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This Oscar-nominated actress Diane Ladd left us at the age of 89.

This star, whose roles included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. The news was shared via an announcement shared by her offspring, Oscar-winning actor her daughter Laura Dern.

Her daughter, who appeared with Diane Ladd in a number of films such as Rambling Rose, called her “my incredible hero as well as my profound gift being my mom”, noting that she was by her side during her final moments.

“She was the greatest mother, daughter, grandmother, performer, creative and compassionate soul that seemed almost dreamlike,” she expressed. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Early Career and Rise to Fame

The start of her career featured small roles in TV shows such as Gunsmoke while that decade had her appearing next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

In the same year, 1974, she appeared with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s celebrated film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her role brought Ladd her initial Oscar nod as best supporting actress.

Later Decades

During the eighties, she was seen in the thriller Black Widow, a suspense story as well as comedy sequel National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation while also joining the sitcom Alice, a sitcom based on Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the following decade, she was given another Oscar nomination for supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role in Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she acted as the parent of her biological child the character played by Dern. A year later she was awarded another nomination for her acting in Rambling Rose, another movie which included her daughter.

“This was the picture that the late Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she invited me and Laura to the UK for a premiere and an event dedicated to us,” Ladd shared of Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, grasping our hands, and crying, seeing us act.”

The nineties included parts in humorous films The Cemetery Club bringing her back with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political comedy, with John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she acted as the mother of Dern again. That period also brought her nominations for Emmy Awards for work on Dr Quinn, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Collaborations with Daughter

She kept appearing with her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s comedy-drama series Enlightened, a TV series. She also appeared with actress Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and with Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

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

Filmmaking Ventures

Ladd also wrote and oversaw the comedy film the movie Mrs Munck that included herself and previous spouse Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she mentioned. “I’m privileged to have directed him on a project. In fact, I stand as the only woman ever to helm a film with her ex. I make a joke: ‘I tell women, if you want revenge, direct your ex-husband.’ But I’m only kidding.”

Family Ties

Ladd was also a family member of the great Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a great influence on my life”.

Back in 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with lung disease and told her life expectancy was six months but she regained full health once her daughter shifted her to a new hospital.

“If you can take your pain and not let it back up like a sore or something, rather utilize it to explore, to make the path clearer for yourself and others, then you are winning,” Ladd expressed.