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The Academy Award-nominated actress Diane Ladd passed away aged 89.

This star, whose filmography spanned Chinatown, died at her home in Ojai, California. This announcement was announced in a statement from her daughter, Oscar-winning actor her daughter Laura Dern.

Dern, who starred with Diane Ladd in various films including Wild at Heart, described her as “my wonderful hero plus my special gift of a mother”, noting that she was by her side during her final moments.

“She was the greatest mother, daughter, grandmother, performer, creative along with empathetic spirit that felt like a dream come true,” she wrote. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Beginnings and Breakthrough

Her initial acting years saw small roles in TV shows such as Perry Mason whereas the 1970s featured her performing next to Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

During that year, 1974, she shared the screen alongside Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese acclaimed film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. The performance brought Ladd her first Oscar nomination in the supporting actress category.

Later Decades

In the 1980s, she appeared in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story plus comedy sequel Christmas Vacation and also took part in the show Alice, a sitcom derived from her earlier movie.

During the next ten years, she earned an additional supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her role in David Lynch’s the movie Wild at Heart where she acted as the mom of her biological child Laura Dern’s role. The next year she was awarded another nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose that also featured her daughter.

“This movie that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she invited me and Laura to London for a premiere and an event dedicated to us,” Ladd recalled regarding Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, holding both our hands, and crying, seeing us act.”

The nineties also saw roles in the comedy The Cemetery Club joining her again with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political comedy, with John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne the movie Citizen Ruth where she played Dern’s mother once more. That period also earned her nominations for Emmy Awards for performances in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom plus Touched by an Angel.

Collaborations with Daughter

She kept appearing with her daughter in comedy drama the film Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and the series by Mike White dark comedy series Enlightened, a TV series. She additionally starred alongside Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins in that movie and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Her later TV roles included Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.

Writing and Directing

She additionally penned and helmed the comedy film Mrs Munck that included her and ex-husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she said. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a movie. Actually, I’m the only woman ever who directed her former husband. I humorously say: ‘I advise females, should you desire retribution, helm a movie with your ex.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Family Ties

She happened to be a family member of Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a major inspiration in my life”.

During 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with lung disease and told her life expectancy was six months but made a full recovery when her daughter transferred her to a different hospital.

“When you use your pain and not let it back up like a sore or something, rather utilize it to investigate, to make the path clearer for you and those around, then you are triumphing,” Ladd expressed.