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The Academy Award-nominated actress Diane Ladd left us at the age of 89.

This star, whose roles included Chinatown, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. Her passing was revealed through a message shared by her child, Academy Award-winning star her daughter Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who appeared with Diane Ladd in various films including Wild at Heart, called her “my wonderful hero plus my profound gift being my mom”, noting that she was at her bedside during her final moments.

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

Initial Roles and Breakthrough

Ladd’s early career included small roles on television series like Gunsmoke and that decade had her appearing alongside Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

During that year, 1974, she shared the screen alongside Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s acclaimed comedy drama the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her acting brought Ladd her first Oscar nomination as best supporting actress.

Subsequent Years

During the eighties, she appeared in the dramatic film the movie Black Widow and funny follow-up National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and appeared on Alice, a sitcom based on her earlier movie.

In the subsequent decade, she was given another best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role in the David Lynch film the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the mother of her biological child the character played by Dern. A year later she was awarded a further nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose which included Laura Dern.

“This was the film that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she flew me and Laura to England for a premiere and a celebration dedicated to us,” Ladd recalled of Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, taking our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”

That decade featured performances in comedy Cemetery Club reuniting her with her co-star Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a political comedy, featuring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as the mother of Dern once more. That period also earned her nominations for Emmy Awards for work on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.

Partnerships with Her Daughter

She kept appearing with her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s dark comedy series the program Enlightened. She was also seen alongside Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film plus Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

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

Filmmaking Ventures

She additionally penned and helmed the humorous movie the movie Mrs Munck which starred herself and former husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she said. “I’m privileged to have directed him on a project. In fact, I stand as the only woman ever to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I say ladies, 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 called “a significant impact on my life”.

During 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a pulmonary condition and advised her life expectancy was six months yet she recovered completely after her daughter transferred her to another medical facility.

“If you can take your pain and prevent it from festering like a sore or something, rather utilize it to investigate, to illuminate the way for personal and collective growth, then you are succeeding,” Ladd expressed.