Diane Ladd, the celebrated Oscar-nominated actress and mother of Laura Dern, has died at the age of 89. Her passing was confirmed by Dern, who shared that her mother died peacefully at home in Ojai, California, with her by her side. In a heartfelt statement, Dern described Ladd as her "amazing hero" and a "profound gift of a mother." She expressed her deep love and admiration, stating, "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 was born Rose Diane Ladner on November 29, 1935, in Laurel, Mississippi. She began her career in theatre and television during the 1950s, appearing in shows such as *Naked City*, *Perry Mason*, and *Mr. Novak*. Her film debut came in 1961 with an uncredited role in *Something Wild*, followed by her first credited role in *The Wild Angels* in 1966. Her breakout performance came in Martin Scorsese's 1974 film *Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore*, where she portrayed Flo, a role that earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Ladd received two additional Oscar nominations for her performances in *Wild at Heart* (1990) and *Rambling Rose* (1991), the latter of which saw her and Dern nominated for Oscars in the same year, marking a historic moment as the first mother-daughter duo to achieve this feat. Ladd's extensive filmography includes notable works such as *Chinatown*, *Primary Colors*, and *National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation*, where she played Nora Griswold. Her final film appearance was in 2022's *Gigi & Nate*. Ladd was married three times, first to actor Bruce Dern, with whom she had two daughters, including Laura. The couple divorced in 1969. She later married businessman William Shea Jr. and Robert Charles Hunter, a former PepsiCo executive, who passed away in July 2022. Ladd is survived by her daughter Laura Dern and her grandchildren, Ellery and Jaya. Her legacy as a talented actress and beloved mother will be remembered by many.