‘Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore’ Star Dies at 89

Actress Diane Ladd, known for her powerful performances in film and television and as the mother of actress Laura Dern, has died at 89.

Laura Dern confirmed her mother’s death in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter on Monday, November 3.

“My amazing hero and my profound gift of a mother, Diane Ladd, passed with me beside her this morning, at her home in Ojai, Calif.,” Dern said. “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 acting career stretched across more than six decades. She appeared in many films and TV shows, including Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Wild at Heart, and Rambling Rose. Her performances earned her three Academy Award nominations and three Emmy nominations, showing her lasting influence in Hollywood.

Born in Laurel, Mississippi, on November 29, 1935, Diane Ladd grew up surrounded by creativity. Her mother was an actress, and her father worked as a veterinarian. From a young age, she loved performing, dancing, and singing. When she started her Hollywood career, she shortened her last name from Ladner to Ladd.

In the early years of her career, she appeared on popular TV shows such as Perry Mason, Naked City, and Mr. Novak. Her film debut came in 1966 with The Wild Angels, where she acted alongside Nancy Sinatra, Peter Fonda, and Bruce Dern — who would later become her husband.

Ladd and Bruce Dern married in 1960 and had two daughters, Diane and Laura. Their first child, Diane, tragically died at only 18 months after a swimming pool accident.

Ladd spoke about the loss in an interview with CBS News in 2023, saying, “She hit her head and knocked herself out. And it all happened instantly. And she died, and you will never get over that. I don’t care what you say to yourself. I don’t care who says what. The child is not supposed to die before the parent.”

The heartbreaking event deeply affected her marriage. In a 1992 interview with Parade, she said, “We suffered the tragedy of our daughter’s death together and thought another child would help us, but we were so bruised.” The couple divorced in 1969. Ladd later said she became very protective of Laura but learned to give her the space to grow and think freely.

After her divorce, Ladd married William A. Shea Jr. in 1969, though the marriage ended in 1977. In 1999, she married Robert Charles Hunter, and they stayed together until his death earlier this year.

In 2018, Ladd faced serious health problems after being exposed to chemicals from nearby farms. Doctors initially gave her less than a year to live after a misdiagnosis of pneumonia, but Laura Dern moved her to another hospital where she made a full recovery.

Outside her acting career, Ladd was also known for her social involvement. She supported Jesse Jackson’s presidential campaign in 1988 and often spoke about environmental and human rights issues.

Diane Ladd leaves behind a remarkable legacy, one defined by strength, resilience, and a lifelong passion for storytelling. Her work touched generations of viewers, and her bond with her daughter Laura Dern remains one of Hollywood’s most admired relationships.

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