Diane Ladd, the acclaimed actress whose seven-decade career earned her three Academy Award nominations and an indelible place in American film, has died at 89.
Born Rose Diane Ladner in Meridian, Mississippi, she brought a Southern resilience and intelligence to every role she played. Her breakthrough came as the brassy waitress Flo in Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, a performance that earned her an Oscar nomination and defined her as one of Hollywood’s most distinctive character actresses. She went on to appear in Wild at Heart, Rambling Rose, Chinatown, and dozens of television roles that showcased her versatility and fearless honesty.
Ladd was the mother of actress Laura Dern, with whom she shared both screen time and a profound creative bond. The two starred together in Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, and in recent years published a memoir about their life and relationship following Ladd’s battle with pneumonia, which deepened their closeness.
Across her career, she moved effortlessly between strength and vulnerability, leaving behind performances that glimmer with authenticity and depth. Diane Ladd’s passing marks the end of an era for Hollywood storytelling — a reminder that character and truth always outlast glamour.
