Acclaimed Actress Diane Ladd, Known For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at Age 89.
This Academy Award-nominated actor Diane Ladd left us at the age of 89.
This star, whose filmography featured Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. Her passing was revealed via an announcement by her child, Oscar-winning actor her daughter Laura Dern.
Her daughter, who appeared with Diane Ladd in a number of films including Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my amazing hero as well as my profound gift as a mother”, writing that she was present as she died.
“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, star, artist as well as caring individual that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were fortunate to know her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Initial Roles and Rise to Fame
Ladd’s early career featured supporting roles on television series including The Fugitive whereas that decade featured her performing with Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.
That very year, the year 1974, she appeared alongside Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her role earned Ladd her first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.
Subsequent Years
In the 1980s, she starred in the thriller the movie Black Widow as well as funny follow-up National Lampoon’s holiday comedy while also joining the sitcom Alice, a sitcom inspired by her earlier movie.
In the subsequent decade, she was given a further supporting actress nomination for her part in David Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mom of her actual daughter Dern’s character. The following year she received a further nomination for her acting in Rambling Rose which included Dern.
“This was the picture that the late Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she invited us to England for a royal premiere and a celebration for us,” Ladd shared regarding Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, holding both our hands, with tears, viewing our performance.”
The 1990s also saw roles in comedy Cemetery Club reuniting her with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a political comedy, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed Laura Dern’s mom another time. Those years also saw her score TV award nominations for performances in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.
Working with Laura Dern
She persisted in performing with Laura Dern in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and White’s satirical show Enlightened. She also appeared with Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in that movie and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.
Her later TV roles consisted of Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Behind the Camera
Ladd also wrote and oversaw the comedy film Mrs Munck, a film that included Diane Ladd and ex-husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she noted. “It was a privilege to guide him in a film. Actually, I’m the only woman in recorded history who directed her former husband. I humorously say: ‘I say ladies, if you want revenge, guide your former spouse.’ Though I’m just teasing.”
Family Ties
Ladd was also a family member of Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a great influence in my life”.
In 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a respiratory illness and advised she had just six months to live but made a full recovery after her daughter shifted her to a different hospital.
“If you can take your pain and prevent it from festering similar to a wound, instead use it to investigate, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are triumphing,” Ladd said.