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This Academy Award-nominated actress the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away aged 89.

The star, with credits spanned Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home in Ojai, California. Her passing was revealed via an announcement by her child, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern, her daughter.

Laura Dern, who starred with her mother in several movies including Wild at Heart, called her “my wonderful hero and my profound gift being my mom”, stating that she was by her side as she died.

“She was the most wonderful mother, daughter, grandmother, star, artist as well as empathetic spirit that seemed almost dreamlike,” she wrote. “We were lucky to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Early Career and Rise to Fame

The start of her career saw minor parts in television programs like The Fugitive whereas the seventies saw her starring next to actor Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

In the same year, 1974, she appeared with actress Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s praised dramatic comedy the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her acting brought Ladd her initial Oscar nod in the supporting actress category.

Subsequent Years

During the eighties, she starred in the dramatic film Black Widow as well as humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy while also joining the sitcom Alice, a comedy program based on Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

During the next ten years, she was given an additional Oscar nomination for supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role in the David Lynch film the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mom of her biological child Dern’s character. The next year she was awarded an additional nod for her role in the film Rambling Rose that also featured Dern.

“This was the film that the late Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she flew us to the UK for a special screening and an event in our honor,” Ladd recalled about the film Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, grasping our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”

The 1990s included parts in comedy Cemetery Club reuniting her with Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a political comedy, starring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she acted as the mother of Dern again. The decade also saw her score Emmy nominations for work on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She continued to star alongside her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire, a surreal film and Mike White’s satirical show Enlightened. She additionally starred with actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Her later TV roles featured the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon, a comedy.

Writing and Directing

She also authored and directed the comedy film the movie Mrs Munck which starred her and ex-husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she said. “I was honored to direct him on a project. Actually, I stand as the only woman in recorded history to helm a film with her ex. I often joke: ‘I advise females, should you desire retribution, helm a movie with your ex.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Personal Connections

She happened to be a relative of Tennessee Williams, who she called “a great influence in my life”.

During 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a respiratory illness and told her life expectancy was six months yet she recovered completely once her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.

“If you can take your pain and prevent it from festering like an injury, instead use it to discover, to make the path clearer for yourself and others, then you are succeeding,” Ladd expressed.