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This Oscar-nominated performer Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran passed away at the age of 89.

This star, whose filmography included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. The news was announced in a statement from her offspring, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern, her daughter.

Laura Dern, who appeared with her mother in several movies such as Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my incredible hero plus my profound gift being my mom”, stating that she was present during her final moments.

“She was an exceptional daughter, mother, grandmother, star, artist along with caring individual that seemed almost dreamlike,” she stated. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Beginnings and Breakthrough

Ladd’s early career included small roles on television series including The Fugitive and the seventies had her appearing with Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

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

1980s and Beyond

During the eighties, she starred in the thriller the movie Black Widow and humorous film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and appeared on the sitcom Alice, a comedy program based on the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the subsequent decade, she earned another supporting actress nomination for her performance in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic in which she portrayed the mother of her actual daughter the character played by Dern. The next year she was awarded a further nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose, another movie which also starred Laura Dern.

“This movie that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she invited me and Laura to London for a premiere and a celebration dedicated to us,” Ladd recalled of Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, holding both our hands, with tears, watching us perform.”

The 1990s also saw roles in the comedy The Cemetery Club reuniting her with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, with John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she played Laura Dern’s mom once more. Those years also saw her score TV award nominations for work in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She kept appearing alongside her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s dark comedy series the program Enlightened. She was also seen next to Sandra Bullock, a star in the film 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in that movie and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.

Her later TV roles consisted of the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.

Writing and Directing

Ladd also wrote and oversaw the comedy Mrs Munck that included her and ex-husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a film. Indeed, I’m the only woman in history to direct her ex-husband. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, should you desire retribution, guide your former spouse.’ But I’m only kidding.”

Family Ties

She happened to be the third cousin of the great Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a significant impact in my life”.

During 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a respiratory illness and informed she only had half a year left but made a full recovery when her daughter transferred her to a new hospital.

“If you can take your pain and not let it back up similar to a wound, rather utilize it to explore, to illuminate the way for personal and collective growth, then you are triumphing,” Ladd remarked.