Diane Ladd’s cause of death revealed two weeks after Oscar-nominated actress passed aged 89

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Actress Diane Ladd passed away on November 3rd due to respiratory failure, a condition caused by long-term oxygen deprivation, officials have confirmed.

Following the news of her death at age 89 on Monday, Bruce Dern spoke fondly of his former wife, Diane Ladd, who passed away at her home in Ojai, California.

As someone who’s spent a lot of time thinking about how we live our lives, I was really struck by something I read recently. An incredible woman, a two-time Oscar nominee who was 89, shared a beautiful sentiment about a loved one. She simply said, ‘She lived a good life, and she saw things exactly as they were.’ It’s a powerful reminder to really see the world around us and appreciate the fullness of life.

Bruce described his former wife, Diane – whom he was married to from 1960 to 1969 – as funny, clever, and gracious, and praised her as a wonderful collaborator with other actors.

As a longtime admirer, what really touched me about what he said was how much he emphasized what a fantastic mother she was to their amazing daughter. It was clear how deeply he felt that was her greatest achievement.

‘And for that I will be forever grateful to her.’

Bruce mentioned that Diane had served on the SAG board for many years, bringing valuable insights as a working actress.

Bruce, a frequent collaborator with director Quentin Tarantino on films like ‘The Hateful Eight’ (2015) and ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’ (2019), believes Diane Warren’s best work came when she partnered with the late director David Lynch.

Bruce described Diane as a remarkably talented actress who hadn’t gotten the recognition she deserved until she started working with David Lynch.

The actor best known for The Great Gatsby praised Diane Ladd’s role as Marietta Fortune in the 1990 film Wild at Heart. He highlighted it as a performance that launched her career, noting she starred alongside her daughter Laura Dern, as well as Nicolas Cage and Willem Dafoe.

Bruce explained that casting her as Laura’s mother in ‘Wild at Heart’ finally allowed the world to recognize her incredible talent.

It broke my heart to learn that during their marriage, they experienced the unimaginable loss of their one-year-old daughter, Diane. She tragically drowned in 1962, and it’s a sorrow I know they carried with them always.

In her 2023 book, Honey, Baby, Mine, co-authored with her daughter Laura, Diane openly shared how a difficult event affected her marriage.

Ladd explained that losing a child is incredibly difficult to deal with. At the time, they were struggling actors just trying to get by.

We were stuck living in the house where she passed away, simply because we couldn’t afford to move. His family had the means to assist us, but they chose not to.

Bruce and Diane co-starred in several films together, including American Cowslip (2009), Mrs. Munck (1995), The Rebel Rousers (1970), and The Wild Angels (1966).

On November 1, 2010, Bruce, Ladd, and Laura became the first family members to each receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame simultaneously.

As she received the award, Ladd shared a heartfelt wish: she hopes that anyone who visits or stands near these three stars – whether she’s still living or not – will feel the positive energy of her, her husband, and their friend, and be inspired to live a joyful and fulfilling life, just as she wishes for everyone else, according to People magazine.

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2025-11-18 01:04