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This Oscar-nominated actress Diane Ladd passed away aged 89.

This star, whose credits spanned Chinatown, died at her home at her Ojai, California home. Her passing was revealed in a statement by her offspring, award-winning actress Laura Dern, her daughter.

Dern, who appeared with her mom in several movies like Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my wonderful hero and my profound gift being my mom”, noting that she was at her bedside as she died.

“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, performer, creative as well as compassionate soul that felt like a dream come true,” she wrote. “We were blessed to have her. She is now with the angels.”

Beginnings and Rise to Fame

The start of her career saw minor parts on television series like The Fugitive and the 1970s had her appearing alongside actor Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.

In the same year, 1974, she shared the screen alongside Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s acclaimed comedy drama the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance earned Ladd her initial Oscar nod in the supporting actress category.

Subsequent Years

During the eighties, she appeared in the dramatic film Black Widow plus comedy sequel Christmas Vacation while also joining Alice, a comedy program based on the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

During the next ten years, she earned a further best supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her performance in David Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the parent of her biological child Laura Dern’s role. A year later she obtained a further nomination for her role in the film Rambling Rose which included her daughter.

“This was the picture which Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she brought us to England for a special screening and a party in our honor,” Ladd recalled about the film Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, holding both our hands, with tears, watching us perform.”

That decade featured performances in humorous films Cemetery Club reuniting her with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a comedy about politics, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed Dern’s mother once more. The decade also saw her score Emmy nominations for roles in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel.

Collaborations with Daughter

She continued to star with Laura Dern in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, a movie, Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and White’s comedy-drama series Enlightened. She was also seen with Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in that movie and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Her later TV roles included the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.

Writing and Directing

Ladd also wrote and oversaw the comedy Mrs Munck, a film which starred herself and former husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she noted. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a movie. Indeed, I stand as the only woman in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I say ladies, should you desire retribution, helm a movie with your ex.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Family Ties

Ladd was also a family member of Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a great influence throughout my life”.

In 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with lung disease and told she only had half a year left but made a full recovery when her daughter transferred her to a different hospital.

“Should you harness your suffering and prevent it from festering like a sore or something, instead use it to explore, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are succeeding,” Ladd expressed.