Nell O’Brien from Chesapeake Shores did not leave the family drama, despite fears of her exit in 2018 after she was diagnosed with pneumonia and given six months to live.
Chesapeake Shores was the Hallmark Channel’s flagship show for the six seasons after airing on the channel from 2016 and 2022, before it was cancelled.
One of the biggest departures during this time was that of Jesse Metcalfe, who played Trace Riley, after four seasons.
But prior to the fourth season in 2018, there were concerns whether the O’Brien matriarch, Nell, played by acclaimed actress, Diane Ladd, would return for the fourth season.
This is as the actress faced health issues and the doctors had given her six months to live, only for her to beat the odds and return to the series in the fourth, fifth, and season finale seasons.
Why did Trace leave Chesapeake Shores?
The biggest departure from Chesapeake Shores was that of main lead Jesse Metcalfe, in the role of Trace Riley.
For four seasons as the main love interest of female lead Megan Ory as Abby O’Brien-Winters, Metcalfe has captured the hearts of viewers.
But season four concluded with Trace making the decision to leave Chesapeake Shores, meaning he ended to the on-and-off again relationship between himself and Abby.
Explaining his reasoning, Metcalfe stated, “I just felt that there wasn’t really anything else I could do with the character, and we did go through three showrunners in five seasons on the show”.
Why did Nell leave Chesapeake Shores?
Diane Ladd as matriarch Nell O’Brien is considered as the glue that keeps together the O’Brien clan.
From the first season it was clear what significance her role as the family matriarch held as she was the one to take care of her son, Mick’s children after the divorce with Abby while he was spiralling.
Therefore, it was a matter of contention when, in 2018, it was reported that Ladd who was 83 years old at the time, was diagnosed with severe pneumonia.
Moreover, the doctors had given her six months to live. As such, her future on the show and in life in general was uncertain at the time. However, Ladd beat the odds as she is still alive and working.
As such, when 2019 rolled around and the fourth season of the family drama returned for the fourth season, she would continue to appear sporadically in the subsequent seasons including season five and six.
This is as despite the health scare in 2018, Ladd has continued to be an actively working actress, producer, writer, and director.
Ladd was emphatic about continuing to work as she told Closer Weekly at the time, “Not as long as God lets me breathe and walk. I will never retire until the curtain goes down on this play”.
Laura Dern during Diane Ladd’s health scare
Diane Ladd is the mother of acclaimed actress, Laura Dern. As such, Dern was hysterical when she found out about the health scare that her mother faced in 2018.
More so as she was given six months to live. Dern, who was presumably single at the time, was dramatic in her response as Ladd shared with Closer Weekly that Dern’s response to the news was, “You can’t die! I don’t have any brothers or sisters — Mother, you’re all I have!’”
These words came from the mother of two, a son and daughter, which, for the most part, have stayed away from the public eye.
Diane Ladd’s efforts to be part of season 6 of Chesapeake Shores
Ahead of season six, there was uncertainty about whether or not Diane Ladd would make a cameo in the sixth and final season.
A matter which the veteran actress addressed on her social media when she took to Instagram to state, “With the announcement of Chesapeake Shores ending with season 6, I just wanted to say I’m working hard to make it back to Canada to say goodbye, but I’m filming a movie and might not be able”. Adding, “We will see what God has in store. Love and light…”
It seems efforts were made as she featured on two of the 10 episodes of the series finale.
What is Diane Ladd doing after leaving Chesapeake Shores?
As Chesapeake Shores comes to an end, now 87-year-old veteran actress Diane Ladd is still not showing any signs of stopping doing what she loves, which is acting.
In September 2022, the acclaimed actress was part of the touching film, Nate and Gigi, which is premised on Nate, a quadriplegic, finding solace in his relationship with a capuchin monkey called Gigi.
Ladd, in the film, played the role of matriarch, Mama Blanche. This role is not that dissimilar to the one she plays on Chesapeake Shores.