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This award-nominated actor Diane Ladd has died 89 years old.

The star, with credits included National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, passed away at home in California’s Ojai. Her passing was announced via an announcement shared by her child, Academy Award-winning star her daughter Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who performed alongside Diane Ladd in several movies such as Wild at Heart, referred to her as “my amazing hero and my special 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 caring individual that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were lucky to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Initial Roles and Rise to Fame

Her initial acting years included small roles on television series including The Fugitive and the seventies had her appearing next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.

In the same year, the year 1974, she shared the screen with actress Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s celebrated film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her acting brought Ladd her first Oscar nomination as best supporting actress.

1980s and Beyond

During the eighties, she appeared in crime thriller Black Widow as well as humorous film Christmas Vacation and also took part in the show Alice, a sitcom derived from the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the following decade, she earned an additional supporting actress Oscar nomination for her part in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she played the mother of her actual daughter the character played by Dern. The following year she received an additional nod for her performance in the film Rambling Rose that also featured her daughter.

“This was the film that Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she flew us to the UK for a special screening and a celebration in our honor,” Ladd said about the film Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, grasping our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”

The 1990s included parts in comedy Cemetery Club, a film reuniting her with Ellen Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a political comedy, starring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne the movie Citizen Ruth where she played the mother of Dern again. Those years also brought her Emmy 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 continued to star with her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s satirical show Enlightened, a TV series. She was also seen next to Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Sir Anthony Hopkins in that movie and Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

Subsequent TV appearances consisted of Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.

Behind the Camera

Ladd also wrote and directed the humorous movie the movie Mrs Munck which starred herself and previous spouse Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “I’m privileged to have directed him on a project. Indeed, I’m the only woman in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, should you desire retribution, helm a movie with your ex.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Life

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

Back in 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with lung disease and advised her life expectancy was six months yet she recovered completely once her daughter moved her to another medical facility.

“Should you harness your suffering and not let it back up similar to a wound, instead use it to investigate, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are triumphing,” Ladd remarked.