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

This star, with roles included National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, left this world in her residence in Ojai, California. Her passing was announced via an announcement shared by her child, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern, her daughter.

Laura Dern, who starred with her mom in a number of films including Wild at Heart, described her as “my incredible hero as well as my precious gift of a mother”, writing that she was at her bedside as she died.

“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist as well as empathetic spirit that felt like a dream come true,” she stated. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Early Career and Breakthrough

The start of her career included minor parts in TV shows like Perry Mason and the seventies had her appearing alongside Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.

During that year, 1974, she shared the screen with actress Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination in the supporting actress category.

Subsequent Years

In the 1980s, she was seen in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story plus humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy while also joining the show Alice, a comedy program based on the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the following decade, she was given an additional best supporting actress nomination for her performance in Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the mom of her real-life daughter Dern’s character. A year later she received an additional nod for her role in Rambling Rose, another movie which also starred her daughter.

“This was the picture that Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she brought us to the UK for a special screening and a celebration for us,” Ladd recalled regarding Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, grasping our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”

The nineties featured performances in humorous films Cemetery Club joining her again with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a comedy about politics, with John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed Laura Dern’s mom once more. That period also saw her score Emmy nominations for work in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

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

Her later TV roles consisted of Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon.

Behind the Camera

She additionally penned and directed the comedy film the movie Mrs Munck featuring herself and previous spouse Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she said. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a movie. Indeed, I’m the only woman in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I tell women, should you desire retribution, helm a movie with your ex.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Connections

Ladd was also a family member of Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a major inspiration in my life”.

Back in 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with lung disease and told she only had half a year left but made a full recovery once her daughter moved her to another medical facility.

“When you use your pain and not let it back up like a sore or something, instead apply it to discover, to clarify the journey for yourself and others, then you are triumphing,” Ladd remarked.