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Diane Ladd, a beloved actress and three-time Oscar nominee, has died at the age of 89. She was the mother of well-known actress Laura Dern.
Laura Dern announced her mother’s passing through a statement shared with Variety. “This morning, at her home in Ojai, California, my incredible and heroic mother, Diane Ladd, passed away with me by her side,” Dern revealed.
In her heartfelt message, Dern added, “She was an extraordinary daughter, mother, grandmother, and actress. Her artistic spirit and empathy seemed almost dreamlike. We were truly fortunate to have her in our lives. She is now flying with her angels.”
Diane Ladd, originally born as Rose Diane Ladnier in Meridian, Mississippi, in 1935, became a distinguished figure in the acting world. She earned acclaim for her roles in films like Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Wild at Heart, and Rambling Rose, each garnering her an Oscar nomination.
Ladd’s illustrious career began in 1949, with appearances on various television series such as The Big Story, Decoy, and Perry Mason. Her film debut came with the 1966 thriller The Wild Angels, launching a career marked by her powerful portrayals of eccentric and vulnerable characters.
She went on to star in several notable films, including Joy, Ghosts of Mississippi, Chinatown and more.
The actress notably shared the screen with her daughter several times over the years, including an appearance in Dern’s HBO drama Enlightened, which she played her mother. Ladd and Dern also starred together in Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, for which they were both nominated for an Oscar in 1992.
Ladd continued acting until 2022 when she last appeared in the drama, Isle of Hope.
Her other final credited roles include Gigi & Nate, Chesapeake Shores and Young Sheldon.