Oscar-nominated actor Diane Ladd's cause of death revealed
What's the story
Hollywood actor Diane Ladd passed away on November 3 at the age of 89. Now we know that she died due to hypoxic respiratory failure, according to People. The Cleveland Clinic defines hypoxic respiratory failure as a condition where the body lacks sufficient oxygen or has excessive carbon dioxide. It can be either sudden (acute) or gradual (chronic), with lung diseases being the most common cause.
Health complications
Ladd's health conditions prior to death
The death certificate, obtained by People, also revealed that Ladd had been suffering from interstitial lung disease for several years before her passing. Another major contributing factor was esophageal dysmotility, a condition that affects the ability of the esophagus to move food from the throat to the stomach. The actor was cremated on November 10, as per her death certificate.
Family statement
Ladd's daughter Laura Dern announced her death
Ladd's daughter, actor Laura Dern, announced her mother's death in a statement on November 3. She referred to Ladd as "my amazing hero and my profound gift of a mother." "She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created," added Dern. "We were blessed to have her. She is flying with her angels now."
Career highlights
Ladd's illustrious career and personal life
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore got her an Oscar nod, followed by two more Oscar nominations for Wild at Heart (1990) and Rambling Rose (1991), both films in which she starred with Dern. Ladd was married three times, first to actor Bruce Dern from 1960-69, then to William A Shea Jr. shortly after her split from Bruce until 1976, and finally to Robert Charles Hunter from 1999 until his death in 2025. She is survived by Dern and her grandchildren.