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This award-nominated performer Diane Ladd passed away aged 89.

The actress, whose roles spanned National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, passed away at home in California’s Ojai. Her passing was revealed through a message from her daughter, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern.

Dern, who starred with her mom in several movies such as Wild at Heart, described her as “my wonderful hero and my precious gift of a mother”, writing that she was by her side when she passed.

“She was the most wonderful grandmother, mother, daughter, star, artist along with empathetic spirit that seemed almost dreamlike,” she expressed. “We were lucky to have her. She is now with the angels.”

Early Career and Breakthrough

Her initial acting years included supporting roles on television series including Gunsmoke while the 1970s saw her starring next to Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

In the same year, 1974, she shared the screen alongside Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s acclaimed dramatic comedy Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. The performance landed Ladd her initial Oscar nod as best supporting actress.

1980s and Beyond

During the eighties, she was seen in the thriller Black Widow and funny follow-up National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and also took part in the sitcom Alice, a comedy program inspired by her earlier movie.

During the next ten years, she was given an additional Oscar nomination for supporting actress nomination for her performance in Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she acted as the parent of her biological child the character played by Dern. The next year she received an additional nod for her performance in the film Rambling Rose that also featured her daughter.

“This was the picture which Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she flew us to England for a royal premiere and a celebration for us,” Ladd said of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, grasping our hands, with tears, viewing our performance.”

The 1990s included parts in humorous films Cemetery Club bringing her back with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political comedy, featuring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth where she acted as Dern’s mother another time. Those years also brought her nominations for Emmy Awards 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 Laura Dern in comedy drama Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire and the series by Mike White comedy-drama series Enlightened. She additionally starred next to Sandra Bullock, a star in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in that movie and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Her later TV roles consisted of Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon, a comedy.

Filmmaking Ventures

She also authored and helmed the comedy Mrs Munck, a film that included herself and previous spouse actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she said. “I was honored to direct him in a movie. In fact, I stand as the only woman in history to helm a film with her ex. I make a joke: ‘I tell women, if you want revenge, direct your ex-husband.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Personal Connections

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

In 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a pulmonary condition and informed her life expectancy was six months but she regained full health when her daughter moved her to a new hospital.

“Should you harness your suffering and prevent it from festering like an injury, instead apply it to explore, to make the path clearer for yourself and others, then you are succeeding,” Ladd remarked.