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The Academy Award-nominated actor Diane Ladd, a Hollywood veteran passed away aged 89.

The actress, whose credits spanned National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, left this world in her residence at her Ojai, California home. Her passing was revealed in a statement shared by her offspring, Oscar-winning actor her daughter Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who starred with Diane Ladd in several movies including Rambling Rose, called her “my wonderful hero plus my special gift of a mother”, writing that she was present during her final moments.

“She was the most wonderful grandmother, mother, daughter, actress, artist along with empathetic spirit that seemed almost dreamlike,” she wrote. “We were fortunate to know her. She is flying with her angels now.”

Initial Roles and Breakthrough

Her initial acting years featured supporting roles in television programs such as Gunsmoke and the 1970s saw her starring with Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

During that year, 1974, she appeared alongside Ellen Burstyn in Martin Scorsese’s celebrated comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a classic. The performance earned Ladd her initial Oscar nod as best supporting actress.

1980s and Beyond

In the 1980s, she appeared in the thriller the movie Black Widow as well as funny follow-up Christmas Vacation while also joining the sitcom Alice, a sitcom derived from Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

In the following decade, she earned another Oscar nomination for supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role in David Lynch’s Wild at Heart, a cult classic where she played the parent of her biological child the character played by Dern. The next year she was awarded a further nomination for her role in the film Rambling Rose which also starred Laura Dern.

“This was the picture that Princess Diana chose as her absolutely favorite, and she brought me and Laura to the UK for a royal premiere and an event in our honor,” Ladd shared of Rambling Rose. “She positioned herself between us, taking our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.”

That decade included parts in comedy The Cemetery Club bringing her back with Ellen Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a political comedy, with John Travolta and Payne’s Citizen Ruth, a dark comedy where she acted as Laura Dern’s mom another time. Those years also brought her TV award nominations for performances on Dr Quinn, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel.

Collaborations with Daughter

She persisted in performing alongside her daughter in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, David Lynch’s Inland Empire, a surreal film and the series by Mike White comedy-drama series Enlightened. She was also seen with Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, a movie, Sir Anthony Hopkins in that movie and Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, a biographical drama.

Her later TV roles consisted of Ray Donovan, a drama and Young Sheldon.

Writing and Directing

She also authored and directed the comedy Mrs Munck which starred herself and previous spouse Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is a talented star,” she noted. “It was a privilege to guide him in a film. Actually, I am the sole female ever to helm a film with her ex. I make a joke: ‘I tell women, if you want revenge, helm a movie with your ex.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Family Ties

She happened to be the third cousin of Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a significant impact throughout my life”.

In 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with lung disease and advised she had just six months to live but made a full recovery after her daughter moved her to a new hospital.

“Should you harness your suffering and prevent it from festering similar to a wound, instead apply it to investigate, to illuminate the way for you and those around, then you are winning,” Ladd said.