Diane Ladd, Known For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Passes Away at 89 Years Old.

This Oscar-nominated performer Diane Ladd left us aged 89.

The actor, whose credits featured Chinatown, passed away at home in Ojai, California. Her passing was shared through a message shared by her child, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern.

Dern, who performed alongside her mother in several movies such as Rambling Rose, called her “my incredible hero and my precious gift of a mother”, noting that she was at her bedside as she died.

“She was the most wonderful mother, daughter, grandmother, star, artist along with compassionate soul that seemed almost dreamlike,” she wrote. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Early Career and Rise to Fame

Her initial acting years saw small roles on television series such as The Fugitive and that decade saw her starring next to Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

During that year, 1974, she shared the screen with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s celebrated dramatic comedy the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.

1980s and Beyond

Throughout the 1980s, she appeared in the thriller the movie Black Widow and humorous film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and also took part in Alice, a sitcom inspired by Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the following decade, she was given a further best supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her role in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart where she acted as the mother of her actual daughter Dern’s character. A year later she was awarded an additional nod for her role in the film Rambling Rose that also featured Dern.

“This movie which Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she brought me and Laura to London for a premiere and a party for us,” Ladd recalled about the film Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, grasping our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”

That decade included parts in the comedy The Cemetery Club bringing her back with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a comedy about politics, featuring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she acted as Laura Dern’s mom another time. That period also saw her score Emmy nominations for work in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She kept appearing alongside her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and the series by Mike White satirical show the program Enlightened. She was also seen next to Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian plus Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

Her more recent television parts consisted of the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.

Behind the Camera

She also authored and oversaw the humorous movie Mrs Munck, a film featuring Diane Ladd and previous spouse Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “I’m privileged to have directed him on a project. In fact, I’m the only woman in history to direct her ex-husband. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, if you want revenge, direct your ex-husband.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Connections

She happened to be the third cousin of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a great influence on my life”.

In 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a pulmonary condition and informed she only had half a year left but she regained full health after her daughter moved her to a different hospital.

“If you can take your pain and not let it back up like an injury, rather utilize it to investigate, to illuminate the way for you and those around, then you are triumphing,” Ladd said.