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The Academy Award-nominated actress the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away 89 years old.

The actor, whose filmography spanned National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, died at her home in California’s Ojai. Her passing was announced through a message shared by her daughter, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern, her daughter.

Dern, who starred with her mother in several movies like Wild at Heart, described her as “my wonderful hero as well as my special gift as a mother”, writing that she was by her side during her final moments.

“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, performer, creative as well as empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she wrote. “We were blessed to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Early Career and Breakthrough

Her initial acting years saw supporting roles in television programs like Perry Mason while the seventies featured her performing next to the legendary Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

That very year, the year 1974, she performed with actress Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised comedy drama the movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her role landed Ladd her initial Oscar nod as best supporting actress.

Subsequent Years

In the 1980s, she appeared in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story as well as humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and appeared on Alice, a television series derived from her earlier movie.

In the subsequent decade, she received a further Oscar nomination for supporting actress nomination for her role in the David Lynch film the movie Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the parent of her biological child Dern’s character. The following year she received another nomination for her acting in Rambling Rose which included Laura Dern.

“This was the film that Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she invited Laura and I to England for a special screening and an event for us,” Ladd said regarding Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, taking our hands, with tears, seeing us act.”

That decade featured performances in comedy The Cemetery Club reuniting her with her co-star Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a satirical film, starring John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she played the mother of Dern another time. The decade also brought her TV award nominations for roles in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel.

Partnerships with Her Daughter

She continued to star with Laura Dern in dramatic comedies Daddy and Them, the David Lynch project the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s dark comedy series Enlightened, a TV series. She was also seen alongside Sandra Bullock, a star in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in that movie plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.

Her more recent television parts included Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.

Behind the Camera

She additionally penned and helmed the humorous movie Mrs Munck, a film which starred herself and ex-husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she noted. “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 say ladies, if you seek payback, guide your former spouse.’ However, I’m joking.”

Family Ties

She was additionally the third cousin of playwright Tennessee Williams, who she called “a major inspiration on my life”.

Back in 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with lung disease and advised she only had half a year left but made a full recovery after her daughter transferred her to a different hospital.

“When you use your pain and not let it back up like an injury, instead apply it to investigate, to illuminate the way for yourself and others, then you are triumphing,” Ladd said.