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This Academy Award-nominated performer Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran left us at the age of 89.

This star, with credits featured Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home in Ojai, California. This announcement was revealed via an announcement from her offspring, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who performed alongside her mom in various films like Wild at Heart, described her as “my incredible hero as well as my special gift as a mother”, stating that she was by her side during her final moments.

“She was the greatest mother, daughter, grandmother, performer, creative along with compassionate soul that felt like a dream come true,” she stated. “We were lucky to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Initial Roles and Major Success

Ladd’s early career saw small roles in TV shows such as Perry Mason while that decade had her appearing alongside actor Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

That very year, 1974, she appeared with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s acclaimed dramatic comedy Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her acting earned Ladd her initial Oscar nod in the supporting actress category.

1980s and Beyond

In the 1980s, she starred in crime thriller Black Widow and humorous film Christmas Vacation while also joining the sitcom Alice, a comedy program inspired by her earlier movie.

In the following decade, she earned an additional best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her part in Lynch’s Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mom of her actual daughter the character played by Dern. A year later she was awarded a further nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose that also featured her daughter.

“This was the film which Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she brought me and Laura to London for a premiere and an event for us,” Ladd said of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, grasping our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”

That decade included parts in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film bringing her back with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a political comedy, with John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed the mother of Dern another time. Those years also saw her score nominations for Emmy Awards for work in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She kept appearing with Laura Dern in comedy drama the film Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire, a surreal film and the series by Mike White satirical show Enlightened, a TV series. She was also seen next to Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

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

Writing and Directing

She additionally penned and oversaw the comedy the movie Mrs Munck that included herself and former husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she mentioned. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a film. In fact, I stand as the only woman ever to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I advise females, if you want revenge, direct your ex-husband.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Personal Connections

Ladd was also a relative of Tennessee Williams, who she called “a significant impact throughout my life”.

In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and informed she had just six months to live but she regained full health once her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.

“Should you harness your suffering and avoid letting it accumulate like a sore or something, rather utilize it to discover, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are triumphing,” Ladd expressed.