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This award-nominated performer Diane Ladd passed away aged 89.

The actor, whose filmography spanned Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home in California’s Ojai. Her passing was revealed in a statement shared by her offspring, award-winning actress Laura Dern.

Dern, who performed alongside Diane Ladd in several movies such as Wild at Heart, described her as “my incredible hero plus my profound gift as a mother”, writing that she was present during her final moments.

“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, performer, creative as well as compassionate soul that seemed almost dreamlike,” she stated. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Initial Roles and Major Success

Her initial acting years featured supporting roles in television programs such as The Fugitive and that decade saw her starring with Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

In the same year, the year 1974, she performed with actress Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s celebrated film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her acting landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination as best supporting actress.

1980s and Beyond

During the eighties, she was seen in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story as well as humorous film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and also took part in the sitcom Alice, a television series based on Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the following decade, she received a further best supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her role in Lynch’s Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mom of her biological child the character played by Dern. The following year she was awarded an additional nod for her role in the film Rambling Rose which included Laura Dern.

“This was the picture which Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she invited Laura and I to England for a royal premiere and a celebration dedicated to us,” Ladd shared regarding Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, holding both our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.”

The nineties also saw roles in comedy Cemetery Club bringing her back with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political comedy, featuring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as Dern’s mother again. Those years also earned her nominations for Emmy Awards for roles in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.

Collaborations with Daughter

She kept appearing with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, the David Lynch project Inland Empire, a surreal film and White’s dark comedy series Enlightened. She also appeared with Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in that movie and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Subsequent TV appearances included Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon.

Filmmaking Ventures

Ladd also wrote and helmed the comedy the movie Mrs Munck featuring her and former husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a talented star,” she noted. “I was honored to direct him on a project. Indeed, I stand as the only woman ever to helm a film with her ex. I often joke: ‘I tell women, if you seek payback, helm a movie with your ex.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Connections

Ladd was also a relative of Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a major inspiration in my life”.

Back in 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a respiratory illness and told she only had half a year left but made a full recovery when her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.

“Should you harness your suffering and prevent it from festering similar to a wound, rather utilize it to discover, to clarify the journey for yourself and others, then you are winning,” Ladd expressed.