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The Academy Award-nominated performer the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away 89 years old.

This star, with credits featured Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, passed away at home in California’s Ojai. The news was revealed via an announcement by her child, award-winning actress her daughter Laura Dern.

Dern, who appeared with her mother in various films including Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my amazing hero plus my profound gift being my mom”, writing that she was present when she passed.

“She was an exceptional mother, daughter, grandmother, actress, artist and compassionate soul that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were lucky to have her. She is now with the angels.”

Early Career and Rise to Fame

The start of her career saw supporting roles in television programs like Gunsmoke and that decade saw her starring next to Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

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

1980s and Beyond

During the eighties, she starred in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story and comedy sequel Christmas Vacation and also took part in the sitcom Alice, a television series derived from her earlier movie.

During the next ten years, she received a further Oscar nomination for supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her performance in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart where she played the parent of her real-life daughter Laura Dern’s role. The following year she was awarded another nomination for her role in the film Rambling Rose that also featured Dern.

“This was the film that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she flew me and Laura to England for a premiere and a party for us,” Ladd said about the film Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, taking our hands, with tears, watching us perform.”

The 1990s featured performances in comedy Cemetery Club reuniting her with her co-star Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a political comedy, starring John Travolta and Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she played the mother of Dern again. That period also brought her TV award nominations for work in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.

Collaborations with Daughter

She persisted in performing with her daughter in dramatic comedies the film Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and the series by Mike White dark comedy series the program Enlightened. She also appeared next to Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian and with Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

Her later TV roles featured Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.

Writing and Directing

She additionally penned and helmed the humorous movie Mrs Munck, a film featuring her and previous spouse Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she said. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a film. Actually, I stand as the only woman in history to direct her ex-husband. I make a joke: ‘I tell women, if you seek payback, guide your former spouse.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Personal Life

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

During 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a pulmonary condition and informed she only had half a year left but she regained full health after her daughter moved her to a new hospital.

“Should you harness your suffering and prevent it from festering similar to a wound, rather utilize it to explore, to clarify the journey for personal and collective growth, then you are winning,” Ladd said.