Diane Ladd, the Oscar-nominated actress and mother of Laura Dern, died on November 3, 2025, at the age of 89. Her cause of death has now been confirmed as acute on chronic hypoxic respiratory failure, according to a death certificate obtained by People magazine.
Respiratory failure occurs when there is insufficient oxygen or excessive carbon dioxide in the body, and acute cases are considered life-threatening. Ladd also suffered from underlying conditions including interstitial lung disease and esophageal dysmotility. Her remains were cremated on November 7.
Laura Dern, 58, announced her mother's death on November 3, stating that Ladd passed away at her home in Ojai, California, with her daughter by her side. Dern described Ladd as 'my amazing hero and my profound gift of a mother,' adding that she was 'the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and empathetic spirit.'
Ladd's ex-husband, actor Bruce Dern, paid tribute, calling her 'funny, clever, gracious' and 'a great teammate to her fellow actors.' He noted that she was 'a decades-long board member of SAG' and praised her performance in David Lynch's 1990 film Wild at Heart as a breakout role that showcased her brilliance.
Ladd and Bruce Dern were married from 1960 to 1969 and had daughter Laura together. They also tragically lost a one-year-old daughter, also named Diane, in a drowning accident in 1962. Ladd and Laura co-authored a 2023 book, Honey, Baby, Mine, in which they discussed the impact of this loss.
