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The award-nominated actress the celebrated Diane Ladd has died at the age of 89.

This star, whose credits included Chinatown, died at her home in Ojai, California. This announcement was shared via an announcement from her daughter, Oscar-winning actor her daughter Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who performed alongside her mother in various films like Wild at Heart, described her as “my wonderful hero plus my profound gift of a mother”, noting that she was at her bedside as she died.

“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist along with empathetic spirit that seemed almost dreamlike,” she expressed. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Early Career and Major Success

The start of her career included supporting roles on television series including Gunsmoke while the 1970s had her appearing alongside Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

In the same year, the year 1974, she shared the screen with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s acclaimed comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her role brought Ladd her first Oscar nomination in the supporting actress category.

Subsequent Years

During the eighties, she was seen in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story as well as humorous film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and also took part in Alice, a television series inspired by her earlier movie.

In the subsequent decade, she received an additional Oscar nomination for supporting actress nomination for her role in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the parent of her actual daughter Laura Dern’s role. The next year she was awarded a further nomination for her performance in the film Rambling Rose which included her daughter.

“This was the picture that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she invited us to England for a special screening and an event dedicated to us,” Ladd shared of Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, grasping our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”

The nineties featured performances in the comedy Cemetery Club, a film bringing her back with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a political comedy, featuring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she played Laura Dern’s mom again. The decade also earned her TV award nominations for roles in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Collaborations with Daughter

She persisted in performing with Laura Dern in comedy drama Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s satirical show Enlightened, a TV series. She also appeared with actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Subsequent TV appearances featured Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.

Writing and Directing

She also authored and helmed the comedy film Mrs Munck, a film which starred her and previous spouse Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a talented star,” she noted. “It was a privilege to guide him in a movie. Actually, I’m the only woman in history to direct her ex-husband. I make a joke: ‘I advise females, if you want revenge, helm a movie with your ex.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Family Ties

She happened to be a relative of Tennessee Williams, who she called “a major inspiration on my life”.

In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and advised her life expectancy was six months but made a full recovery once her daughter transferred her to a different hospital.

“If you can take your pain and avoid letting it accumulate like a sore or something, instead use it to explore, to clarify the journey for you and those around, then you are succeeding,” Ladd remarked.