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The award-nominated actress Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran passed away at the age of 89.

This actress, with filmography featured Chinatown, passed away at home in Ojai, California. Her passing was shared via an announcement by her offspring, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern.

Dern, who performed alongside Diane Ladd in various films such as Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my wonderful hero plus my profound gift as a mother”, writing that she was by her side during her final moments.

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

Early Career and Major Success

The start of her career included supporting roles on television series including Perry Mason whereas that decade had her appearing alongside Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

That very year, 1974, she shared the screen with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s celebrated comedy drama the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination as best supporting actress.

Later Decades

During the eighties, she was seen in the thriller Black Widow, a suspense story and humorous film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and appeared on Alice, a comedy program based on the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

During the next ten years, she earned a further Oscar nomination for supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her part in David Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she played the parent of her actual daughter Dern’s character. The following year she was awarded a further nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose that also featured Dern.

“This movie that the late Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she brought me and Laura to England for a premiere and a party dedicated to us,” Ladd said of Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, taking our hands, and crying, seeing us act.”

That decade also saw roles in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film joining her again with her co-star Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a satirical film, with John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as Laura Dern’s mom another time. The decade also earned her Emmy nominations for work in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Working with Laura Dern

She kept appearing alongside her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s dark comedy series Enlightened. She additionally starred next to Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Subsequent TV appearances consisted of Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.

Writing and Directing

She additionally penned and directed the comedy Mrs Munck featuring her and previous spouse actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she said. “I was honored to direct him on a project. In fact, I’m the only woman ever to helm a film with her ex. I make a joke: ‘I tell women, should you desire retribution, helm a movie with your ex.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Personal Life

Ladd was also the third cousin of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a great influence throughout my life”.

Back in 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a pulmonary condition and advised her life expectancy was six months but made a full recovery when her daughter transferred her to a new hospital.

“Should you harness your suffering and not let it back up like an injury, instead use it to discover, to make the path clearer for yourself and others, then you are winning,” Ladd remarked.