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This Academy Award-nominated actress Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran left us at the age of 89.

The star, with filmography included National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, passed away at home at her Ojai, California home. This announcement was shared through a message by her daughter, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern, her daughter.

Laura Dern, who appeared with Diane Ladd in various films like Wild at Heart, called her “my wonderful hero plus my profound gift as a mother”, writing that she was at her bedside when she passed.

“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, performer, creative along with empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she wrote. “We were blessed to have her. She is now with the angels.”

Beginnings and Breakthrough

The start of her career featured minor parts in television programs like The Fugitive and the seventies had her appearing alongside Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

That very year, 1974, she performed alongside Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese praised dramatic comedy Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her acting landed Ladd an Academy Award nomination in the supporting actress category.

Subsequent Years

In the 1980s, she appeared in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story as well as comedy sequel National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and also took part in the sitcom Alice, a television series based on her earlier movie.

In the subsequent decade, she earned an additional supporting actress nomination for her performance in Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she played the parent of her actual daughter Laura Dern’s role. The next year she obtained an additional nod for her performance in Rambling Rose, another movie that also featured her daughter.

“This movie that the late Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she invited Laura and I to London for a premiere and a party dedicated to us,” Ladd said of Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, holding both our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”

That decade also saw roles in comedy Cemetery Club bringing her back with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a satirical film, with John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as the mother of Dern once more. The decade also brought her TV award nominations for roles on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Collaborations with Daughter

She continued to star with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama the film Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire and Mike White’s satirical show the program Enlightened. She was also seen with Sandra Bullock, a star in the film 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.

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

Filmmaking Ventures

She also authored and oversaw the humorous movie Mrs Munck which starred her and ex-husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she noted. “I’m privileged to have directed him on a project. Indeed, I’m the only woman ever to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I say ladies, if you want revenge, direct your ex-husband.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Connections

She happened to be the third cousin of the great Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a major inspiration in my life”.

During 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a pulmonary condition and advised she had just six months to live but she regained full health 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 discover, to illuminate the way for you and those around, then you are winning,” Ladd expressed.