Diane Ladd, the esteemed three-time Oscar-nominated actress, passed away on Monday morning at her residence in Ojai, California, at the age of 89. Her daughter, Oscar-winning actress Laura Dern, confirmed her mother's death and released a heartfelt statement: "My amazing hero and my profound gift of a mother, Diane Ladd, passed with me beside her this morning, at her home in Ojai, Ca. 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." Bruce Dern, Diane Ladd's former husband and Laura's father, also offered a tribute, praising her as a "tremendous actress" and a "hidden treasure" whose brilliance was truly understood after David Lynch cast her in "Wild at Heart."

Just two weeks before her passing, Laura Dern spoke movingly about both of her parents for an upcoming episode of the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast. During the conversation, Dern's profound love and admiration for her mother were palpable, as her voice softened and eyes brightened when discussing Diane Ladd. She spoke of her parents in the present tense, emphasizing their ongoing inspiration and purpose-driven lives. "They inspire me every day to just keep going," Dern shared, highlighting her understanding that the greatest path to longevity is purpose. Despite being 89 years old, both Diane and Bruce Dern were still active in the industry, embodying the sentiment that "retirement has never been a word I understood or knew in my family."

Diane Ladd's prolific career was marked by her ability to craft vivid character portraits. She earned three Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress: first for Martin Scorsese’s 1974 film "Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore," where she memorably played the earthy waitress Flo; second for David Lynch’s 1990 feature "Wild at Heart," in which she portrayed the villainous mother of Laura Dern’s character; and third for Martha Coolidge’s "Rambling Rose," set in 1935 Georgia, where she played the defender of Laura Dern’s sexually adventurous Rose. The nominations for Ladd and Dern in "Rambling Rose" made history as the only instance of a mother and daughter being nominated for the same film.

The unique artistic bond between Diane Ladd and Laura Dern extended beyond "Rambling Rose." They frequently appeared together in various projects, including "Wild at Heart," Alexander Payne’s "Citizen Ruth," the 1996 CBS telepic "The Siege at Ruby Ridge," Billy Bob Thornton’s 2001 comedy "Daddy and Them," Showtime’s "Damaged Care" (2002), and David Lynch's "Inland Empire." More recently, they co-starred as mother and daughter in HBO’s 2011-13 series "Enlightened," where Ladd's performance as Helen, Laura Dern's character's mother, particularly shone in the episode "Consider Helen."

Ladd's extensive filmography also includes a small but key role as Ida Sessions in the classic 1974 neo-noir "Chinatown," as well as appearances in "National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation" (1989) as Clark Griswold’s mother, "Primary Colors" (1998) as Jack Stanton’s mother, and David O. Russell’s 2015 film "Joy," where she played the beloved grandmother providing narration. Other notable film credits include "Something Wicked This Way Comes," "Black Widow," "Plain Clothes," "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me," "The Cemetery Club," "Ghosts of Mississippi," "28 Days," and "The World’s Fastest Indian."

Beyond her film work, Ladd had a significant presence in television, earning three Emmy nominations: for a guest appearance on "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" (1993), for guest actress in a comedy series for "Grace Under Fire" (1994), and for guest actress in a drama series for "Touched by an Angel" (1997). She also appeared on the CBS sitcom "Alice" in a different role (Belle Dupree) after playing Flo in the film, and was a cast member on the soap opera "The Secret Storm." Ladd also tried her hand at directing with Showtime’s 1995 film "Mrs. Munck," starring alongside her ex-husband Bruce Dern. Her book of short stories, "A Bad Afternoon for a Piece of Cake," was published in 2013.

Born Rose Diane Ladnier in Meridian, Mississippi, Ladd moved to New York City as a teen, working as a model and dancer at the Copacabana nightclub before making her stage debut in Tennessee Williams’ "Orpheus Descending." Her film debut came in 1961 with "Something Wild." She was married three times: to Bruce Dern from 1960 to 1969, to William A. Shea Jr. from 1969 to 1977, and to Robert Charles Hunter in 1999, who passed away in July at 77. Diane Ladd is survived by her daughter Laura Dern and two grandchildren. Her legacy, defined by endurance, artistry, and grace, leaves an indelible mark on Hollywood, and the upcoming interview with Laura Dern stands as a powerful tribute to their unbreakable bond.