Diane Ladd, the three-time Oscar-nominated actress known for her roles in 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore', 'Wild at Heart' and 'Rambling Rose', died on Monday morning at her home in Ojai, California. She was 89. Her daughter, actress Laura Dern, confirmed the news through a representative.
In a statement, Laura Dern said: '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.'
Ladd's ex-husband, actor Bruce Dern, also paid tribute, calling her a 'tremendous actress' and praising her work with director David Lynch. He said: 'When he cast her as Laura's mom in 'Wild at Heart' it felt like the world then really understood her brilliance. She was a great value as a decades-long board member of SAG... She was funny, clever, gracious. But most importantly to me, she was a wonderful mother to our incredible wunderkind daughter.'
Ladd earned supporting actress Oscar nominations for 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore' (1974), 'Wild at Heart' (1990) and 'Rambling Rose' (1991). The latter made history as the only film in which a mother and daughter—Ladd and Laura Dern—were both nominated for Oscars. Her other notable film credits include 'Chinatown', 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation', 'Joy' and 'Primary Colors'. She also appeared alongside Dern in the HBO series 'Enlightened'.
Born on November 29, 1935, in Laurel, Mississippi, Ladd began her acting career in the 1950s. She was married to Bruce Dern from 1960 to 1969, and their daughter Laura was born in 1967. Ladd is survived by Laura Dern and her grandchildren.
