Diane Ladd, Celebrated For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at the Age of 89.

The Oscar-nominated performer Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran passed away at the age of 89.

The star, with roles included National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, passed away at home in California’s Ojai. The news was shared through a message by her child, award-winning actress her daughter Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who starred with her mother in several movies including Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my incredible hero as well as my profound gift being my mom”, writing that she was by her side during her final moments.

“She was the most wonderful daughter, mother, grandmother, star, artist along with compassionate soul that seemed almost dreamlike,” she wrote. “We were fortunate to know her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Initial Roles and Major Success

Ladd’s early career saw supporting roles in television programs like The Fugitive whereas the 1970s featured her performing with the legendary Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

In the same year, the year 1974, she shared the screen with actress Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised film the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance earned Ladd an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.

Subsequent Years

Throughout the 1980s, she was seen in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story as well as comedy sequel National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and also took part in the show Alice, a sitcom inspired by the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the subsequent decade, she received an additional Oscar nomination for supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her performance in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she acted as the mother of her biological child Laura Dern’s role. The next year she received an additional nod for her acting in Rambling Rose that also featured Laura Dern.

“This was the picture that the late Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she flew Laura and I to London for a premiere and an event dedicated to us,” Ladd shared regarding Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, holding both our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”

The 1990s included parts in comedy Cemetery Club, a film bringing her back with Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a political comedy, starring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne the movie Citizen Ruth where she played Dern’s mother again. Those years also saw her score TV award nominations for work in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Collaborations with Daughter

She continued to star alongside her daughter in films blending humor and drama the film Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and White’s dark comedy series Enlightened. She was also seen next to actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Her more recent television parts featured the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.

Behind the Camera

She additionally penned and oversaw the comedy film Mrs Munck, a film that included herself and ex-husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “It was a privilege to guide him in a film. In fact, I stand as the only woman ever to helm a film with her ex. I often joke: ‘I tell women, if you want revenge, helm a movie with your ex.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Personal Life

She was additionally the third cousin of Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a significant impact throughout my life”.

During 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a pulmonary condition and informed her life expectancy was six months but she regained full health once her daughter transferred her to a different hospital.

“When you use your pain and avoid letting it accumulate like a sore or something, instead use it to explore, to clarify the journey for yourself and others, then you are triumphing,” Ladd said.