In a career that spanned six decades, Diane Ladd held a unique view of her profession. The American actress from Laurel, Mississippi, didn’t think of herself as a performer, but a teacher. She thought of the screen and stage as her blackboard, and the parts she played as a reflection of her audience. This sentiment mirrors her introspective approach to acting, which earned her some of the industry’s most coveted recognition.
A natural performer, Diane Ladd passed on a law scholarship at L.S.U. to pursue a career in show business. She cut her teeth on stage before making her screen debut in the late 50s. Her big screen debut followed in 1966, when she performed alongside Peter Fonda, Nancy Sinatra, and Bruce Dern (her first husband), in Roger Corman’s action thriller The Wild Angels. Ladd had a fulfilling career that saw her play the mother of her real-life daughter in at least five projects. Here are the roles that defined her legacy.
1. Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974)
1974 marked the beginning of Diane Ladd’s ascent to her revered status in the movie industry. She played a supporting role in Roman Polanski’s acclaimed psychological thriller Chinatown, before her performance in Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore earned her the first of three Oscar nominations. She played Flo, a waitress so feisty and sassy that she inspired an eponymous series, which ran on CBS for two seasons. The role won her the British Academy Film Awards for Best Supporting Actress. She was also nominated for the Golden Globe in the same category.
2. Alice (1976 – 1985)
Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore was a massive success that spawned Alice, a sitcom built around the premise of Scorsese’s 1974 movie. When CBS committed to adapting the film into a series, Ellen Burstyn and Diane Ladd were engaged in other projects. This compelled the network to pair up Linda Lavin and Polly Holliday for Burstyn and Ladd’s roles from the movie. Be that as it may, Ladd joined the series to play another waitress when Holliday left the show for Flo, a spinoff series focusing on the character. As Belle in Alice, Ladd delivered another exciting performance that won her a Golden Globe award for Best Supporting Actress.
3. Wild at Heart (1990)
The David Lynch dark comedy earned Diane Ladd her second Academy Award nomination. Starring alongside Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern, she played Marietta Fortune, an overbearing mother who employs several oddballs to kill her daughter’s suitor. Released to mixed reviews, the movie has become a cult classic, ranked among the greatest films of the 90s. In addition to Oscar’s recognition for Best Supporting Actress, Ladd’s performance received a Golden Globe nomination among other coveted awards.
4. Rambling Rose (1991)
Performing opposite her daughter (Laura Dern) once more, Diane Ladd pulled off a brilliant embodiment of Mrs. Hillyer, an elegant woman committed to the well-being of her promiscuous domestic servant. The Martha Coolidge coming-of-age period drama was released to rave reviews from critics and moviegoers, especially for its unique story and the performances of the cast members. Ladd and her daughter both received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for their roles.
5. Enlightened (2011 – 2013)
In another collaboration with Dern, Diane Ladd played Helen Jellicoe, the protective mother of her daughter’s character. The HBO series ran for two seasons that followed the life and career of Amy Jellicoe (Dern), a self-destructive woman determined to redeem her life after a career setback and mental breakdown that saw her spend some time in rehabilitation. The psychological comedy drama enjoyed positive reviews and ratings that earned it a spot among Ladd’s most acclaimed television roles. It was nominated for at least two Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy awards.
6. Chesapeake Shores (2016 – 2022)
John Tinker and Nancey Silvers’ adaptation of Sherryl Woods’ eponymous novel series was another strong television outing for the late actress. All through its six seasons, Diane Ladd played Nell O’Brien, one of the show’s main characters. Her role as the wise and soulful matriarch of the O’Briens contributed to the show’s appeal, which saw the first season become one of Hallmark’s most-watched series at the time. The series won two Leo Awards out of at least 14 nominations.
7. Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993 – 1998)
@whosdoingthis Diane Ladd plays Charlotte Cooper in the pilot episode of DR QUINN MEDICINE WOMAN. She dies after being bit by a rattlesnake but first asks Dr Mike to look after her children: Matthew, Colleen and Brian. Charlotte Cooper returns as a ghost in season 2 episode 11 “Mike’s Dream: A Christmas Tale”
The Beth Sullivan medical drama series features one of Diane Ladd’s memorable television roles. She only appeared in two episodes of the series as a guest. However, Ladd’s performance in the pilot episode was so solid that it earned the late actress her first Primetime Emmy Award nomination. This was also the case with Chuck Lorre’s Grace Under Fire (1993 – 1998) and John Masius’ Touched by an Angel. She guest-starred as Louise Burdette and Carolyn Sellers, respectively, with each role receiving the Primetime Emmy recognition for Outstanding Guest Actress. Check out the most memorable TV portrayals of characters on the spectrum.
Follow Us
