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The Oscar-nominated actress the celebrated Diane Ladd has died at the age of 89.

This actor, with credits featured Chinatown, died at her home in California’s Ojai. Her passing was announced via an announcement from her offspring, award-winning actress her daughter Laura Dern.

Dern, who appeared with Diane Ladd in various films like Wild at Heart, described her as “my wonderful hero as well as my special gift being my mom”, noting that she was present during her final moments.

“She was an exceptional grandmother, mother, daughter, star, artist and caring individual that felt like a dream come true,” she stated. “We were fortunate to know her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Early Career and Major Success

Ladd’s early career featured minor parts in TV shows like Perry Mason and the seventies saw her starring next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

In the same year, 1974, she appeared with Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese praised dramatic comedy Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role earned Ladd an Academy Award nomination in the supporting actress category.

Later Decades

In the 1980s, she starred in the thriller the movie Black Widow plus funny follow-up Christmas Vacation while also joining the sitcom Alice, a television series derived from her earlier movie.

In the subsequent decade, she was given another supporting actress nomination for her part in Lynch’s Wild at Heart where she acted as the parent of her biological child the character played by Dern. The following year she received an additional nod for her performance in Rambling Rose which also starred her daughter.

“This was the film that the late Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she flew us to the UK for a special screening and a celebration in our honor,” Ladd recalled about the film Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, taking our hands, with tears, viewing our performance.”

That decade featured performances in humorous films Cemetery Club, a film reuniting her with Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a satirical film, with John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she acted as Dern’s mother once more. That period also brought her TV award nominations for work in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Partnerships with Her Daughter

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 comedy-drama series Enlightened. She also appeared with Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in that movie and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Her later TV roles included Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.

Writing and Directing

She also authored and directed the comedy the movie Mrs Munck featuring Diane Ladd and ex-husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a great actor,” she noted. “I was honored to direct him in a movie. In fact, I’m the only woman in history to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I tell women, if you want revenge, guide your former spouse.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Life

She happened to be the third cousin of the great Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a significant impact throughout my life”.

During 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a pulmonary condition and informed her life expectancy was six months but she regained full health once her daughter shifted her to a new hospital.

“If you can take your pain and prevent it from festering like an injury, instead apply it to discover, to illuminate the way for you and those around, then you are winning,” Ladd remarked.