Oscar-nominated actor Diane Ladd (89) dies, daughter Laura Dern confirms
What's the story
Diane Ladd, the acclaimed Hollywood actor and mother of actor Laura Dern, has passed away at the age of 89. Dern confirmed the news in a statement to the press on Monday (US time). "My amazing hero and my profound gift of a mother, Diane Ladd, passed with me beside her this morning," she wrote. "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."
Career highlights
Ladd was born in Mississippi
Born on November 29, 1935, in Laurel, Mississippi, Ladd was the only child of a veterinarian, Preston Paul Ladner, and an actor, Mary Bernadette Ladner. She started acting at a young age and went on to have a successful career in Hollywood. Her notable works include Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Wild at Heart, and Rambling Rose. She received three Oscar nominations and three Emmy nominations during her career.
Personal details
Her career and personal life
Ladd, who shortened her surname from Ladner when she entered Hollywood, appeared in several television shows like Naked City, Perry Mason, and Mr. Novak in the 1950s and 1960s. Her first film credit came in the 1966 crime drama The Wild Angels. She was married thrice - first to actor Bruce Dern from 1960-69; then to William A Shea Jr. from 1969-76; and lastly to Robert Charles Hunter from 1999 until his death earlier this year at age 77.
Legacy
Ladd and Dern's collaborations
Despite her initial opposition, Ladd's daughter Dern followed in her footsteps and worked alongside her mother and father in several films. Their first film together was 1990's Wild at Heart, which earned Ladd her second best supporting actress Oscar nod for her turn as Marietta Fortune. They also starred together in 1991's Rambling Rose, where both received Academy Award nominations for their performances. Ladd's final role was in the 2022 drama, Gigi & Nate.