Diane Ladd, the celebrated actress and three-time Academy Award nominee, has died at the age of 89. Her daughter, actress Laura Dern, announced that Ladd passed away on Monday, November 3, 2025, at her home in Ojai, California.
Born in 1935, Ladd had a prolific career spanning over six decades, with more than 200 movie and TV credits. She was known for her versatility and her ability to portray complex characters. Ladd received Oscar nominations for her roles in "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" (1974), "Wild at Heart" (1990), and "Rambling Rose" (1991).
Dern shared a heartfelt statement about her mother's passing: "My amazing hero and my profound gift of a mother, Diane Ladd, passed with me beside her this morning, at her home in Ojai...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".
While no official cause of death has been confirmed, Ladd had been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in recent years. In 2023, Ladd and Dern revealed that Ladd had developed a lung disease, believed to be caused by exposure to pesticides. Ladd was initially given only six months to live after a misdiagnosis of lung disease in 2018, but she made a full recovery after being transferred to a different hospital.
In addition to her acclaimed acting career, Ladd co-authored a memoir with Laura Dern in 2023 titled "Honey, Baby, Mine," which explored themes of mortality, connection, and creativity in the context of Ladd's health challenges.
Ladd's personal life included three marriages. After her marriage to Bruce Dern ended, she married William A. Shea Jr., and they later divorced in 1977. In 1999, she married Robert Charles Hunter, who passed away earlier this year. Besides Laura Dern, Ladd and Bruce Dern had another daughter, Diane Elizabeth, who tragically died at 18 months old in a drowning accident.
Diane Ladd is survived by her daughter, Laura Dern, her grandchildren, and a substantial body of work that will continue to inspire future generations.
