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The Oscar-nominated performer the celebrated Diane Ladd passed away aged 89.

The star, whose filmography spanned Chinatown, passed away at home in Ojai, California. The news was announced in a statement from her daughter, Academy Award-winning star Laura Dern.

Her daughter, who starred with her mother in several movies including Rambling Rose, described her as “my incredible hero and my special gift as a mother”, writing that she was present when she passed.

“She was the most wonderful daughter, mother, grandmother, star, artist as well as compassionate soul that seemed almost dreamlike,” she stated. “We were lucky to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Beginnings and Major Success

Her initial acting years saw supporting roles in television programs including The Fugitive while the 1970s featured her performing alongside actor Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

That very year, the year 1974, she appeared with actress Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s celebrated dramatic comedy Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. Her acting brought Ladd an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.

Subsequent Years

During the eighties, she was seen in the dramatic film the movie Black Widow and comedy sequel National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and appeared on the sitcom Alice, a comedy program derived from the film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the following decade, she received an additional Oscar nomination for supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she acted as the mother of her actual daughter the character played by Dern. The next year she was awarded an additional nod for her role in Rambling Rose, another movie that also featured Laura Dern.

“This movie which Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she flew us to England for a royal premiere and a celebration dedicated to us,” Ladd said regarding Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, taking our hands, with tears, viewing our performance.”

The nineties included parts in the comedy Cemetery Club, a film joining her again with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a political comedy, featuring John Travolta and Payne’s the movie Citizen Ruth where she acted as Dern’s mother another time. The decade also saw her score Emmy nominations for work on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire and Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

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

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

Filmmaking Ventures

Ladd also wrote and oversaw the comedy film the movie Mrs Munck featuring herself and ex-husband actor Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a talented star,” she said. “I was honored to direct him in a film. Indeed, I stand as the only woman in history to direct her ex-husband. I humorously say: ‘I tell women, if you seek payback, helm a movie with your ex.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Family Ties

She happened to be a relative of the great Tennessee Williams, who she called “a major inspiration throughout my life”.

Back in 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a respiratory illness and informed she had just six months to live yet she recovered completely when her daughter transferred her to another medical facility.

“When you use your pain and prevent it from festering similar to a wound, instead use it to investigate, to illuminate the way for you and those around, then you are winning,” Ladd expressed.