Acclaimed Actress Diane Ladd, Known For Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Dies at 89 Years Old.

This Oscar-nominated actor the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away 89 years old.

The actor, whose credits featured Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. This announcement was shared in a statement from her daughter, award-winning actress Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who starred with her mother in several movies including Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my incredible hero plus my special gift being my mom”, writing that she was at her bedside as she died.

“She was an exceptional grandmother, mother, daughter, actress, artist and caring individual that felt like a dream come true,” she stated. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Initial Roles and Major Success

Ladd’s early career included supporting roles in TV shows such as Gunsmoke while the 1970s had her appearing alongside Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.

During that year, 1974, she performed with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s celebrated comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance earned Ladd her first Oscar nomination as best supporting actress.

Later Decades

During the eighties, she appeared in the thriller Black Widow as well as humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy while also joining Alice, a sitcom based on the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the following decade, she was given an additional best supporting actress nomination for her part in Lynch’s Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mother of her real-life daughter Dern’s character. A year later she obtained a further nomination for her role in the film Rambling Rose which also starred Laura Dern.

“This movie which Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she flew me and Laura to England for a special screening and a party for us,” Ladd shared of Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, taking our hands, and crying, watching us perform.”

The nineties featured performances in the comedy Cemetery Club, a film reuniting her with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political comedy, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she played Dern’s mother once more. The decade also brought her nominations for Emmy Awards for work in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Working with Laura Dern

She kept appearing alongside her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and the series by Mike White dark comedy series the program Enlightened. She additionally starred with Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian and Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

Her later TV roles included Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon, a comedy.

Writing and Directing

She additionally penned and helmed the comedy film Mrs Munck which starred Diane Ladd and former husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a great actor,” she said. “I was honored to direct him in a film. Indeed, I’m the only woman in history to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I tell women, if you want revenge, helm a movie with your ex.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Life

Ladd was also a relative of the great Tennessee Williams, who she called “a major inspiration on my life”.

Back in 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and advised her life expectancy was six months yet she recovered completely once her daughter moved her to another medical facility.

“When you use your pain and prevent it from festering like an injury, rather utilize it to explore, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are winning,” Ladd remarked.