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This Oscar-nominated performer Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran has died at the age of 89.

The actress, whose roles featured Chinatown, passed away at home in California’s Ojai. This announcement was revealed in a statement by her daughter, Academy Award-winning star her daughter Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who appeared with Diane Ladd in a number of films such as Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, described her as “my incredible hero plus my profound gift as a mother”, stating that she was by her side during her final moments.

“She was the greatest mother, daughter, grandmother, star, artist and compassionate soul that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were fortunate to know her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Initial Roles and Major Success

Ladd’s early career saw minor parts on television series including Gunsmoke whereas the seventies saw her starring next to actor Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

During that year, 1974, she shared the screen with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s praised comedy drama the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role landed Ladd her initial Oscar nod in the supporting actress category.

1980s and Beyond

During the eighties, she starred in the dramatic film Black Widow and funny follow-up Christmas Vacation while also joining the show Alice, a sitcom based on her earlier movie.

During the next ten years, she earned a further Oscar nomination for supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her role in Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she acted as the parent of her biological child Laura Dern’s role. A year later she was awarded another nomination for her performance in the film Rambling Rose which included Dern.

“This was the picture that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she brought me and Laura to the UK for a premiere and a celebration for us,” Ladd recalled about the film Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, holding both our hands, and crying, viewing our performance.”

That decade featured performances in comedy The Cemetery Club reuniting her with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a comedy about politics, with John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she acted as Laura Dern’s mom again. Those years also saw her score nominations for Emmy Awards for performances on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom plus Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She kept appearing with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and the series by Mike White comedy-drama series Enlightened. She additionally starred alongside Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian plus Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

Subsequent TV appearances consisted of Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon, a comedy.

Filmmaking Ventures

Ladd also wrote and oversaw the comedy the movie Mrs Munck that included herself and ex-husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a talented star,” she noted. “I’m privileged to have directed him on a project. Actually, I am the sole female in recorded history to helm a film with her ex. I often joke: ‘I advise females, should you desire retribution, guide your former spouse.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Life

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

In 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a pulmonary condition and advised she had just six months to live but she regained full health once her daughter moved her to a different hospital.

“If you can take your pain and not let it back up like a sore or something, instead apply it to discover, to illuminate the way for personal and collective growth, then you are winning,” Ladd remarked.