Oscar-nominated actress Diane Ladd dies, daughter Laura Dern confirms
Diane Ladd, the veteran, Oscar-nominated actress who starred in film classics including "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" and "Chinatown," has died at age 89, her daughter, actress Laura Dern, confirmed this week.
"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," Dern said Monday in a statement shared with ABC News. "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," Dern continued. "She is flying with her angels now."
Ladd was Oscar-nominated three times, first for 1974's "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," and again for the films "Wild at Heart" and "Rambling Rose," released in 1990 and 1991, respectively. Dern co-starred in both "Wild at Heart" and "Rambling Rose" and was Oscar-nominated for the latter, making Dern and Ladd one of only two parent-child duos nominated for Academy Awards for the same film, the other being Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda in 1981's "On Golden Pond."
Ladd was born in Mississippi in 1935, later jumpstarting her career in entertainment as a "Copa Girl" performing in New York City's legendary Copacabana nightclub, according to the actress's website. She went on to launch a stage career before transitioning to the screen, receiving award recognition in short order.
Ladd's first major accolade was a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actress for her role in 1974's "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore."
In 1980, Ladd won a Golden Globe for her role as Isabelle "Belle" Dupree in "Alice."
In addition to her three Academy Award nominations and various Golden Globe recognitions, Ladd also earned a BAFTA for her role in "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" and an Independent Spirit Award for "Rambling Rose." She also scored several Primetime Emmy Award nominations in the years that followed.
Ladd married Bruce Dern in 1960 and gave birth to daughter Laura Dern in 1967, after the couple's first child, a daughter named Diane Elizabeth, died at a young age in a tragic accident. Ladd and Bruce Dern were married until 1969.
Ladd was later married to William Shea Jr. from 1969 to 1977 and to Robert Hunter from 1999 until his death earlier this year.
"Diane was a tremendous actress and I feel like, a bit of a ‘hidden treasure’ until she ran into David Lynch," said Bruce Dern in a statement. "When he cast her as Laura‘s mom in 'Wild at Heart' it felt like the world then really understood her brilliance."
Bruce Dern's statement continued, "She was a great value as a decades long board member of SAG, giving a real actress’ point of view."
He added, "She lived a good life. She saw everything the way it was. She was a great teammate to her fellow actors. She was funny, clever, gracious. But most importantly to me, she was a wonderful mother to our incredible wunderkind daughter. And for that I will be forever grateful to her.”
