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

This actress, whose roles included Chinatown, died at her home at her Ojai, California home. This announcement was announced through a message by her daughter, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern, her daughter.

Dern, who starred with her mother in various films like Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my amazing hero plus my precious gift of a mother”, stating that she was by her side during her final moments.

“She was an exceptional mother, daughter, grandmother, performer, creative as well as caring individual that felt like a dream come true,” she stated. “We were fortunate to know her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Initial Roles and Breakthrough

Ladd’s early career included supporting roles on television series including Gunsmoke whereas the seventies saw her starring alongside Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

In the same year, 1974, she appeared with actress Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese celebrated comedy drama the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role landed Ladd an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress.

Subsequent Years

During the eighties, she starred in the thriller Black Widow, a suspense story plus humorous film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and also took part in the sitcom Alice, a comedy program inspired by the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the subsequent decade, she was given a further best supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her performance in the David Lynch film the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mom of her actual daughter Laura Dern’s role. A year later she obtained a further nomination for her acting in the film Rambling Rose that also featured her daughter.

“This was the picture which Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she brought us to the UK for a premiere and a party for us,” Ladd said about the film Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, grasping our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”

The 1990s featured performances in comedy The Cemetery Club joining her again with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a satirical film, starring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she played Laura Dern’s mom another time. That period also saw her score TV award nominations for performances in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She kept appearing with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and White’s satirical show the program Enlightened. She also appeared with actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Subsequent TV appearances consisted of the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.

Behind the Camera

Ladd also wrote and directed the comedy Mrs Munck, a film that included Diane Ladd and former husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she said. “It was a privilege to guide him in a film. Indeed, I’m the only woman in recorded history to helm a film with her ex. I make a joke: ‘I tell women, if you want revenge, guide your former spouse.’ But I’m only kidding.”

Personal Connections

She happened to be a family member of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she called “a great influence on my life”.

During 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a respiratory illness and informed she had just six months to live but made a full recovery when her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.

“When you use your pain and prevent it from festering similar to a wound, instead apply it to investigate, to make the path clearer for personal and collective growth, then you are winning,” Ladd said.