5 Diane Ladd classics to rewatch as visionary Oscar-nominated actress passes away

Veteran actress Diane Ladd recently passed away at the age of 89. As per Wikipedia, Ladd's cause of death was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive illness, and she passed away at her home in California.

Mother of Oscar-winning actress Laura Dern, Ladd has appeared in numerous classic movies in her more than seven-decade-long career. Whether on screen or on stage, Ladd shone through her performance and gave us some memorable characters to remind us of her.

Here's a list of 5 classic movies that are remembered for Diane Ladd's performance.

---

5 Diane Ladd classics to rewatch

5) Rambling Rose

The mother-daughter duo of Diane Ladd and Laura Dern has appeared in numerous classics together. Rambling Rose is one of them. The drama film follows the story of Dern's character named Rose, an orphan who begins with the wealthy Hillyer family. Soon, she develops a crush on the patriarch of the family, with everyone aware of it except Mrs. Hillyer, played by Diane Ladd.

Throughout her adventurous life, which Mr. Hillyer deemed promiscuous, it was Mrs. Hillyer who supported her and protected her from all the rash decisions that her husband tried to take for Rose. The performance of both the mother and the daughter was so impressive that they both earned Oscar nominations for it.

---

4) Wild at Heart

Based on Barry Gifford's novel, this classic neo-noir film blended crime and comedy perfectly. The film revolves around Lula Fortune and Sailor Ripley's love story, where they are on the run from Lula's mother, who hires several people to hurt Sailor and bring them back to her.

The Palme d'Or winning film stars Diane Ladd plays Marietta, Lula's mother. Lula was played by Laura Dern, Ladd's real-life daughter. Ladd's role was complex and somewhat villainous, and showed the versatility of the actress and garnering an Oscar nomination for the actress.

---

3) Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

This iconic Martin Scorsese film is a classic and among the best Diane Ladd films, and also gave us the iconic character of Flo or Florence Jean, played by Ladd. The film revolves around Alice, who, after her husband's death, wants to take her son to her childhood home in Monterey. After several mishaps, she finds a job as a waitress at Mel and Ruby's Cafe in Tucson.

She befriends two other waitresses, one of whom is Flo. Ladd's Flo was a no-nonsense character. She was not a timid woman and was not afraid to speak her mind. Ladd also received an Oscar nomination for the iconic character she played, but that was not the end of the character, as it later became an iconic TV character.

---

2) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

This 1989 Christmas slapstick movie follows the story of Clark Griswold, who plans an elaborate Christmas and calls all of his family to attend. However, it soon turns into chaos, but Clark still tries to maintain a positive attitude.

Diane Ladd played Clark's mother, Nora, who also attends the Christmas party and is part of creating chaos due to the bickering she has with Clark's wife, Ellen's parents. It's a classic holiday film that reminds the value of family while also providing entertainment.

---

1) Chinatown

Diane Ladd was part of a star-studded ensemble cast in this classic noir film. The film follows the story of Jake Gittes, played by Jack Nicholson, who is a private investigator, and is entangled in a fabric of lies and deception when a woman who poses as Evelyn hires him to look into her husband's infidelity.

However, he later learns that it was not the real Evelyn but a woman named Ida, played by Ladd. The film has mystery, a crisp narrative, and performances that will keep you hooked, making it another classic of the veteran actress that is perfect for a rewatch.

---

Apart from the films mentioned, Ladd has also appeared in several other acclaimed films such as Joy, Ghosts of Mississippi, 28 Days, and Primary Colors.

Also Read: 5 best Noah Reid TV shows that deserve a spot on your watchlist