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The Oscar-nominated actor the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away 89 years old.

This actress, whose credits featured Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, left this world in her residence at her Ojai, California home. Her passing was shared through a message by her offspring, award-winning actress Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who performed alongside her mother in a number of films including Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, called her “my incredible hero plus my precious gift as a mother”, noting that she was at her bedside during her final moments.

“She was the most wonderful grandmother, mother, daughter, performer, creative as well as caring individual that felt like a dream come true,” she wrote. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Initial Roles and Breakthrough

The start of her career featured small roles on television series including Perry Mason and the 1970s had her appearing next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

In the same year, 1974, she appeared with actress Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her role landed Ladd an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress.

1980s and Beyond

Throughout the 1980s, she was seen in the thriller the movie Black Widow and funny follow-up National Lampoon’s holiday comedy while also joining the show Alice, a television series inspired by the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the following decade, she was given an additional Oscar nomination for supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role in David Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she played the parent of her actual daughter Dern’s character. A year later she received an additional nod for her performance in Rambling Rose, another movie which also starred her daughter.

“This was the film that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she invited us to England for a special screening and an event for us,” Ladd shared of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, taking our hands, and crying, viewing our performance.”

The nineties also saw roles in the comedy The Cemetery Club joining her again with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a satirical film, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed Dern’s mother again. That period also saw her score Emmy nominations for performances in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She continued to star with her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and the series by Mike White satirical show Enlightened. She was also seen next to Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in that movie plus Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

Her more recent television parts included Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.

Writing and Directing

Ladd also wrote and oversaw the comedy film Mrs Munck, a film that included Diane Ladd and previous spouse actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she said. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a film. Actually, I am the sole female ever to helm a film with her ex. I make a joke: ‘I advise females, if you seek payback, direct your ex-husband.’ But I’m only kidding.”

Personal Life

Ladd was also a relative of Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a major inspiration throughout my life”.

During 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a respiratory illness and told she only had half a year left but made a full recovery when her daughter shifted her to a different hospital.

“Should you harness your suffering and not let it back up like a sore or something, rather utilize it to investigate, to clarify the journey for yourself and others, then you are succeeding,” Ladd expressed.