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The Academy Award-nominated performer Diane Ladd passed away at the age of 89.

The actor, whose credits spanned Chinatown, passed away at home in Ojai, California. Her passing was shared via an announcement shared by her child, Oscar-winning actor her daughter Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who appeared with Diane Ladd in several movies including Wild at Heart, described her as “my wonderful hero plus my special gift as a mother”, noting that she was present when she passed.

“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist as well as empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she stated. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Initial Roles and Breakthrough

Ladd’s early career featured minor parts on television series like The Fugitive whereas the seventies featured her performing next to actor Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

During that year, 1974, she performed with actress Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. The performance brought Ladd her first Oscar nomination in the supporting actress category.

Subsequent Years

During the eighties, she starred in crime thriller Black Widow as well as comedy sequel Christmas Vacation and appeared on Alice, a television series inspired by the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

During the next ten years, she was given an additional best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she acted as the parent of her real-life daughter Dern’s character. A year later she was awarded an additional nod for her role in the film Rambling Rose which also starred Laura Dern.

“This was the film which Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she brought us to the UK for a special screening and a celebration for us,” Ladd said regarding Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, grasping our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.”

The nineties featured performances in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film reuniting her with Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a political comedy, starring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne the movie Citizen Ruth where she played Laura Dern’s mom another time. That period also earned her nominations for Emmy Awards for performances in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.

Partnerships with Her Daughter

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

Her more recent television parts consisted of Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon, a comedy.

Writing and Directing

Ladd also wrote and helmed the comedy film Mrs Munck which starred Diane Ladd and former husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she mentioned. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a movie. Indeed, I’m the only woman ever to helm a film with her ex. I make a joke: ‘I tell women, should you desire retribution, direct your ex-husband.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Life

Ladd was also a relative of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a major inspiration on my life”.

During 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and told she only had half a year left yet she recovered completely when her daughter transferred her to a different hospital.

“Should you harness your suffering and not let it back up like a sore or something, instead use it to investigate, to make the path clearer for personal and collective growth, then you are winning,” Ladd said.