Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at the Age of 89.
The award-nominated actress Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran passed away at the age of 89.
This actress, whose filmography included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home in Ojai, California. The news was announced through a message shared by her child, award-winning actress Laura Dern.
Her daughter, who appeared with her mom in several movies such as Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, described her as “my incredible hero and my profound gift as a mother”, writing that she was at her bedside when she passed.
“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist as well as caring individual that felt like a dream come true,” she wrote. “We were lucky to have her. She is now with the angels.”
Early Career and Breakthrough
Ladd’s early career included supporting roles in TV shows such as Perry Mason and the 1970s saw her starring with the legendary Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
In the same year, 1974, she shared the screen with actress Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed dramatic comedy the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.
Later Decades
Throughout the 1980s, she appeared in the dramatic film the movie Black Widow as well as funny follow-up Christmas Vacation and appeared on the show Alice, a television series inspired by her earlier movie.
In the following decade, she was given an additional Oscar nomination for supporting actress nomination for her performance in Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic in which she portrayed the mother of her actual daughter Laura Dern’s role. The next year she obtained a further nomination for her performance in the film Rambling Rose which also starred her daughter.
“This was the film which Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she invited us to London for a royal premiere and an event for us,” Ladd recalled regarding Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, grasping our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”
The nineties included parts in comedy The Cemetery Club bringing her back with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a satirical film, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she played Dern’s mother once more. The decade also saw her score Emmy nominations for roles in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Collaborations with Daughter
She continued to star with Laura Dern in comedy drama Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire and Mike White’s dark comedy series the program Enlightened. She also appeared next to Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Her later TV roles included the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.
Filmmaking Ventures
She also authored and helmed the comedy Mrs Munck which starred Diane Ladd and ex-husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a great actor,” she mentioned. “I’m privileged to have directed him on a project. Actually, I am the sole female in history to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I tell women, if you seek payback, guide your former spouse.’ But I’m only kidding.”
Personal Life
Ladd was also a family member of Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a great influence on my life”.
In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and advised her life expectancy was six months yet she recovered completely after her daughter moved her to a different hospital.
“If you can take your pain and avoid letting it accumulate similar to a wound, instead apply it to discover, to clarify the journey for personal and collective growth, then you are succeeding,” Ladd remarked.
