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This Oscar-nominated actress the celebrated Diane Ladd has died aged 89.

This actress, with roles featured Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home in California’s Ojai. Her passing was announced through a message by her offspring, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern.

Her daughter, who appeared with her mom in several movies including Rambling Rose, described her as “my wonderful hero as well as my special gift as a mother”, noting that she was present as she died.

“She was the greatest mother, daughter, grandmother, actress, artist as well as compassionate soul that felt like a dream come true,” she expressed. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Initial Roles and Breakthrough

Ladd’s early career featured minor parts in TV shows like Perry Mason whereas the seventies featured her performing alongside the legendary Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

During that year, the year 1974, she shared the screen alongside Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese celebrated comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. The performance earned Ladd her initial Oscar nod for best supporting actress.

Later Decades

During the eighties, she starred in the dramatic film Black Widow plus humorous film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation while also joining the show Alice, a comedy program derived from Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

During the next ten years, she was given an additional best supporting actress nomination for her performance in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart where she played the mother of her biological child Laura Dern’s role. A year later she obtained a further nomination for her acting in the film Rambling Rose which also starred Laura Dern.

“This movie which Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she flew me and Laura to England for a royal premiere and an event in our honor,” Ladd recalled regarding Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, holding both our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.”

The 1990s included parts in the comedy Cemetery Club joining her again with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a comedy about politics, featuring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as the mother of Dern another time. The decade also brought her Emmy nominations for performances on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She continued to star with her daughter in films blending humor and drama the film Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and White’s dark comedy series Enlightened. She also appeared next to actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Sir Anthony Hopkins in that movie plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.

Subsequent TV appearances featured the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.

Filmmaking Ventures

She also authored and helmed the humorous movie Mrs Munck, a film which starred herself and ex-husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she noted. “I was honored to direct him on a project. Actually, I’m the only woman in history to helm a film with her ex. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, should you desire retribution, helm a movie with your ex.’ But I’m only kidding.”

Personal Life

Ladd was also a relative of the great Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a significant impact throughout my life”.

Back in 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with lung disease and advised she had just six months to live but made a full recovery when her daughter shifted her to a new hospital.

“When you use your pain and avoid letting it accumulate like a sore or something, instead apply it to discover, to make the path clearer for you and those around, then you are succeeding,” Ladd expressed.