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The award-nominated actress Diane Ladd has died aged 89.

The star, with credits featured Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, died at her home in Ojai, California. Her passing was revealed via an announcement by her daughter, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern, her daughter.

Her daughter, who appeared with Diane Ladd in various films like Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, described her as “my wonderful hero as well as my special gift being my mom”, writing that she was present as she died.

“She was the greatest grandmother, mother, daughter, performer, creative along with compassionate soul that felt like a dream come true,” she stated. “We were fortunate to know her. She is now with the angels.”

Beginnings and Breakthrough

Her initial acting years featured supporting roles on television series such as The Fugitive whereas that decade had her appearing alongside Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.

That very year, the year 1974, she performed with actress Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese praised film the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role brought Ladd her first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.

1980s and Beyond

In the 1980s, she starred in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story plus comedy sequel National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation while also joining Alice, a comedy program derived from her earlier movie.

In the subsequent decade, she received an additional best supporting actress nomination for her part in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she acted as the mother of her actual daughter Dern’s character. A year later she obtained an additional nod for her performance in Rambling Rose that also featured Laura Dern.

“This was the picture that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she invited Laura and I to London for a premiere and an event dedicated to us,” Ladd said regarding Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, holding both our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”

The nineties also saw roles in the comedy Cemetery Club reuniting her with Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a satirical film, starring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she played the mother of Dern once more. The decade also brought her Emmy nominations for performances in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Partnerships with Her Daughter

She continued to star with her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and White’s comedy-drama series the program Enlightened. She was also seen next to actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian and with Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

Her more recent television parts featured Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon.

Writing and Directing

She additionally penned and oversaw the humorous movie Mrs Munck, a film that included her and previous spouse Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “I’m privileged to have directed him on a project. Actually, I’m the only woman in recorded history to helm a film with her ex. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, if you seek payback, guide your former spouse.’ However, I’m joking.”

Family Ties

She happened to be a relative of the great Tennessee Williams, who she called “a significant impact throughout my life”.

Back in 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a respiratory illness and advised she only had half a year left yet she recovered completely after her daughter moved her to a different hospital.

“Should you harness your suffering and prevent it from festering similar to a wound, instead use it to investigate, to illuminate the way for personal and collective growth, then you are triumphing,” Ladd said.