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

The star, with filmography featured National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, died at her home at her Ojai, California home. This announcement was revealed through a message from her daughter, award-winning actress Laura Dern, her daughter.

Dern, who starred with her mom in a number of films including Wild at Heart, called her “my wonderful hero plus my special gift being my mom”, writing that she was at her bedside as she died.

“She was an exceptional grandmother, mother, daughter, actress, artist 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.”

Beginnings and Rise to Fame

Her initial acting years featured supporting roles in TV shows such as The Fugitive whereas the 1970s had her appearing with the legendary Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.

During that year, 1974, she appeared with actress Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese celebrated dramatic comedy Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance earned Ladd her initial Oscar nod for best supporting actress.

Subsequent Years

In the 1980s, she appeared in the dramatic film Black Widow as well as comedy sequel National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and also took part in the sitcom Alice, a comedy program derived from the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the subsequent decade, she earned another best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her part in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic in which she portrayed the parent of her biological child Dern’s character. A year later she was awarded another nomination for her acting in the film Rambling Rose which included Dern.

“This was the film that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she brought us to London for a special screening and a party dedicated to us,” Ladd said of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, grasping our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.”

That decade also saw roles in humorous films The Cemetery Club bringing her back with her co-star Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a political comedy, with John Travolta and Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth in which she portrayed Dern’s mother again. The decade also brought her TV award nominations for roles in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Partnerships with Her Daughter

She persisted in performing with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and the series by Mike White satirical show Enlightened, a TV series. She was also seen alongside Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Subsequent TV appearances included the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.

Filmmaking Ventures

She also authored and oversaw the comedy film Mrs Munck, a film which starred herself and former husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a great actor,” she mentioned. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a film. Actually, I am the sole female in recorded history to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I advise females, should you desire retribution, direct your ex-husband.’ But I’m only kidding.”

Personal Connections

She happened to be a family member of playwright Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a significant impact in my life”.

In 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a respiratory illness and informed her life expectancy was six months but she regained full health when her daughter transferred her to a different hospital.

“When you use your pain and avoid letting it accumulate like an injury, instead apply it to explore, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are winning,” Ladd remarked.