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This award-nominated performer the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away aged 89.

The star, with credits included National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, passed away at home in California’s Ojai. The news was announced via an announcement by her child, award-winning actress Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who performed alongside her mom in various films including Wild at Heart, described her as “my incredible hero and my precious gift being my mom”, writing that she was at her bedside during her final moments.

“She was the most wonderful mother, daughter, grandmother, actress, artist along with caring individual that felt like a dream come true,” she wrote. “We were fortunate to know her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Beginnings and Major Success

The start of her career saw supporting roles in television programs including The Fugitive while the 1970s featured her performing with the legendary Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

During that year, 1974, she appeared with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s celebrated film the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance landed Ladd an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress.

Subsequent Years

During the eighties, she was seen in the thriller the movie Black Widow plus humorous film Christmas Vacation and also took part in the show Alice, a sitcom inspired by the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the following decade, she received an additional supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her performance in David Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she played the mother of her biological child Laura Dern’s role. The next year she received an additional nod for her role in Rambling Rose which also starred Dern.

“This was the picture that the late Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she invited Laura and I to the UK for a special screening and a party in our honor,” Ladd said about the film Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, holding both our hands, and crying, watching us perform.”

The nineties featured performances in the comedy Cemetery Club, a film bringing her back with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, starring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne the movie Citizen Ruth where she acted as Dern’s mother another time. The decade also earned her TV award nominations for performances in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.

Partnerships with Her Daughter

She kept appearing alongside her daughter in films blending humor and drama the film Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and the series by Mike White dark comedy series the program Enlightened. She also appeared next to actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Her later TV roles featured Ray Donovan, a drama plus Young Sheldon.

Behind the Camera

She additionally penned and oversaw the comedy film Mrs Munck which starred herself and previous spouse actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she noted. “It was a privilege to guide him in a movie. In fact, I stand as the only woman in recorded history who directed her former husband. I make a joke: ‘I advise females, if you want revenge, direct your ex-husband.’ But I’m only kidding.”

Personal Connections

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

Back in 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with lung disease and told she had just six months to live but made a full recovery after her daughter transferred her to a different hospital.

“If you can take your pain and prevent it from festering like a sore or something, instead apply it to explore, to make the path clearer for personal and collective growth, then you are winning,” Ladd expressed.