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The Oscar-nominated actress Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran left us aged 89.

The actor, with roles featured Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. Her passing was announced in a statement shared by her daughter, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern.

Dern, who starred with her mother in a number of films like Wild at Heart, referred to her as “my wonderful hero and my special gift as a mother”, noting that she was at her bedside when she passed.

“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist along with compassionate soul that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Early Career and Breakthrough

Her initial acting years saw small roles on television series like Perry Mason and that decade saw her starring alongside the legendary Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

That very year, the year 1974, she shared the screen with actress Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s celebrated film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her acting brought Ladd her first Oscar nomination as best supporting actress.

Subsequent Years

During the eighties, she appeared in the dramatic film Black Widow, a suspense story as well as comedy sequel National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and appeared on the sitcom Alice, a television series based on the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the following decade, she received another best supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her performance in Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic in which she portrayed the mom of her actual daughter the character played by Dern. The following year she obtained an additional nod for her role in Rambling Rose, another movie which included her daughter.

“This movie that the late Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she brought us to London for a special screening and a party for us,” Ladd said regarding Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, taking our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.”

That decade featured performances in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film reuniting her with Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a political comedy, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed Laura Dern’s mom another time. That period also saw her score nominations for Emmy Awards for performances in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She persisted in performing with Laura Dern in comedy drama the film Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and White’s satirical show Enlightened. She additionally starred next to Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in that movie and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Her more recent television parts consisted of Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.

Behind the Camera

She additionally penned and helmed the humorous movie the movie Mrs Munck featuring Diane Ladd and ex-husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “It was a privilege to guide him on a project. Indeed, I am the sole female ever to direct her ex-husband. I make a joke: ‘I tell women, should you desire retribution, guide your former spouse.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Connections

Ladd was also a family member of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a significant impact on my life”.

Back in 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and told she only had half a year left but she regained full health after her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.

“If you can take your pain and avoid letting it accumulate similar to a wound, instead apply it to investigate, to clarify the journey for you and those around, then you are succeeding,” Ladd said.