🔗 Share this article

This Academy Award-nominated actor Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran has died aged 89.

The actress, whose filmography spanned Chinatown, died at her home at her Ojai, California home. The news was revealed in a statement from her daughter, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern.

Dern, who performed alongside her mom in a number of films including Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my incredible hero and my precious gift being my mom”, noting that she was by her side during her final moments.

“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and compassionate soul that felt like a dream come true,” she stated. “We were lucky to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Early Career and Rise to Fame

The start of her career included supporting roles in TV shows such as Perry Mason whereas that decade had her appearing with Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.

In the same year, 1974, she performed alongside Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese praised comedy drama 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 starred in the dramatic film Black Widow, a suspense story plus humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy while also joining Alice, a sitcom inspired by the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the following decade, she was given a further supporting actress nomination for her role in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart where she played the mom of her biological child Laura Dern’s role. A year later she obtained another nomination for her performance in the film Rambling Rose which included Dern.

“This was the film that the late Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she invited me and Laura to the UK for a special screening and a party dedicated to us,” Ladd said of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, taking our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.”

That decade also saw roles in comedy Cemetery Club, a film bringing her back with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a comedy about politics, featuring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy in which she portrayed Laura Dern’s mom another time. Those years also earned her TV award nominations for performances in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.

Collaborations with Daughter

She persisted in performing alongside her daughter in comedy drama the film Daddy and Them, Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and White’s dark comedy series the program Enlightened. She additionally starred alongside Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in that movie and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.

Subsequent TV appearances included Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon, a comedy.

Behind the Camera

She additionally penned and oversaw the humorous movie Mrs Munck, a film which starred her and ex-husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she said. “It was a privilege to guide him in a film. Actually, I’m the only woman in history to helm a film with her ex. I often joke: ‘I advise females, should you desire retribution, direct your ex-husband.’ But I’m only kidding.”

Personal Connections

She happened to be a family member of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a significant impact in my life”.

Back in 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with lung disease and informed her life expectancy was six months yet she recovered completely once her daughter moved her to a new hospital.

“If you can take your pain and prevent it from festering like a sore or something, rather utilize it to discover, to make the path clearer for yourself and others, then you are winning,” Ladd expressed.