The celebrated career of Oscar-nominated actress Diane Ladd, known for her captivating performances in films such as “Wild at Heart,” has come to an end with her passing at the age of 89. Her daughter, actress Laura Dern, confirmed the news on Monday, sharing that Ladd passed away peacefully at her home in California.
Dern, who shared the screen with her mother in the 1991 film “Rambling Rose,” expressed profound grief and love for her mother. “My amazing hero and my profound gift of a mother, Diane Ladd, passed with me beside her this morning,” Dern stated. She fondly remembered Ladd as “the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created.” Dern did not disclose the cause of death.
Ladd’s extensive career graced both the stage and screen for decades. Her breakthrough in the film industry came with a memorable waitress role in Martin Scorsese’s 1974 film “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” which earned her an Academy Award nomination. She continued to be a prolific presence in Hollywood, appearing in numerous films, including a role as a grandmother in the 2022 coming-of-age movie “Gigi & Nate,” and frequently gracing television screens.
Diane Ladd was previously married to actor Bruce Dern from 1960 to 1969.