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This Oscar-nominated performer the celebrated Diane Ladd left us at the age of 89.

This actor, whose filmography spanned Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence at her Ojai, California home. Her passing was shared through a message shared by her daughter, award-winning actress Laura Dern, her daughter.

Laura Dern, who appeared with her mother in a number of films including Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, described her as “my amazing hero plus my profound gift as a mother”, stating that she was at her bedside during her final moments.

“She was the most wonderful grandmother, mother, daughter, performer, creative along with empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were lucky to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Initial Roles and Major Success

Her initial acting years included supporting roles on television series such as Gunsmoke whereas that decade saw her starring next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.

In the same year, 1974, she shared the screen with actress Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed dramatic comedy the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance earned Ladd an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress.

Later Decades

In the 1980s, she was seen in crime thriller Black Widow plus funny follow-up National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and appeared on the show Alice, a television series based on her earlier movie.

In the subsequent decade, she was given another supporting actress nomination for her part in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mom of her actual daughter Dern’s character. A year later she obtained an additional nod for her role in the film Rambling Rose which also starred Laura Dern.

“This movie which Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she flew Laura and I to London for a special screening and a celebration for us,” Ladd shared regarding Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, taking our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”

That decade featured performances in humorous films Cemetery Club bringing her back with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, with John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she played Dern’s mother once more. The decade also brought her Emmy nominations for roles on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She kept appearing with her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire and the series by Mike White satirical show Enlightened, a TV series. She also appeared alongside Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in that movie plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

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

Behind the Camera

She also authored and directed the comedy the movie Mrs Munck which starred herself and ex-husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a talented star,” she mentioned. “It was a privilege to guide him in a movie. Indeed, I am the sole female ever who directed her former husband. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, if you want revenge, guide your former spouse.’ However, I’m joking.”

Family Ties

Ladd was also a family member of Tennessee Williams, who she called “a great influence on my life”.

In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with lung disease and told she only had half a year left yet she recovered completely once her daughter transferred her to another medical facility.

“Should you harness your suffering and prevent it from festering like an injury, instead apply it to investigate, to clarify the journey for personal and collective growth, then you are winning,” Ladd expressed.