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This award-nominated performer Diane Ladd has died 89 years old.

The actress, with filmography featured Chinatown, died at her home in California’s Ojai. Her passing was shared via an announcement by her child, Oscar-winning actor her daughter Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who performed alongside her mom in several movies like Wild at Heart, called her “my amazing hero and my precious gift of a mother”, noting that she was at her bedside as she died.

“She was the greatest mother, daughter, grandmother, performer, creative and compassionate soul that seemed almost dreamlike,” she expressed. “We were blessed to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Beginnings and Rise to Fame

Ladd’s early career saw minor parts in television programs like The Fugitive whereas the 1970s had her appearing next to Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

In the same year, 1974, she appeared with actress Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed comedy drama the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination in the supporting actress category.

1980s and Beyond

In the 1980s, she appeared in the thriller Black Widow, a suspense story plus humorous film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and appeared on Alice, a sitcom based on Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

During the next ten years, she was given an additional supporting actress Oscar nomination for her part in Lynch’s 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 another nomination for her role in the film Rambling Rose that also featured Dern.

“This was the picture which Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she brought Laura and I to the UK for a special screening and a party dedicated to us,” Ladd recalled regarding Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, holding both our hands, and crying, viewing our performance.”

That decade included parts in humorous films Cemetery Club reuniting her with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, featuring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne the movie Citizen Ruth where she acted as the mother of Dern another time. That period also earned her Emmy nominations for work on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Collaborations with Daughter

She persisted in performing alongside her daughter in comedy drama Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and the series by Mike White dark comedy series the program Enlightened. She was also seen with actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian and Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

Subsequent TV appearances featured the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.

Filmmaking Ventures

She additionally penned and helmed the comedy film Mrs Munck, a film that included her and previous spouse actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she noted. “It was a privilege to guide him on a project. Indeed, I’m the only woman in recorded history who directed her former husband. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, if you want revenge, helm a movie with your ex.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Connections

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

In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with lung disease and advised she only had half a year left but she regained full health when her daughter shifted her to a different hospital.

“Should you harness your suffering and prevent it from festering like an injury, instead apply it to explore, to clarify the journey for you and those around, then you are triumphing,” Ladd expressed.