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The award-nominated actor Diane Ladd passed away aged 89.

This actress, with credits spanned Chinatown, died at her home in Ojai, California. Her passing was shared in a statement from her daughter, Academy Award-winning star her daughter Laura Dern.

Dern, who starred with Diane Ladd in several movies including Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, called her “my wonderful hero and my special gift as a mother”, noting that she was by her side as she died.

“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, star, artist and compassionate soul that seemed almost dreamlike,” she wrote. “We were fortunate to know her. She is now with the angels.”

Initial Roles and Breakthrough

Her initial acting years included minor parts in TV shows including Gunsmoke whereas the 1970s featured her performing alongside actor Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

During that year, 1974, she shared the screen with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s praised film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her role landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination in the supporting actress category.

1980s and Beyond

In the 1980s, she starred in the thriller Black Widow as well as comedy sequel Christmas Vacation and appeared on the show Alice, a comedy program inspired by Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

During the next ten years, she was given an additional supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her role in Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the mom of her real-life daughter Dern’s character. The next year she received a further nomination for her role in Rambling Rose which also starred Dern.

“This was the film that the late Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she brought me and Laura to the UK for a special screening and an event dedicated to us,” Ladd shared regarding Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, holding both our hands, and crying, seeing us act.”

The 1990s also saw roles in comedy Cemetery Club reuniting her with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a satirical film, with John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy in which she portrayed Laura Dern’s mom another time. Those years also earned her Emmy nominations for performances in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She kept appearing with Laura Dern in dramatic comedies the film Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and the series by Mike White satirical show Enlightened, a TV series. She also appeared with actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in that movie and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.

Subsequent TV appearances included the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.

Writing and Directing

Ladd also wrote and helmed the comedy Mrs Munck featuring Diane Ladd and previous spouse actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she mentioned. “It was a privilege to guide him on a project. In fact, I’m the only woman in history to helm a film with her ex. I make a joke: ‘I say ladies, if you seek payback, direct your ex-husband.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Personal Life

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

During 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a respiratory illness and advised she had just six months to live but made a full recovery once her daughter transferred her to another medical facility.

“If you can take your pain and avoid letting it accumulate like an injury, rather utilize it to explore, to clarify the journey for you and those around, then you are succeeding,” Ladd expressed.