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This Oscar-nominated actor the celebrated Diane Ladd has died 89 years old.

The star, whose credits spanned Chinatown, left this world in her residence in California’s Ojai. The news was announced in a statement shared by her offspring, award-winning actress Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who performed alongside Diane Ladd in a number of films like Wild at Heart, referred to her as “my incredible hero and my profound gift as a mother”, writing that she was by her side during her final moments.

“She was an exceptional grandmother, mother, daughter, actress, artist along with empathetic spirit that felt like a dream come true,” she wrote. “We were fortunate to know her. She is now with the angels.”

Initial Roles and Breakthrough

The start of her career included supporting roles in television programs including Gunsmoke while the seventies saw her starring alongside actor Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

During that year, the year 1974, she shared the screen with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s celebrated film the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her acting landed Ladd her first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.

Later Decades

Throughout the 1980s, she starred in the dramatic film Black Widow, a suspense story plus funny follow-up National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and also took part in the sitcom Alice, a comedy program inspired by the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the following decade, she received another best supporting actress nomination for her part in David Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the parent of her real-life daughter Laura Dern’s role. The following year she obtained an additional nod for her performance in Rambling Rose which also starred Dern.

“This was the picture that the late Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she flew me and Laura to the UK for a special screening and a celebration in our honor,” Ladd said regarding Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, holding both our hands, and crying, viewing our performance.”

That decade also saw roles in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film reuniting her with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a comedy about politics, starring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne the movie Citizen Ruth where she played Dern’s mother another time. Those years also saw her score Emmy nominations for roles in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom plus Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She continued to star with her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, a movie, Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and the series by Mike White satirical show Enlightened. She also appeared next to Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian and Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

Subsequent TV appearances included Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon.

Filmmaking Ventures

She also authored and directed the comedy film the movie Mrs Munck that included Diane Ladd and former husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she said. “I was honored to direct him in a movie. In fact, I stand as the only woman ever to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I advise females, should you desire retribution, guide your former spouse.’ But I’m only kidding.”

Personal Life

Ladd was also a family member of the great Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a great influence on my life”.

Back in 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with lung disease and advised she had just six months to live yet she recovered completely after her daughter moved her to a different hospital.

“When you use your pain and prevent it from festering similar to a wound, instead apply it to explore, to make the path clearer for you and those around, then you are succeeding,” Ladd said.