🔗 Share this article Diane Ladd, Known For Her Performance in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Has Died at Age 89. The Oscar-nominated actor Diane Ladd has died 89 years old. This actress, whose filmography included Chinatown, died at her home in Ojai, California. Her passing was announced through a message by her daughter, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern. Laura Dern, who performed alongside Diane Ladd in various films such as Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my wonderful hero plus my profound gift of a mother”, writing that she was by her side as she died. “She was the most wonderful grandmother, mother, daughter, star, artist along with empathetic spirit that felt like a dream come true,” she expressed. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.” Initial Roles and Major Success The start of her career featured minor parts on television series including The Fugitive whereas that decade had her appearing alongside Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown. During that year, 1974, she performed with actress Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese celebrated dramatic comedy Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination as best supporting actress. Subsequent Years In the 1980s, she appeared in the thriller Black Widow, a suspense story plus comedy sequel National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and also took part in the show Alice, a television series based on the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. In the following decade, she earned an additional Oscar nomination for supporting actress Oscar nomination for her performance in the David Lynch film the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mom of her actual daughter Dern’s character. The following year she obtained a further nomination for her role in the film Rambling Rose which also starred her daughter. “This was the picture which Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she invited me and Laura to London for a premiere and an event dedicated to us,” Ladd shared about the film Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, holding both our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.” The nineties also saw roles in comedy The Cemetery Club joining her again with Ellen Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a satirical film, with John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed the mother of Dern once more. That period also saw her score TV award nominations for work on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel. Collaborations with Daughter She continued to star with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and the series by Mike White satirical show the program Enlightened. She also appeared next to Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama. Subsequent TV appearances consisted of Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon. Behind the Camera She additionally penned and helmed the comedy film Mrs Munck that included herself and previous spouse actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she said. “It was a privilege to guide him on a project. Indeed, I stand as the only woman in history who directed her former husband. I make a joke: ‘I say ladies, should you desire retribution, guide your former spouse.’ However, I’m joking.” Personal Life She happened to be a relative of playwright Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a significant impact in my life”. During 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a respiratory illness and told her life expectancy was six months but she regained full health once her daughter moved her to a new hospital. “If you can take your pain and not let it back up similar to a wound, rather utilize it to discover, to illuminate the way for personal and collective growth, then you are succeeding,” Ladd said.