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The Academy Award-nominated performer Diane Ladd has died at the age of 89.

The star, whose filmography included National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, died at her home at her Ojai, California home. Her passing was announced via an announcement by her offspring, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern, her daughter.

Laura Dern, who appeared with her mom in various films like Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my wonderful hero as well as my profound gift of a mother”, stating that she was at her bedside during her final moments.

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

Beginnings and Major Success

Her initial acting years saw minor parts on television series including Perry Mason whereas that decade had her appearing alongside the legendary Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

During that year, 1974, she appeared alongside Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s celebrated comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. The performance brought Ladd her first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.

Later Decades

In the 1980s, she was seen in crime thriller Black Widow as well as funny follow-up Christmas Vacation and also took part in the sitcom Alice, a television series based on Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the following decade, she earned a further best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her part in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she played the mom of her actual daughter Dern’s character. The following year she received a further nomination for her role in Rambling Rose, another movie which also starred her daughter.

“This was the picture which Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she flew me and Laura to the UK for a premiere and an event for us,” Ladd recalled about the film Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, taking our hands, with tears, watching us perform.”

The 1990s included parts in comedy Cemetery Club, a film bringing her back with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a comedy about politics, starring John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy in which she portrayed the mother of Dern once more. Those years also saw her score Emmy nominations for performances in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.

Partnerships with Her Daughter

She continued to star with her daughter in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, a movie, Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s comedy-drama series Enlightened, a TV series. She additionally starred alongside Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, a movie, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Her more recent television parts included the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.

Filmmaking Ventures

Ladd also wrote and directed the humorous movie Mrs Munck, a film that included Diane Ladd and previous spouse Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she noted. “I’m privileged to have directed him on a project. In fact, I’m the only woman in recorded history who directed her former husband. I often joke: ‘I advise females, if you seek payback, helm a movie with your ex.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Connections

Ladd was also a relative of Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a great influence in my life”.

In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a respiratory illness and informed she had just six months to live but she regained full health when her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.

“If you can take your pain and not let it back up like an injury, rather utilize it to discover, to clarify the journey for you and those around, then you are winning,” Ladd remarked.