Veteran American actress, director, and author Diane Ladd, best known for her Oscar-nominated performances in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Wild at Heart, and Rambling Rose, has died at the age of 89.
Her family confirmed her passing in a statement on Sunday, describing her as “a light in every room, a storyteller whose strength and grace inspired generations.”
Ladd, whose career spanned over six decades, was also the mother of acclaimed actress Laura Dern, with whom she shared the screen in several projects, including the hit HBO series Enlightened (2011–2013).
According to Variety (Nov. 2025), Ladd passed away peacefully at her home in California, surrounded by family. No cause of death was immediately disclosed, but she had previously spoken publicly about health challenges following a bout of pneumonia several years ago.
Born in Meridian, Mississippi in 1936, Ladd rose to prominence in the 1970s with her portrayal of Flo in Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974), which earned her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She went on to receive two more Oscar nominations — for Wild at Heart (1990) and Rambling Rose (1991), the latter opposite her daughter Laura Dern.
In a touching tribute shared on Instagram, Dern wrote:
“My mother was my teacher, my co-star, my hero, and my best friend. The world has lost a great artist, and I’ve lost the woman who gave me everything.”
Ladd’s long and versatile career also included acclaimed roles in Chinatown, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and Something Wicked This Way Comes. She received multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.
The Hollywood Reporter (Nov. 2025) noted that beyond acting, Ladd was a passionate environmental advocate and author of several books, including Spiraling Through the School of Life and A Bad Afternoon for a Piece of Cake.
Sources
Variety – Diane Ladd, Three-Time Oscar Nominee, Dies at 89 (Nov 2025)
The Hollywood Reporter – Actress and Author Diane Ladd Passes Away at 89 (Nov 2025)
BBC News – US Actress Diane Ladd Dies at 89 (Nov 2025)
CNN Entertainment – Diane Ladd, beloved film and TV actress, dead at 89 (Nov 2025)
Deadline Hollywood – Oscar-Nominated Actress Diane Ladd Remembered by Hollywood Peers (Nov 2025)
