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The award-nominated performer the celebrated Diane Ladd has died 89 years old.

The star, with credits featured National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, died at her home in Ojai, California. Her passing was revealed through a message shared by her child, award-winning actress her daughter Laura Dern.

Dern, who appeared with Diane Ladd in a number of films like Wild at Heart, called her “my incredible hero plus my profound gift being my mom”, stating that she was at her bedside during her final moments.

“She was an exceptional grandmother, mother, daughter, star, artist as well as empathetic spirit that felt like a dream come true,” she wrote. “We were blessed to have her. Her spirit soars with angels.”

Early Career and Major Success

Her initial acting years featured minor parts in TV shows including Perry Mason and the seventies featured her performing with Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

During that year, 1974, she appeared with actress Ellen Burstyn in Scorsese’s praised comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her acting brought Ladd her initial Oscar nod in the supporting actress category.

1980s and Beyond

During the eighties, she appeared in the thriller Black Widow plus humorous film National Lampoon’s holiday comedy and also took part in the sitcom Alice, a television series based on her earlier movie.

During the next ten years, she received a further best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role in Lynch’s Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mom of her biological child Dern’s character. A year later she was awarded a further nomination for her performance in Rambling Rose that also featured her daughter.

“This was the film which Princess Diana selected as her very favorite, and she brought me and Laura to England for a royal premiere and an event in our honor,” Ladd recalled of Rambling Rose. “She sat with us, taking our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.”

That decade included parts in humorous films The Cemetery Club joining her again with Burstyn, Primary Colors, a political story, a comedy about politics, starring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne the movie Citizen Ruth where she played the mother of Dern again. The decade also saw her score nominations for Emmy Awards for performances in the series Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, a sitcom and Touched by an Angel.

Working with Laura Dern

She kept appearing with Laura Dern in films blending humor and drama Daddy and Them, a movie, David Lynch’s Inland Empire and White’s comedy-drama series the program Enlightened. She additionally starred next to actress Sandra Bullock in the film 28 Days, Sir Anthony Hopkins in The World’s Fastest Indian, a film and with Jennifer Lawrence in the film Joy.

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

Filmmaking Ventures

She additionally penned and oversaw the comedy film Mrs Munck, a film which starred herself and previous spouse Bruce Dern. “Bruce is a great actor,” she noted. “I was honored to direct him in a movie. Indeed, I’m the only woman ever who directed her former husband. I humorously say: ‘I tell women, if you want revenge, helm a movie with your ex.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Family Ties

Ladd was also the third cousin of the great Tennessee Williams, who she referred to as “a significant impact on my life”.

During 2018, doctors misdiagnosed Ladd with lung disease and informed she had just six months to live yet she recovered completely after her daughter transferred her to a new hospital.

“If you can take your pain and avoid letting it accumulate similar to a wound, instead use it to explore, to make the path clearer for you and those around, then you are triumphing,” Ladd said.