Diane Ladd, Famed For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Dies at the Age of 89.

This Oscar-nominated actress the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away aged 89.

This star, with roles spanned Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home in California’s Ojai. Her passing was announced in a statement by her child, award-winning actress Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who appeared with Diane Ladd in several movies including Wild at Heart, referred to her as “my incredible hero plus my profound gift as a mother”, writing that she was present as she died.

“She was an exceptional mother, daughter, grandmother, star, artist along with compassionate soul that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she wrote. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Early Career and Rise to Fame

Her initial acting years included supporting roles in television programs such as The Fugitive whereas the seventies featured her performing next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

During that year, the year 1974, she shared the screen with actress Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese acclaimed comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her acting brought Ladd her first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.

Subsequent Years

In the 1980s, she was seen in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story and comedy sequel Christmas Vacation while also joining Alice, a comedy program inspired by the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the following decade, she earned an additional best supporting actress nomination for her performance in Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic in which she portrayed the mother of her biological child Laura Dern’s role. The next year she received another nomination for her acting in the film Rambling Rose that also featured Dern.

“This movie that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she flew me and Laura to the UK for a special screening and a celebration for us,” Ladd shared about the film Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, taking our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”

The 1990s included parts in comedy The Cemetery Club bringing her back with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a comedy about politics, with John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she played the mother of Dern another time. Those years also earned her TV award nominations for roles on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.

Partnerships with Her Daughter

She continued to star with her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and White’s dark comedy series Enlightened. She additionally starred alongside actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Sir Anthony Hopkins in that movie and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.

Subsequent TV appearances consisted of Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.

Behind the Camera

Ladd also wrote and oversaw the humorous movie Mrs Munck, a film which starred Diane Ladd and ex-husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she noted. “I was honored to direct him on a project. Indeed, I am the sole female in recorded history to helm a film with her ex. I make a joke: ‘I advise females, if you want revenge, direct your ex-husband.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Personal Connections

She was additionally a relative of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she called “a major inspiration throughout my life”.

During 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with lung disease and advised she had just six months to live yet she recovered completely when her daughter moved her to another medical facility.

“When you use your pain and not let it back up like a sore or something, instead apply it to investigate, to clarify the journey for personal and collective growth, then you are succeeding,” Ladd remarked.