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The award-nominated actor Diane Ladd passed away 89 years old.

The actress, whose roles featured Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home in Ojai, California. Her passing was shared through a message from her offspring, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern.

Dern, who starred with Diane Ladd in a number of films such as Wild at Heart, called her “my amazing hero and my special gift of a mother”, writing that she was at her bedside during her final moments.

“She was the most wonderful grandmother, mother, daughter, star, artist and empathetic spirit that seemed almost dreamlike,” she stated. “We were blessed to have her. She is now with the angels.”

Early Career and Breakthrough

Ladd’s early career included minor parts in television programs such as Perry Mason whereas the 1970s had her appearing next to actor Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

That very year, 1974, she performed with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s celebrated film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance landed Ladd an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress.

1980s and Beyond

Throughout the 1980s, she was seen in the thriller Black Widow, a suspense story and funny follow-up National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and appeared on the show Alice, a sitcom inspired by Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

During the next ten years, she was given another supporting actress nomination for her role in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she played the parent of her biological child the character played by Dern. A year later she was awarded an additional nod for her performance in Rambling Rose, another movie which also starred Laura Dern.

“This was the picture that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she brought us to London for a special screening and a celebration dedicated to us,” Ladd recalled regarding Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, holding both our hands, and crying, viewing our performance.”

That decade included parts in comedy The Cemetery Club bringing her back with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a political comedy, featuring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne the movie Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed Dern’s mother once more. The decade also brought her Emmy nominations for work on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.

Partnerships with Her Daughter

She continued to star with her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s satirical show Enlightened, a TV series. She was also seen with actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian and Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

Her more recent television parts included Ray Donovan, a drama plus Young Sheldon.

Writing and Directing

She also authored and directed the comedy Mrs Munck featuring Diane Ladd and previous spouse Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she mentioned. “I’m privileged to have directed him on a project. Indeed, I stand as the only woman ever to helm a film with her ex. I make a joke: ‘I tell women, if you want revenge, helm a movie with your ex.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Personal Life

Ladd was also a family member of playwright Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a significant impact throughout my life”.

Back in 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with lung disease and advised her life expectancy was six months but made a full recovery after her daughter shifted her to a new hospital.

“Should you harness your suffering and prevent it from festering like a sore or something, rather utilize it to explore, to make the path clearer for yourself and others, then you are triumphing,” Ladd said.