🔗 Share this article

This award-nominated actress the celebrated Diane Ladd has died at the age of 89.

This actor, with roles spanned Chinatown, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. Her passing was announced in a statement from her offspring, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern.

Her daughter, who starred with Diane Ladd in a number of films including Wild at Heart, called her “my wonderful hero and my precious gift of a mother”, writing that she was present during her final moments.

“She was an exceptional mother, daughter, grandmother, actress, artist as well as caring individual that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she wrote. “We were blessed to have her. She is now with the angels.”

Initial Roles and Breakthrough

The start of her career featured supporting roles in television programs including The Fugitive while the 1970s saw her starring next to Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

In the same year, the year 1974, she performed alongside Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance brought Ladd an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.

Later Decades

During the eighties, she starred in the dramatic film the movie Black Widow and funny follow-up National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and appeared on Alice, a television series inspired by the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the subsequent decade, she earned another supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her performance in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she played the mother of her biological child Laura Dern’s role. The following year she obtained a further nomination for her role in Rambling Rose, another movie which included her daughter.

“This was the film which Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she flew me and Laura to London for a premiere and a party dedicated to us,” Ladd shared about the film Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, taking our hands, and crying, viewing our performance.”

The 1990s included parts in comedy Cemetery Club bringing her back with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, with John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne the movie Citizen Ruth where she acted as Dern’s mother once more. Those years also brought her Emmy nominations for roles on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.

Partnerships with Her Daughter

She persisted in performing with her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire and the series by Mike White satirical show the program Enlightened. She also appeared alongside actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in that movie and Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

Her more recent television parts featured the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.

Writing and Directing

She additionally penned and directed the comedy Mrs Munck which starred her and previous spouse Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “It was a privilege to guide him on a project. Actually, I am the sole female ever who directed her former husband. I humorously say: ‘I say ladies, if you want revenge, guide your former spouse.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Life

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

During 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a pulmonary condition and told she only had half a year left but made a full recovery once her daughter shifted her to a new hospital.

“If you can take your pain and prevent it from festering like a sore or something, instead use it to investigate, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are succeeding,” Ladd said.