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The Academy Award-nominated actor the celebrated Diane Ladd left us aged 89.

The actor, whose credits spanned Chinatown, died at her home in California’s Ojai. The news was shared through a message from her child, Oscar-winning actor her daughter Laura Dern.

Dern, who starred with Diane Ladd in several movies including Rambling Rose, called her “my wonderful hero and my profound gift being my mom”, writing that she was present as she died.

“She was the most wonderful mother, daughter, grandmother, star, artist as well as compassionate soul that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she stated. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Initial Roles and Rise to Fame

Her initial acting years featured supporting roles in television programs such as Perry Mason and that decade saw her starring with Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

In the same year, 1974, she appeared alongside Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s celebrated dramatic comedy the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role earned Ladd an Academy Award nomination in the supporting actress category.

1980s and Beyond

In the 1980s, she appeared in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story and funny follow-up National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and appeared on the sitcom Alice, a sitcom based on her earlier movie.

In the subsequent decade, she received another best supporting actress nomination for her performance in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart where she acted as the parent of her real-life daughter the character played by Dern. A year later she received a further nomination for her acting in the film Rambling Rose which also starred Laura Dern.

“This was the film that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she invited us to the UK for a royal premiere and a party in our honor,” Ladd said of Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, holding both our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”

That decade included parts in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film bringing her back with Ellen Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a satirical film, starring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy in which she portrayed Dern’s mother again. That period also earned her TV award nominations for performances on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She persisted in performing with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and White’s dark comedy series Enlightened, a TV series. She also appeared next to Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.

Her later TV roles featured the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.

Behind the Camera

She additionally penned and directed the humorous movie Mrs Munck that included her and ex-husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a great actor,” she said. “It was a privilege to guide him on a project. Indeed, I’m the only woman in history to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I tell women, if you want revenge, direct your ex-husband.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Personal Life

She happened to be the third cousin of the great Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a major inspiration throughout my life”.

In 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a respiratory illness and informed she only had half a year left but she regained full health after her daughter transferred her to another medical facility.

“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 triumphing,” Ladd expressed.