere and a party for us,” Ladd recalled of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, holding both our hands, and crying, watching us perform.”
The 1990s featured performances in the comedy The Cemetery Club joining her again with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political comedy, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she played Laura Dern’s mom again. Those years also brought her Emmy nominations for work on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Collaborations with Daughter
She continued to star with Laura Dern in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and the series by Mike White comedy-drama series the program Enlightened. She also appeared next to Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in that movie and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Her later TV roles included Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.
Writing and Directing
Ladd also wrote and directed the humorous movie the movie Mrs Munck that included her and previous spouse Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she mentioned. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a movie. Actually, I’m the only woman in history to direct her ex-husband. I make a joke: ‘I advise females, should you desire retribution, direct your ex-husband.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Family Ties
Ladd was also the third cousin of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a significant impact on my life”.
During 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with lung disease and advised she had just six months to live yet she recovered completely after her daughter transferred her to a different hospital.
“If you can take your pain and not let it back up like an injury, instead apply it to discover, to clarify the journey for personal and collective growth, then you are winning,” Ladd remarked.
