Hollywood is in mourning following the death of Diane Ladd, the revered three-time Oscar-nominated actress, who passed away peacefully at her home in Ojai, California, at the age of 89. Her daughter, Academy Award winner Laura Dern, confirmed the news, issuing a moving statement that read: “My amazing hero and my profound gift of a mother, Diane Ladd, passed with me beside her this morning. 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, Ladd’s former husband and Laura’s father, also paid tribute, calling her a “tremendous actress” and a “hidden treasure” whose brilliance shone brightest after her collaboration with David Lynch on Wild at Heart.

Just weeks before her passing, Laura Dern reflected on her mother’s influence during an appearance on Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast. Speaking with visible emotion, Dern described her parents as her constant source of inspiration and purpose. “They inspire me every day to just keep going,” she shared. Despite their age, both Ladd and Bruce Dern remained professionally active, underscoring her family’s lifelong devotion to the arts. “Retirement has never been a word I understood or knew in my family,” Dern said.

Over a career spanning more than six decades, Diane Ladd earned three Academy Award nominations for Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974), Wild at Heart (1990), and Rambling Rose (1991). Her performance as Flo, the earthy waitress in Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, remains one of her most beloved roles. In Rambling Rose, both Ladd and Laura Dern received Oscar nominations — a historic moment marking the only time a mother and daughter were nominated for the same film.

Ladd and Dern shared a unique creative bond, frequently appearing together on screen. Their collaborations included Citizen Ruth, The Siege at Ruby Ridge, Daddy and Them, and HBO’s acclaimed series Enlightened (2011–13), where Ladd portrayed Helen, the sharp yet loving mother to Dern’s Amy. Her performance in the episode “Consider Helen” earned particular praise for its emotional depth and authenticity.

Beyond film, Ladd made significant contributions to television, earning three Emmy nominations for guest roles in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Grace Under Fire, and Touched by an Angel. She also starred in Alice, the CBS sitcom inspired by her breakout film, and later directed the Showtime drama Mrs. Munck, in which she co-starred with Bruce Dern. In 2013, she published A Bad Afternoon for a Piece of Cake, a collection of short stories reflecting her Southern roots and keen storytelling voice.

Born Rose Diane Ladnier in Meridian, Mississippi, Ladd began her artistic journey as a dancer and model in New York before making her stage debut in Tennessee Williams’ Orpheus Descending. Her first film role came in 1961’s Something Wild. Married three times, she shared her early years in Hollywood with Bruce Dern (1960–1969), followed by William A. Shea Jr., and later Robert Charles Hunter. She is survived by her daughter Laura Dern and two grandchildren.

Diane Ladd’s legacy is defined by endurance, artistry, and a profound empathy that shaped generations of performers. As tributes pour in, her impact on Hollywood remains immeasurable, a guiding light whose creative spirit endures through her daughter and her unforgettable body of work.