Diane Ladd, Known For Her Role in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Dies at 89 Years Old.

The Academy Award-nominated actor Diane Ladd passed away at the age of 89.

The actress, with credits included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, passed away at home in California’s Ojai. Her passing was revealed in a statement by her offspring, Oscar-winning actor her daughter Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who starred with Diane Ladd in a number of films including Wild at Heart, called her “my amazing hero and my profound gift as a mother”, writing that she was by her side as she died.

“She was the most wonderful mother, daughter, grandmother, actress, artist and empathetic spirit that felt like a dream come true,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Early Career and Rise to Fame

Her initial acting years saw supporting roles on television series such as Gunsmoke and that decade saw her starring with Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

That very year, 1974, she performed with actress Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised film the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination as best supporting actress.

Later Decades

Throughout the 1980s, she was seen in the dramatic film Black Widow, a suspense story and comedy sequel National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and appeared on the show Alice, a sitcom based on her earlier movie.

During the next ten years, she was given an additional supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role in Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she played the parent of her real-life daughter Laura Dern’s role. The next year she obtained another nomination for her role in Rambling Rose which included her daughter.

“This was the picture which Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she invited Laura and I to the UK for a royal premiere and an event in our honor,” Ladd shared regarding Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, holding both our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”

The nineties included parts in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film reuniting her with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a political comedy, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she played Laura Dern’s mom once more. The decade also brought her nominations for Emmy Awards for performances in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Working with Laura Dern

She kept appearing with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and White’s satirical show Enlightened. She was also seen with Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

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

Filmmaking Ventures

Ladd also wrote and directed the comedy Mrs Munck, a film featuring Diane Ladd and previous spouse Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she said. “It was a privilege to guide him on a project. Actually, I’m the only woman in recorded history who directed her former husband. I make a joke: ‘I advise females, if you seek payback, guide your former spouse.’ But I’m only kidding.”

Personal Life

She was additionally a family member of the great Tennessee Williams, who she called “a great influence on my life”.

Back in 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a respiratory illness and told her life expectancy was six months yet she recovered completely when her daughter shifted her to a new hospital.

“When you use your pain and prevent it from festering like a sore or something, instead apply it to explore, to clarify the journey for personal and collective growth, then you are triumphing,” Ladd expressed.