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This Oscar-nominated performer Diane Ladd left us 89 years old.

This star, with credits spanned Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home in Ojai, California. The news was announced in a statement shared by her child, Academy Award-winning star her daughter Laura Dern.

Her daughter, who performed alongside her mother in various films such as Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, called her “my incredible hero as well as my special gift of a mother”, writing that she was by her side during her final moments.

“She was the greatest grandmother, mother, daughter, performer, creative as well as empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Initial Roles and Breakthrough

Ladd’s early career featured minor parts on television series like The Fugitive whereas that decade featured her performing alongside the legendary Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

In the same year, 1974, she appeared with actress Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role brought Ladd an Academy Award nomination in the supporting actress category.

Subsequent Years

Throughout the 1980s, she appeared in the dramatic film Black Widow, a suspense story as well as comedy sequel National Lampoon’s holiday comedy while also joining the show Alice, a television series inspired by her earlier movie.

During the next ten years, she earned an additional supporting actress Oscar nomination for her part in Lynch’s Wild at Heart where she played the parent of her actual daughter Laura Dern’s role. A year later she obtained another nomination for her acting in the film Rambling Rose which included Dern.

“This was the picture that the late Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she flew us to the UK for a premiere and a celebration dedicated to us,” Ladd recalled of Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, holding both our hands, and crying, watching us perform.”

The nineties also saw roles in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film bringing her back with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, starring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy in which she portrayed the mother of Dern another time. That period also saw her score nominations for Emmy Awards for roles in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel.

Partnerships with Her Daughter

She persisted in performing alongside her daughter in comedy drama Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire, a surreal film and Mike White’s dark comedy series the program Enlightened. She was also seen with Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Subsequent TV appearances featured Ray Donovan, a drama plus Young Sheldon.

Behind the Camera

She additionally penned and helmed the humorous movie Mrs Munck which starred herself and former husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she said. “I was honored to direct him on a project. Actually, I stand as the only woman in recorded history to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I tell women, should you desire retribution, helm a movie with your ex.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Family Ties

Ladd was also a family member of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she called “a significant impact on my life”.

In 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a pulmonary condition and informed her life expectancy was six months but she regained full health once her daughter moved her to a new hospital.

“If you can take your pain and prevent it from festering like a sore or something, rather utilize it to explore, to clarify the journey for yourself and others, then you are winning,” Ladd remarked.