Acclaimed Actress Diane Ladd, Famed For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Dies at Age 89.
The Academy Award-nominated actress the celebrated Diane Ladd has died 89 years old.
This star, with roles included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home in Ojai, California. Her passing was announced in a statement by her daughter, award-winning actress Laura Dern.
Laura Dern, who appeared with Diane Ladd in several movies such as Wild at Heart, called her “my amazing hero plus my precious gift being my mom”, writing that she was by her side as she died.
“She was the greatest grandmother, mother, daughter, actress, artist as well as caring individual that felt like a dream come true,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. She is now with the angels.”
Initial Roles and Major Success
Her initial acting years included supporting roles on television series like Perry Mason while the 1970s saw her starring alongside actor Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
In the same year, the year 1974, she performed with actress Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s celebrated comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. The performance brought Ladd an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.
1980s and Beyond
In the 1980s, she was seen in the thriller Black Widow, a suspense story and comedy sequel Christmas Vacation and also took part in Alice, a sitcom inspired by her earlier movie.
In the subsequent decade, she earned another best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her performance in David Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the mom of her actual daughter Laura Dern’s role. The following year she obtained an additional nod for her role in the film Rambling Rose which included Dern.
“This movie which Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she brought Laura and I to England for a premiere and a party dedicated to us,” Ladd said about the film Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, grasping our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”
That decade included parts in the comedy Cemetery Club joining her again with her co-star Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a political comedy, featuring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed the mother of Dern again. Those years also brought her nominations for Emmy Awards for performances in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Collaborations with Daughter
She kept appearing alongside her daughter in comedy drama the film Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire, a surreal film and the series by Mike White satirical show the program Enlightened. She also appeared with Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Subsequent TV appearances consisted of the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.
Writing and Directing
She additionally penned and helmed the comedy Mrs Munck which starred herself and ex-husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “I was honored to direct him in a movie. Indeed, I stand as the only woman in history to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I say ladies, should you desire retribution, direct your ex-husband.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Family Ties
She happened to be a relative of the great Tennessee Williams, who she called “a significant impact in my life”.
In 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a pulmonary condition and advised her life expectancy was six months but made a full recovery once her daughter transferred her to a new hospital.
“When you use your pain and not let it back up similar to a wound, rather utilize it to explore, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are triumphing,” Ladd remarked.
