🔗 Share this article

The Oscar-nominated performer Diane Ladd has died at the age of 89.

The star, whose credits included Chinatown, died at her home in Ojai, California. Her passing was shared in a statement shared by her offspring, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern, her daughter.

Laura Dern, who performed alongside her mom in a number of films such as Rambling Rose, described her as “my wonderful hero and my precious gift as a mother”, stating that she was present as she died.

“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, star, artist along with compassionate soul that seemed almost dreamlike,” she wrote. “We were lucky to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Beginnings and Major Success

Ladd’s early career featured supporting roles in TV shows including The Fugitive whereas the seventies saw her starring next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

During that year, 1974, she shared the screen alongside Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s celebrated film the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination in the supporting actress category.

1980s and Beyond

During the eighties, she appeared in the dramatic film the movie Black Widow as well as humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and also took part in Alice, a sitcom derived from her earlier movie.

In the following decade, she was given another Oscar nomination for supporting actress Oscar nomination for her performance in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart where she acted as the mother of her biological child Dern’s character. The next year she was awarded a further nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose that also featured Laura Dern.

“This was the film that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she invited me and Laura to England for a royal premiere and a party for us,” Ladd shared about the film Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, grasping our hands, and crying, viewing our performance.”

That decade included parts in comedy The Cemetery Club joining her again with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, starring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as Laura Dern’s mom another time. The decade also brought her TV award nominations for work in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She kept appearing with her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and the series by Mike White satirical show the program Enlightened. She also appeared next to Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film plus Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

Her more recent television parts featured Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon, a comedy.

Behind the Camera

She also authored and oversaw the comedy film Mrs Munck, a film featuring herself and ex-husband actor 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 in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, should you desire retribution, helm a movie with your ex.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Connections

She happened to be a relative of playwright Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a major inspiration throughout my life”.

Back in 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a respiratory illness and informed she only had half a year left but she regained full health when her daughter moved her to another medical facility.

“Should you harness your suffering and avoid letting it accumulate like an injury, instead apply it to explore, to clarify the journey for personal and collective growth, then you are triumphing,” Ladd said.