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The Oscar-nominated performer Diane Ladd has died 89 years old.

The actress, whose roles included Chinatown, passed away at home in California’s Ojai. The news was shared in a statement shared by her child, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern, her daughter.

Laura Dern, who starred with her mom in various films such as Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, referred to her as “my incredible hero and my precious gift of a mother”, noting that she was at her bedside during her final moments.

“She was the greatest grandmother, mother, daughter, star, artist and caring individual that felt like a dream come true,” she expressed. “We were lucky to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Early Career and Major Success

The start of her career included supporting roles in TV shows like The Fugitive and the seventies had her appearing with the legendary Jack Nicholson in the classic Chinatown.

That very year, 1974, she shared the screen with Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her role earned Ladd her first Oscar nomination as best supporting actress.

Subsequent Years

During the eighties, she starred in the dramatic film the movie Black Widow and funny follow-up Christmas Vacation and appeared on Alice, a sitcom inspired by her earlier movie.

In the subsequent decade, she was given a further best supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her performance in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mom of her real-life daughter Laura Dern’s role. The following year she was awarded another nomination for her role in the film Rambling Rose which included Laura Dern.

“This was the picture which Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she invited Laura and I to the UK for a royal premiere and a party for us,” Ladd recalled regarding Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, holding both our hands, and weeping, seeing us act.”

The nineties featured performances in humorous films Cemetery Club joining her again with her co-star Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political comedy, with John Travolta and Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as Laura Dern’s mom another time. That period also saw her score TV award nominations for work on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel, a drama.

Collaborations with Daughter

She kept appearing with Laura Dern in comedy drama Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s the movie Inland Empire and Mike White’s comedy-drama series Enlightened. She was also seen alongside Sandra Bullock, a star in the film 28 Days, Anthony Hopkins in that movie and Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

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

Writing and Directing

Ladd also wrote and helmed the humorous movie the movie Mrs Munck that included herself and previous spouse Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she mentioned. “I was honored to direct him on a project. Indeed, I am the sole female ever to helm a film with her ex. I often joke: ‘I advise females, if you want revenge, guide your former spouse.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Personal Connections

She was additionally the third cousin of Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a significant impact throughout my life”.

During 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with lung disease and told she only had half a year left but she regained full health after her daughter moved her to a new hospital.

“When you use your pain and not let it back up like an injury, rather utilize it to discover, to make the path clearer for yourself and others, then you are triumphing,” Ladd said.