🔗 Share this article

This Academy Award-nominated performer the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away at the age of 89.

This actress, whose filmography included Chinatown, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. The news was shared through a message by her daughter, award-winning actress Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who performed alongside Diane Ladd in a number of films including Wild at Heart, described her as “my wonderful hero as well as my profound gift as a mother”, writing that she was by her side during her final moments.

“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, star, artist along with caring individual that seemed almost dreamlike,” she stated. “We were lucky to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Beginnings and Major Success

Ladd’s early career included minor parts in TV shows including The Fugitive whereas the 1970s had her appearing alongside actor Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.

In the same year, 1974, she shared the screen with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s praised film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. The performance landed Ladd her initial Oscar nod for best supporting actress.

Later Decades

In the 1980s, she appeared in the thriller the movie Black Widow and humorous film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation while also joining the sitcom Alice, a sitcom based on her earlier movie.

During the next ten years, she was given a further Oscar nomination for supporting actress nomination for her performance in David Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the parent of her actual daughter Dern’s character. A year later she received an additional nod for her role 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 England for a premiere and a celebration dedicated to us,” Ladd shared of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, taking our hands, and crying, watching us perform.”

The nineties also saw roles in the comedy Cemetery Club, a film reuniting her with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a satirical film, featuring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she acted as the mother of Dern again. That period also brought her nominations for Emmy Awards for roles on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Collaborations with Daughter

She persisted in performing with her daughter in comedy drama Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire, a surreal film and Mike White’s satirical show the program Enlightened. She was also seen next to Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.

Her later TV roles consisted of Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon.

Writing and Directing

Ladd also wrote and oversaw the comedy Mrs Munck which starred herself and former husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she noted. “It was a privilege to guide him in a movie. Actually, I’m the only woman in recorded history to helm a film with her ex. I make a joke: ‘I tell women, should you desire retribution, direct your ex-husband.’ But I’m only kidding.”

Family Ties

Ladd was also the third cousin of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she called “a significant impact throughout my life”.

In 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with lung disease and told she had just six months to live but made a full recovery once her daughter transferred her to another medical facility.

“When you use your pain and not let it back up similar to a wound, instead apply it to investigate, to clarify the journey for you and those around, then you are triumphing,” Ladd expressed.