🔗 Share this article

The award-nominated performer the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away at the age of 89.

This star, whose credits included National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, died at her home in Ojai, California. This announcement was revealed through a message by her child, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern.

Dern, who performed alongside Diane Ladd in various films including Rambling Rose, described her as “my wonderful hero and my profound gift as a mother”, writing that she was present as she died.

“She was the most wonderful daughter, mother, grandmother, star, artist along with empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she wrote. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Beginnings and Rise to Fame

Ladd’s early career saw supporting roles on television series like Perry Mason whereas the seventies featured her performing next to Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

During that year, 1974, she shared the screen with actress Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her acting landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.

Subsequent Years

Throughout the 1980s, she appeared in the thriller Black Widow as well as humorous film Christmas Vacation while also joining the sitcom Alice, a television series derived from Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

During the next ten years, she received an additional best supporting actress nomination for her role in Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the parent of her real-life daughter Laura Dern’s role. The next year she was awarded another nomination for her role in Rambling Rose that also featured Laura Dern.

“This movie that Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she flew Laura and I to England for a special screening and a celebration in our honor,” Ladd recalled regarding Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, holding both our hands, and crying, viewing our performance.”

The nineties featured performances in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film joining her again with her co-star Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a satirical film, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy in which she portrayed Laura Dern’s mom once more. The decade also saw her score Emmy nominations for roles on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She continued to star alongside her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and the series by Mike White comedy-drama series the program Enlightened. She additionally starred alongside Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Subsequent TV appearances included Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon.

Behind the Camera

Ladd also wrote and oversaw the humorous movie the movie Mrs Munck which starred Diane Ladd and previous spouse Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “It was a privilege to guide him in a film. Actually, I’m the only woman in history to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I advise females, should you desire retribution, helm a movie with your ex.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Personal Connections

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

During 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a pulmonary condition and advised she had just six months to live but made a full recovery when her daughter shifted her to a different hospital.

“Should you harness your suffering and avoid letting it accumulate like a sore or something, instead use it to explore, to clarify the journey for you and those around, then you are winning,” Ladd remarked.