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

This actor, with roles spanned Chinatown, left this world in her residence at her Ojai, California home. Her passing was shared via an announcement shared by her offspring, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern.

Her daughter, who performed alongside her mother in several movies such as Wild at Heart, described her as “my wonderful hero as well as my profound gift as a mother”, noting that she was by her side as she died.

“She was the most wonderful grandmother, mother, daughter, star, artist as well as compassionate soul that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she stated. “We were lucky to have her. She is now with the angels.”

Initial Roles and Major Success

Her initial acting years included supporting roles in TV shows like Perry Mason while that decade had her appearing with the legendary Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

That very year, 1974, she appeared alongside Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her role landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination as best supporting actress.

Later Decades

During the eighties, she starred in the dramatic film Black Widow and comedy sequel Christmas Vacation while also joining Alice, a comedy program inspired by her earlier movie.

In the following decade, she earned a further Oscar nomination for supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her performance in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart, a cult classic in which she portrayed the mother of her biological child Dern’s character. A year later she was awarded another nomination for her role in the film Rambling Rose which also starred her daughter.

“This was the film that the late Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she invited us to London for a special screening and a party in our honor,” Ladd recalled of Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, taking our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”

The nineties included parts in the comedy Cemetery Club, a film reuniting her with her co-star Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a political comedy, starring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth where she played Laura Dern’s mom another time. Those years also brought her Emmy nominations for work in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She kept appearing with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and White’s satirical show Enlightened. She additionally starred next to Sandra Bullock, a star in the film 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian plus Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

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

Behind the Camera

Ladd also wrote and directed the comedy Mrs Munck featuring Diane Ladd and former husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she noted. “I was honored to direct him in a film. In fact, I am the sole female ever to direct her ex-husband. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, if you seek payback, guide your former spouse.’ But I’m only kidding.”

Family Ties

She happened to be a family member of the great Tennessee Williams, who she called “a major inspiration in my life”.

Back in 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and informed her life expectancy was six months but she regained full health once her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.

“If you can take your pain and not let it back up like a sore or something, rather utilize it to explore, to clarify the journey for you and those around, then you are triumphing,” Ladd said.