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The Oscar-nominated performer Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran left us aged 89.

This actress, whose filmography included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, passed away at home in California’s Ojai. This announcement was revealed via an announcement by her daughter, Oscar-winning actor her daughter Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who appeared with her mother in several movies such as Wild at Heart, referred to her as “my wonderful hero as well as my special gift as a mother”, noting that she was by her side when she passed.

“She was the greatest grandmother, mother, daughter, actress, artist along with compassionate soul that seemed almost dreamlike,” she stated. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Early Career and Rise to Fame

The start of her career saw small roles in TV shows such as The Fugitive and that decade had her appearing alongside the legendary Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

During that year, 1974, she shared the screen with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role landed Ladd her initial Oscar nod in the supporting actress category.

Later Decades

Throughout the 1980s, she appeared in the thriller Black Widow and humorous film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and also took part in Alice, a television series derived from her earlier movie.

During the next ten years, she earned another best supporting actress nomination for her performance in the David Lynch film the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the mom of her real-life daughter Dern’s character. The next year she was awarded a further nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose which included Laura Dern.

“This was the picture that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she brought me and Laura to London for a premiere and a party in our honor,” Ladd shared about the film Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, taking our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”

That decade also saw roles in the comedy Cemetery Club, a film joining her again with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a satirical film, with John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed the mother of Dern again. The decade also earned her Emmy nominations for work on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.

Collaborations with Daughter

She kept appearing with Laura Dern in comedy drama Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and White’s dark comedy series Enlightened, a TV series. She additionally starred with actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

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

Filmmaking Ventures

Ladd also wrote and oversaw the comedy film Mrs Munck that included her and former husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a great actor,” she noted. “It was a privilege to guide him in a movie. Actually, I am the sole female ever who directed her former husband. I make a joke: ‘I tell women, if you want revenge, guide your former spouse.’ But I’m only kidding.”

Personal Connections

Ladd was also a relative of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she called “a major inspiration throughout my life”.

In 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a pulmonary condition and informed she had just six months to live but she regained full health once her daughter transferred her to a new hospital.

“Should you harness your suffering and prevent it from festering like a sore or something, instead use it to explore, to make the path clearer for personal and collective growth, then you are winning,” Ladd said.