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This Academy Award-nominated actress the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away at the age of 89.

The actress, whose filmography featured Chinatown, passed away at home in California’s Ojai. The news was shared in a statement shared by her child, Oscar-winning actor her daughter Laura Dern.

Her daughter, who appeared with Diane Ladd in a number of films such as Wild at Heart, referred to her as “my wonderful hero plus my profound gift of a mother”, stating that she was present when she passed.

“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist along with empathetic spirit that felt like a dream come true,” she wrote. “We were lucky to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Early Career and Breakthrough

The start of her career included small roles in television programs like The Fugitive while the 1970s saw her starring with Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

During that year, 1974, she appeared with actress Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s praised comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance brought Ladd an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.

Later Decades

During the eighties, she was seen in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story and humorous film Christmas Vacation and also took part in Alice, a television series derived from her earlier movie.

In the subsequent decade, she was given a further best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her part in Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the mom of her actual daughter the character played by Dern. A year later she obtained a further nomination for her role in Rambling Rose which also starred Dern.

“This was the film that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she flew Laura and I to England for a premiere and a celebration dedicated to us,” Ladd said about the film Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, taking our hands, with tears, watching us perform.”

That decade also saw roles in the comedy The Cemetery Club joining her again with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a comedy about politics, with John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth where she acted as Dern’s mother another time. That period also earned her Emmy nominations for roles on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She continued to star with her daughter in dramatic comedies the film Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and Mike White’s satirical show the program Enlightened. She was also seen next to Sandra Bullock, a star in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in that movie and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.

Subsequent TV appearances consisted of Ray Donovan, a drama plus Young Sheldon.

Behind the Camera

She also authored and directed the comedy the movie Mrs Munck which starred Diane Ladd and former husband Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “It was a privilege to guide him in a movie. Indeed, I stand as the only woman in history to helm a film with her ex. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, should you desire retribution, guide your former spouse.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Personal Life

She was additionally a relative of Tennessee Williams, who she called “a major inspiration throughout my life”.

Back in 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a respiratory illness and told she only had half a year left yet she recovered completely when her daughter transferred her to a new hospital.

“When you use your pain and prevent it from festering like a sore or something, instead apply it to discover, to clarify the journey for yourself and others, then you are succeeding,” Ladd expressed.