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

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

This star, whose filmography spanned National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, left this world in her residence in California’s Ojai. The news was shared via an announcement from her child, award-winning actress Laura Dern, her daughter.

Dern, who appeared with her mother in a number of films including Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my amazing hero and my precious gift as a mother”, writing that she was at her bedside during her final moments.

“She was the most wonderful grandmother, mother, daughter, star, artist as well as compassionate soul that felt like a dream come true,” she stated. “We were lucky to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Early Career and Rise to Fame

Her initial acting years saw minor parts in television programs including Gunsmoke while the 1970s had her appearing next to Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

That very year, 1974, she appeared alongside Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s celebrated dramatic comedy the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance earned Ladd her first Oscar nomination as best supporting actress.

Subsequent Years

In the 1980s, she starred in the thriller Black Widow plus humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and appeared on Alice, a comedy program inspired by the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

During the next ten years, she earned a further supporting actress nomination for her role in Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mother of her biological child the character played by Dern. The following year she was awarded another nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose which included Laura Dern.

“This movie that the late Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she flew Laura and I to the UK for a royal premiere and an event dedicated to us,” Ladd recalled regarding Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, holding both our hands, and weeping, watching us perform.”

The nineties included parts in humorous films The Cemetery Club joining her again with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a comedy about politics, featuring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne the movie Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed Laura Dern’s mom once more. Those years also brought her Emmy nominations for performances in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Working with Laura Dern

She kept appearing with Laura Dern in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and the series by Mike White comedy-drama series the program Enlightened. She was also seen with actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Her more recent television parts consisted of Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon, a comedy.

Writing and Directing

Ladd also wrote and helmed the comedy film Mrs Munck, a film featuring her and previous spouse Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she mentioned. “I was honored to direct him on a project. Indeed, I’m the only woman in history to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I say ladies, if you want revenge, guide your former spouse.’ But I’m only kidding.”

Personal Connections

She happened to be the third cousin of the great Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a great influence throughout my life”.

In 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with lung disease and advised she only had half a year left yet she recovered completely after her daughter transferred her to a different hospital.

“When you use your pain and not let it back up similar to a wound, rather utilize it to investigate, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are triumphing,” Ladd said.