- Diane Ladd passed away on Monday, November 3 at the age of 89.
- News of her passing was confirmed by her daughter, actress Laura Dern.
- Ladd was a celebrated character actor, whose skills were recognized with three Academy Award nominations.
On Monday, November 3, actress Diane Ladd passed away. News of her death was confirmed by her daughter, 58-year-old actress and Jurassic Park star Laura Dern. Ladd was 89 when she died at her home in Ojai, California, with daughter Laura by her side.
Diane Ladd earned widespread recognition for her work as a character actor, with a career highlighted by three Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress—namely for her roles in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Wild at Heart, and Rambling Rose. She appeared in over 200 film and television productions, including Chinatown, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and the TV series Alice. Alongside these nominations, she also received several Golden Globe and Emmy nods, a fierce testament to her versatility and sustained presence in American entertainment.
The remarkable life of Diane Ladd
Diane Ladd was born Rose Diane Ladner on November 29, 1935, in Laurel, Mississippi, the only child of Preston Paul Ladner and Mary Lanier. She developed an interest in performance at an early age and later attended acting training in New York City, which laid the foundation for her eventual move into film and television. Before making a major screen breakthrough, she appeared in regional theatre and small television roles, gaining experience and honing her craft.
Her screen career began in the mid-1960s, with early credits in films such as The Wild Angels (1966). Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, she appeared in episodic television shows and supporting film roles, gradually building her reputation. In 1974 she earned major attention for her performance in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, which earned her an Academy Award nomination. That role opened the door to a steady series of diverse character parts.
A hero to all who knew her
“My amazing hero and my profound gift of a mother, Diane Ladd, passed with me beside her this morning, at her home in Ojai, Ca,” shared Dern in a statement announcing Ladd’s passing. “She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created. We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now.”
In her later career, Ladd maintained a prolific output across film, television, and stage for more than six decades. She received additional Academy Award nominations for Wild at Heart (1990) and Rambling Rose (1991), the latter alongside her daughter Laura Dern, the two forming one of the few mother-daughter Oscar nominated pairs. Her roles ranged from leading support in major films to recurring television parts and directing credits, demonstrating significant range and longevity in the industry.
In recent years, Ladd continued working while also managing personal health challenges, including a 2018 lung disease diagnosis. She appeared in projects like Chesapeake Shores and Inland Empire, and co-wrote a memoir with her daughter in 2023. Ladd leaves behind a body of work defined by resilience, adaptability, and sustained achievement in performance.
