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The Academy Award-nominated actress Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran passed away at the age of 89.

This actress, whose credits included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. Her passing was announced through a message by her daughter, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who appeared with her mother in various films like Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, described her as “my wonderful hero as well as my profound gift being my mom”, stating that she was present during her final moments.

“She was the greatest mother, daughter, grandmother, star, artist and compassionate soul that felt like a dream come true,” she expressed. “We were lucky to have her. She is now with the angels.”

Initial Roles and Major Success

Her initial acting years featured small roles on television series including The Fugitive while the 1970s saw her starring alongside the legendary Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.

That very year, 1974, she appeared with actress Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese praised film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role brought Ladd her first Oscar nomination as best supporting actress.

Later Decades

In the 1980s, she starred in the dramatic film Black Widow and funny follow-up National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and also took part in Alice, a sitcom derived from her earlier movie.

During the next ten years, she was given a further supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role in Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic in which she portrayed the mother of her real-life daughter the character played by Dern. A year later she was awarded another nomination for her role in the film Rambling Rose that also featured Laura Dern.

“This movie that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she brought me and Laura to the UK for a premiere and a celebration in our honor,” Ladd recalled of Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, grasping our hands, with tears, viewing our performance.”

The nineties featured performances in humorous films The Cemetery Club bringing her back with Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a comedy about politics, featuring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth where she played Laura Dern’s mom once more. The decade also earned her TV award nominations for performances in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Collaborations with Daughter

She kept appearing with her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, a movie, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and White’s satirical show Enlightened, a TV series. She also appeared next to Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian plus Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

Her more recent television parts featured the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon, a comedy.

Behind the Camera

She additionally penned and helmed the humorous movie the movie Mrs Munck which starred herself and previous spouse Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she mentioned. “I was honored to direct him on a project. Actually, I stand as the only woman ever to direct her ex-husband. I often joke: ‘I advise females, should you desire retribution, direct your ex-husband.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Connections

Ladd was also a family member of Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a great influence in my life”.

Back in 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with lung disease and informed she only had half a year left but made a full recovery after her daughter moved her to a new hospital.

“When you use your pain and not let it back up similar to a wound, instead apply it to investigate, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are triumphing,” Ladd expressed.