🔗 Share this article

This Oscar-nominated actress the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away at the age of 89.

This star, with roles spanned National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, died at her home in California’s Ojai. The news was shared in a statement from her child, award-winning actress Laura Dern, her daughter.

Dern, who performed alongside her mom in a number of films like Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my wonderful hero and my precious gift of a mother”, noting that she was present as she died.

“She was an exceptional daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and caring individual that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were fortunate to know her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Beginnings and Rise to Fame

Her initial acting years included small roles in television programs such as The Fugitive whereas the 1970s featured her performing with the legendary Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

That very year, the year 1974, she performed with actress Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese praised film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance brought Ladd her first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.

Later Decades

Throughout the 1980s, she appeared in crime thriller Black Widow as well as funny follow-up National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and appeared on Alice, a sitcom derived from the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the subsequent decade, she received an additional best 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 real-life daughter Dern’s character. A year later she obtained an additional nod for her performance in Rambling Rose which also starred Laura Dern.

“This movie that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she brought Laura and I to the UK for a premiere and an event for us,” Ladd said of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, grasping our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”

The nineties also saw roles in comedy Cemetery Club, a film joining her again with Ellen 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 Laura Dern’s mom another time. That period also saw her score nominations for Emmy Awards for roles on Dr Quinn, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Collaborations with Daughter

She kept appearing alongside her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and the series by Mike White satirical show Enlightened, a TV series. She additionally starred alongside Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in that movie and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

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

Behind the Camera

She additionally penned and helmed the comedy Mrs Munck, a film that included Diane Ladd and previous spouse Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a great actor,” she mentioned. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a film. Indeed, I am the sole female ever to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I say ladies, if you want revenge, helm a movie with your ex.’ However, I’m joking.”

Family Ties

She was additionally the third cousin of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she called “a great influence in my life”.

In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with lung disease and told she only had half a year left but made a full recovery after her daughter transferred her to another medical facility.

“When you use your pain and prevent it from festering like a sore or something, instead apply it to investigate, to clarify the journey for you and those around, then you are succeeding,” Ladd said.