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This award-nominated actress Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran passed away at the age of 89.

The actress, with filmography included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence at her Ojai, California home. The news was shared via an announcement from her daughter, Oscar-winning actor her daughter Laura Dern.

Dern, who starred with her mom in a number of films including Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, called her “my amazing hero plus my special gift being my mom”, noting that she was at her bedside during her final moments.

“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, performer, creative and caring individual that felt like a dream come true,” she wrote. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Beginnings and Rise to Fame

Ladd’s early career included small roles on television series including Perry Mason whereas the 1970s saw her starring next to Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

In the same year, the year 1974, she appeared with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s celebrated dramatic comedy Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role brought Ladd her initial Oscar nod in the supporting actress category.

Subsequent Years

During the eighties, she was seen in the thriller Black Widow, a suspense story as well as comedy sequel Christmas Vacation while also joining Alice, a comedy program derived from her earlier movie.

In the subsequent decade, she earned another best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her part in Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the parent of her biological child the character played by Dern. The following year she was awarded a further nomination for her acting in Rambling Rose, another movie that also featured Dern.

“This was the film that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she invited me and Laura to the UK for a premiere and a party dedicated to us,” Ladd recalled about the film Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, taking our hands, with tears, viewing our performance.”

That decade featured performances in comedy The Cemetery Club bringing her back with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a satirical film, featuring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she played Laura Dern’s mom another time. Those years also earned her nominations for Emmy Awards for roles on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Collaborations with Daughter

She continued to star alongside her daughter in comedy drama the film Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire and Mike White’s comedy-drama series Enlightened. She additionally starred alongside Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in that movie plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Her more recent television parts featured Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.

Filmmaking Ventures

Ladd also wrote and directed the comedy Mrs Munck, a film which starred her and ex-husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a great actor,” she said. “I’m privileged to have directed him on a project. Indeed, I’m the only woman in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I tell women, if you want revenge, direct your ex-husband.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Connections

She was additionally the third cousin of Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a major inspiration on my life”.

During 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a pulmonary condition and told she only had half a year left yet she recovered completely once her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.

“When you use your pain and not let it back up similar to a wound, instead apply it to discover, to clarify the journey for you and those around, then you are succeeding,” Ladd expressed.