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The Academy Award-nominated actress the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away at the age of 89.

This star, with roles included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, passed away at home in California’s Ojai. The news was shared in a statement by her daughter, Oscar-winning actor her daughter Laura Dern.

Her daughter, who performed alongside her mother in several movies such as Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my wonderful hero plus my special gift as a mother”, noting that she was at her bedside during her final moments.

“She was the most wonderful mother, daughter, grandmother, performer, creative along with compassionate soul that seemed almost dreamlike,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Early Career and Breakthrough

Her initial acting years saw minor parts in TV shows like Perry Mason while that decade saw her starring with Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.

That very year, 1974, she appeared with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s acclaimed dramatic comedy Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her acting earned Ladd her initial Oscar nod for best supporting actress.

Subsequent Years

During the eighties, she appeared in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story and comedy sequel National Lampoon’s holiday comedy while also joining the sitcom Alice, a sitcom inspired by her earlier movie.

In the subsequent decade, she received a further best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she acted as the mom of her real-life daughter Laura Dern’s role. A year later she obtained a further nomination for her acting in Rambling Rose, another movie that also featured Laura Dern.

“This was the picture that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she brought Laura and I to London for a special screening and a party for us,” Ladd shared about the film Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, holding both our hands, and crying, watching us perform.”

The nineties also saw roles in comedy Cemetery Club bringing her back with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a satirical film, with John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she played the mother of Dern once more. Those years also brought her Emmy nominations 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 continued to star alongside her daughter in comedy drama Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s Inland Empire and Mike White’s dark comedy series Enlightened, a TV series. She additionally starred next to actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

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

Behind the Camera

Ladd also wrote and directed the humorous movie Mrs Munck which starred herself and previous spouse Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she mentioned. “I was honored to direct him on a project. In fact, I’m the only woman in history to direct her ex-husband. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, if you seek payback, helm a movie with your ex.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Personal Life

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

During 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a pulmonary condition and advised she only had half a year left but she regained full health after her daughter shifted her to a different hospital.

“If you can take your pain and avoid letting it accumulate like an injury, rather utilize it to discover, to illuminate the way for you and those around, then you are triumphing,” Ladd remarked.