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This Academy Award-nominated actor Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran has died at the age of 89.

The actress, whose roles included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, passed away at home in Ojai, California. This announcement was shared in a statement from her child, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern, her daughter.

Dern, who appeared with Diane Ladd in several movies like Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my wonderful hero plus my precious gift being my mom”, noting that she was present as she died.

“She was the greatest grandmother, mother, daughter, star, artist as well as empathetic spirit that felt like a dream come true,” she stated. “We were fortunate to know her. She is now with the angels.”

Initial Roles and Major Success

Her initial acting years saw supporting roles in TV shows including Perry Mason while the 1970s featured her performing alongside actor Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

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

Later Decades

During the eighties, she starred in the thriller the movie Black Widow plus comedy sequel Christmas Vacation and also took part in the show Alice, a sitcom based on her earlier movie.

In the subsequent decade, she was given another best supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her performance in Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the parent of her actual daughter Laura Dern’s role. A year later she was awarded a further nomination for her role in Rambling Rose which also starred Dern.

“This was the picture that the late Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she invited us to England for a special screening and a party in our honor,” Ladd said regarding Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, grasping our hands, with tears, viewing our performance.”

The 1990s included parts in comedy Cemetery Club, a film reuniting her with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, featuring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy in which she portrayed Dern’s mother again. The decade also saw her score TV award nominations for work in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Working with Laura Dern

She kept appearing with Laura Dern in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, a movie, Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and the series by Mike White satirical show the program Enlightened. She additionally starred next to Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Her more recent television parts included the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon, a comedy.

Filmmaking Ventures

Ladd also wrote and oversaw the humorous movie Mrs Munck featuring her and former husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a great actor,” she mentioned. “It was a privilege to guide him on a project. In fact, I am the sole female ever to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I say ladies, if you seek payback, direct your ex-husband.’ But I’m only kidding.”

Personal Connections

She happened to be the third cousin of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she called “a great influence throughout my life”.

In 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a respiratory illness and told her life expectancy was six months yet she recovered completely after her daughter transferred her to a new hospital.

“When you use your pain and not let it back up like an injury, instead use it to investigate, to clarify the journey for personal and collective growth, then you are winning,” Ladd expressed.