Diane Ladd dies at 89: Oscar-nominated actress' husband, children, net worth, and career highlights
Veteran Hollywood actress Diane Ladd, known for her Oscar-nominated performances in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and Wild at Heart, has died at 89
Veteran Hollywood actress Diane Ladd, known for her Oscar-nominated performances in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Wild at Heart, and Rambling Rose, has died at 89.
A three-time Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner, Ladd’s estimated net worth was around $10 million. She was known for her powerful portrayals of resilient women through her work.
Ladd's family is deeply rooted in Hollywood history. She was the mother of the actress Laura Dern, who issued a statement saying that her mother passed away at her home in Ojai, California, with Dern by her side.
Dern wrote, “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.”
Who was Diane Ladd?
Rose Diane Ladner was born on November 29, 1935, in Laurel, Mississippi. Ladd was the only child of veterinarian Preston Paul Ladner and actress Mary Bernadette Ladner. She began performing at a young age across all art forms, acting, singing and dancing, before transitioning into television and film in the 1960s.
Career Highlights
Ladd’s breakthrough role arrived in 1974 with Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, directed by Martin Scorsese. She played the feisty waitress Flo in the movie. Her performance earned her her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
She went on to earn two more Oscar nominations for Wild at Heart (1990) and Rambling Rose (1991). Notably, she and her daughter, Laura Dern, starred together in Rambling Rose, making cinematic history as the first mother-daughter duo nominated in the same year.
Her filmography includes major works like Chinatown (1974), National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) and Primary Colors (1998). She also starred in television shows such as "Enlightened" and made a guest appearance in "Touched by an Angel."
Ladd also ventured into writing and directing—her memoir “Spiraling Through the School of Life”, which was published in 2006.
Net Worth
As per Cine Net Worth, Ladd’s net worth in 2025 was estimated to be around $10 million, reflecting earnings from various film and television appearances combined with her work as a writer and director.
In addition to her wealth, she had also built a collection of lavish possessions, such as a gorgeous home tucked away in the California hills and an impressive collection of antique vehicles.
Family, husband and children
Ladd was married three times. Her first marriage was to actor Bruce Dern in 1960; they had two daughters, Diane Elizabeth and Laura. Tragically, Diane Elizabeth died at 18 months in a pool accident, an event Ladd said changed her life deeply.
Her second marriage (1969–1976) was to William A. Shea Jr. She got married to Robert Charles Hunter in 1999, who was to businessman and film producer. Robert Charles Hunter passed away earlier this year.
Her daughter is Laura Dern, an Oscar-winning actress who starred in Jurassic Park(1993). In a tribute, Laura described her mother as her “amazing hero and my profound gift of a mother.”
