Oscar-nominated actress Diane Ladd, known for her roles in films like Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Chinatown, and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, passed away at the age of 89. Her daughter, acclaimed actress Laura Dern, shared the news, describing her mother as 'my amazing hero and my profound gift of a mother'.
Ladd's career began with small roles in TV shows such as Perry Mason and The Fugitive. She rose to prominence in the 1970s, starring alongside Jack Nicholson in Chinatown and sharing the screen with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, which earned her her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. In the 1980s, she appeared in the crime thriller Black Widow and the comedy sequel National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. In the 1990s, she received Emmy nominations for her work in various TV shows, including Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, and Touched by an Angel. She also starred in films like Primary Colors and Citizen Ruth, playing the mother of her real-life daughter, Laura Dern, in both.
Ladd's later career included collaborations with her daughter in projects such as the comedy-drama Daddy and Them, David Lynch's Inland Empire, and Mike White's Enlightened. She also appeared in films like 28 Days, The World's Fastest Indian, and Joy. In addition to her acting, Ladd wrote and directed the comedy film Mrs Munck, starring herself and her ex-husband, Bruce Dern. She was also the third cousin of Tennessee Williams, whom she considered a great influence.
In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with lung disease and given just six months to live. However, she made a full recovery after her daughter transferred her to a different hospital. In a 2023 interview, Ladd shared her philosophy on pain, stating, 'If you can take your pain and not let it back up like a sore or something, instead use it to explore, to make the path clearer for yourself and others, then you are winning.'
