Diane Ladd, Oscar-Nominated Actress of ‘Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore’ and ‘Wild at Heart,’ Dies at 89
Diane Ladd, a celebrated actress known for her compelling performances in iconic films like Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and Chinatown, has died at the age of 89. The news was announced by her daughter, Academy Award-winning actress Laura Dern, who shared that Ladd passed away at her home in Ojai, California.
Ladd’s career spanned decades, marked by a willingness to embrace complex and often unconventional roles. Dern described her mother as “my amazing hero and my profound gift of a mother,” revealing she was at her bedside when she died. “She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created,” Dern wrote. “We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”
Her ex-husband, actor Bruce Dern, reflected on Ladd’s talent, telling reporters she was a “tremendous actress” who remained a “hidden treasure” until her collaboration with director David Lynch. He noted that Lynch’s casting of her as Laura’s mother in Wild at Heart allowed the world to finally recognize her brilliance. “She lived a good life,” Dern added. “She saw everything the way it was. She was a great teammate to her fellow actors. But most importantly to me, she was a wonderful mother to our incredible wunderkind daughter.”
Ladd began her career with smaller roles in television series such as Perry Mason, The Fugitive, and Gunsmoke. Her breakthrough came in the 1970s with a role alongside Jack Nicholson in Roman Polanski’s neo-noir classic, Chinatown. The same year, 1974, she delivered a critically acclaimed performance opposite Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, earning her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Throughout the 1980s, Ladd continued to showcase her versatility, appearing in the crime thriller Black Widow and the beloved comedy National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. She also revisited the character of Alice in a sitcom adaptation of Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
The 1990s brought further accolades, including additional Oscar nominations for her work in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, the latter of which also starred Laura Dern. A particularly memorable moment surrounding Rambling Rose involved a personal invitation from the late Princess Diana, who flew both Ladd and Dern to London for a royal premiere and a celebratory party. Ladd recalled that the Princess sat between them, “holding both our hands, and crying, watching us perform.”
Ladd’s prolific career continued into the 21st century with roles in films like Daddy and Them, Inland Empire, 28 Days, The World’s Fastest Indian, and Joy. She also made appearances in television shows including Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon. Notably, she also stepped behind the camera, writing and directing the comedy film Mrs. Munck, which featured herself and Bruce Dern. She famously quipped, “I’m the only woman in history to direct her ex-husband. I say ladies, if you want revenge, direct your ex-husband. But I’m only kidding.”
Beyond her on-screen achievements, Ladd possessed a deep appreciation for the arts and a resilient spirit. She was a third cousin of playwright Tennessee Williams, whom she considered a significant influence on her life. In 2018, she faced a challenging health scare, being initially misdiagnosed with a terminal illness, but ultimately made a full recovery after seeking a second opinion. Reflecting on her experiences, Ladd shared in 2023, “If you can take your pain and not let it back up like a sore or something, instead use it to explore, to make the path clearer for yourself and others, then you are winning.”
Diane Ladd’s legacy as a fearless and deeply empathetic actress will undoubtedly endure, inspiring generations of performers and captivating audiences for years to come.
