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The Oscar-nominated actor the celebrated Diane Ladd has died 89 years old.

This actress, with credits spanned Chinatown, died at her home in California’s Ojai. This announcement was revealed in a statement shared by her child, Academy Award-winning star her daughter Laura Dern.

Dern, who starred with her mother in a number of films like Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my incredible hero as well as my profound gift of a mother”, writing that she was present as she died.

“She was the greatest grandmother, mother, daughter, actress, artist and compassionate soul that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she stated. “We were fortunate to know her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Beginnings and Breakthrough

Her initial acting years included minor parts in TV shows like Perry Mason whereas the 1970s featured her performing with actor Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

In the same year, 1974, she appeared with Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s praised film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role earned Ladd an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.

1980s and Beyond

Throughout the 1980s, she appeared in the thriller the movie Black Widow as well as comedy sequel National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and also took part in Alice, a sitcom based on Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the following decade, she received a further supporting actress nomination for her performance in Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic in which she portrayed the parent of her real-life daughter the character played by Dern. A year later she was awarded another nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose, another movie which also starred her daughter.

“This was the film that the late Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she brought us to London for a royal premiere and a celebration for us,” Ladd shared regarding Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, taking our hands, and crying, viewing our performance.”

The nineties included parts in the comedy Cemetery Club bringing her back with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a comedy about politics, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she played Dern’s mother again. Those years also saw her score nominations for Emmy Awards for roles on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Collaborations with Daughter

She kept appearing with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and White’s satirical show the program Enlightened. She was also seen next to actress Sandra Bullock in 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and with Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Subsequent TV appearances included the series Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon, a comedy.

Writing and Directing

She additionally penned and directed the comedy Mrs Munck, a film that included Diane Ladd and ex-husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she noted. “I was honored to direct him in a movie. Actually, I stand as the only woman in recorded history to direct her ex-husband. I often joke: ‘I say ladies, should you desire retribution, direct your ex-husband.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Connections

She was additionally the third cousin of Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a great influence on my life”.

During 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with a respiratory illness and informed her life expectancy was six months yet she recovered completely once her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.

“If you can take your pain and not let it back up similar to a wound, rather utilize it to explore, to make the path clearer for personal and collective growth, then you are winning,” Ladd expressed.