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The award-nominated actress Diane Ladd passed away at the age of 89.

The actor, whose roles spanned National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, died at her home in California’s Ojai. Her passing was revealed in a statement shared by her daughter, award-winning actress Laura Dern, her daughter.

Laura Dern, who appeared with her mother in several movies including Rambling Rose, called her “my amazing hero as well as my precious gift being my mom”, stating that she was by her side during her final moments.

“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, star, artist along with caring individual that felt like a dream come true,” she wrote. “We were blessed to have her. She is now with the angels.”

Beginnings and Major Success

The start of her career saw small roles on television series including The Fugitive and that decade had her appearing with Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.

During that year, the year 1974, she performed with actress Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s praised dramatic comedy the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her acting landed Ladd an Academy Award nomination in the supporting actress category.

Later Decades

Throughout the 1980s, she starred in the dramatic film Black Widow, a suspense story and humorous film Christmas Vacation and also took part in the show Alice, a sitcom inspired by Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the following decade, she was given an additional best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her part in the David Lynch film the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mom of her biological child the character played by Dern. The following year she was awarded an additional nod for her performance in Rambling Rose which also starred Laura Dern.

“This movie which Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she brought Laura and I to London for a special screening and a celebration dedicated to us,” Ladd said of Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, holding both our hands, and crying, watching us perform.”

The 1990s included parts in humorous films The Cemetery Club bringing her back with Ellen Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a satirical film, starring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she played the mother of Dern once more. That period also earned her Emmy nominations for roles on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel.

Collaborations with Daughter

She kept appearing alongside her daughter in dramatic comedies the film Daddy and Them, Lynch’s Inland Empire and Mike White’s comedy-drama series Enlightened. She additionally starred next to actress Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in that movie and with Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

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

Behind the Camera

Ladd also wrote and oversaw the comedy the movie Mrs Munck that included Diane Ladd and former husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she noted. “I’m privileged to have directed him in a movie. In fact, I stand as the only woman ever to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I advise females, if you seek payback, guide your former spouse.’ However, I’m joking.”

Personal Life

She was additionally a family member of the great Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a great influence on my life”.

Back in 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with a pulmonary condition and advised she only had half a year left yet she recovered completely when her daughter moved her to a different hospital.

“When you use your pain and not let it back up similar to a wound, instead use it to explore, to make the path clearer for you and those around, then you are succeeding,” Ladd expressed.