Diane Ladd, Known For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Dies at Age 89.
The Oscar-nominated actress the celebrated Diane Ladd left us at the age of 89.
The actress, whose filmography included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence in California’s Ojai. Her passing was revealed via an announcement by her daughter, Oscar-winning actor her daughter Laura Dern.
Her daughter, who appeared with Diane Ladd in a number of films including Wild at Heart, described her as “my wonderful hero and my profound gift being my mom”, stating that she was at her bedside during her final moments.
“She was an exceptional daughter, mother, grandmother, performer, creative and compassionate soul that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”
Early Career and Rise to Fame
Her initial acting years saw minor parts on television series like Gunsmoke whereas the 1970s saw her starring alongside actor Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.
That very year, 1974, she appeared alongside Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese acclaimed film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her acting brought Ladd her first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.
1980s and Beyond
Throughout the 1980s, she appeared in the thriller Black Widow plus comedy sequel National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and appeared on Alice, a comedy program based on her earlier movie.
In the following decade, she was given a further best supporting actress nomination for her role in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart where she played the mother of her biological child the character played by Dern. The following year she received an additional nod for her acting in Rambling Rose, another movie which included her daughter.
“This was the film that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she brought us to England for a premiere and a celebration in our honor,” Ladd said regarding Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, holding both our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”
The nineties included parts in comedy Cemetery Club reuniting her with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy in which she portrayed Laura Dern’s mom again. Those years also saw her score nominations for Emmy Awards for performances on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel.
Working with Laura Dern
She persisted in performing with her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and the series by Mike White comedy-drama series Enlightened, a TV series. She was also seen next to Sandra Bullock, a star in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.
Her later TV roles consisted of the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
Writing and Directing
Ladd also wrote and oversaw the comedy film Mrs Munck featuring Diane Ladd and former husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she noted. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a film. Indeed, I’m the only woman in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I make a joke: ‘I advise females, should you desire retribution, helm a movie with your ex.’ However, I’m joking.”
Personal Connections
She happened to be a family member of the great Tennessee Williams, who she called “a great influence in my life”.
Back in 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a respiratory illness and informed she only had half a year left yet she recovered completely after her daughter moved her to a different hospital.
“Should you harness your suffering and avoid letting it accumulate like an injury, instead use it to investigate, to make the path clearer for yourself and others, then you are triumphing,” Ladd remarked.
