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The Oscar-nominated actor the celebrated Diane Ladd left us at the age of 89.

The star, whose filmography spanned Chinatown, passed away at home at her Ojai, California home. This announcement was shared through a message from her offspring, Academy Award-winning star her daughter Laura Dern.

Her daughter, who starred with Diane Ladd in various films like Rambling Rose, described her as “my incredible hero plus my precious gift of a mother”, noting that she was by her side as she died.

“She was an exceptional grandmother, mother, daughter, performer, creative as well as compassionate soul that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she wrote. “We were lucky to have her. She is now with the angels.”

Early Career and Breakthrough

Her initial acting years saw small roles in television programs including The Fugitive and the seventies saw her starring alongside actor Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

That very year, 1974, she appeared alongside Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role brought Ladd her initial Oscar nod in the supporting actress category.

Later Decades

During the eighties, she starred in the thriller the movie Black Widow and comedy sequel National Lampoon’s holiday comedy while also joining the show Alice, a comedy program inspired by her earlier movie.

In the subsequent decade, she received another best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her performance in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart, a cult classic in which she portrayed the parent of her biological child the character played by Dern. A year later she was awarded a further nomination for her role in the film Rambling Rose which included her daughter.

“This was the film that the late Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she flew Laura and I to London for a royal premiere and a celebration dedicated to us,” Ladd recalled of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, holding both our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.”

The nineties included parts in comedy Cemetery Club bringing her back with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political comedy, featuring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed Laura Dern’s mom once more. The decade also earned her nominations for Emmy Awards for roles in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Collaborations with Daughter

She continued to star with her daughter in comedy drama the film Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project Inland Empire, a surreal film and the series by Mike White satirical show Enlightened, a TV series. She additionally starred with Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in that movie plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.

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

Writing and Directing

Ladd also wrote and helmed the comedy the movie Mrs Munck which starred her and ex-husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she said. “I’m privileged to have directed him on a project. In fact, I stand as the only woman in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I often joke: ‘I tell women, if you seek payback, helm a movie with your ex.’ But I’m only kidding.”

Personal Connections

She was additionally a relative of the great Tennessee Williams, who she called “a major inspiration throughout my life”.

During 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a respiratory illness and advised she only had half a year left but made a full recovery after her daughter moved her to another medical facility.

“If you can take your pain and prevent it from festering similar to a wound, instead apply it to explore, to illuminate the way for personal and collective growth, then you are triumphing,” Ladd expressed.