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The Oscar-nominated actress Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran has died aged 89.

The actress, with filmography spanned Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, passed away at home in Ojai, California. This announcement was revealed through a message shared by her child, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern.

Her daughter, who appeared with Diane Ladd in various films like Wild at Heart, referred to her as “my incredible hero as well as my profound gift as a mother”, writing that she was present during her final moments.

“She was an exceptional grandmother, mother, daughter, performer, creative as well as caring individual that felt like a dream come true,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. She is now with the angels.”

Beginnings and Rise to Fame

The start of her career included minor parts on television series such as Perry Mason and the seventies had her appearing with Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.

That very year, 1974, she performed with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed comedy drama the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role landed Ladd an Academy Award nomination in the supporting actress category.

Later Decades

Throughout the 1980s, she was seen in crime thriller the movie Black Widow plus funny follow-up Christmas Vacation while also joining Alice, a television series inspired by her earlier movie.

In the subsequent decade, she was given another supporting actress nomination for her performance in Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she acted as the mom of her actual daughter the character played by Dern. The following year she was awarded a further nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose which also starred Dern.

“This was the picture that Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she brought Laura and I to London for a royal premiere and a celebration dedicated to us,” Ladd shared of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, holding both our hands, and crying, seeing us act.”

That decade also saw roles in comedy Cemetery Club joining her again with Ellen Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a political comedy, featuring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as the mother of Dern once more. That period also earned her nominations for Emmy Awards for performances in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She kept appearing with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and White’s dark comedy series the program Enlightened. She also appeared alongside actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Her later TV roles consisted of the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon, a comedy.

Behind the Camera

She also authored and oversaw the comedy the movie Mrs Munck that included herself and former husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “I was honored to direct him in a movie. In fact, I’m the only woman ever who directed her former husband. I humorously say: ‘I advise females, if you seek payback, direct your ex-husband.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Family Ties

Ladd was also a family member of Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a great influence on my life”.

Back in 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with lung disease and told she only had half a year left but made a full recovery when her daughter shifted her to a different hospital.

“Should you harness your suffering and not let it back up similar to a wound, rather utilize it to explore, to illuminate the way for personal and collective growth, then you are succeeding,” Ladd said.