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Diane Ladd, Acclaimed Actress, Dies at 89 After Lung Disease Battle
4 Nov
Summary
- Diane Ladd, three-time Oscar nominee, passed away in 2025
- Ladd and daughter Laura Dern co-wrote memoir about their final conversations
- Book chronicles Ladd's diagnosis with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in 2018
In 2025, the entertainment world mourned the loss of acclaimed actress Diane Ladd, who passed away at the age of 89. Ladd, a three-time Oscar nominee, was beloved for her roles in films like "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" and "Wild at Heart," as well as her work on the HBO series "Enlightened."
Prior to her death, Ladd and her daughter, actress Laura Dern, collaborated on a poignant memoir titled "Honey, Baby, Mine: A Mother and Daughter Talk Life, Death, Love." The book, published in 2023, chronicles the pair's final conversations following Ladd's diagnosis with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. During that time, Ladd was given only months to live, though she ultimately lived for several more years.
The memoir offers a unique glimpse into the lives of these two Hollywood icons, with Ladd revisiting her Mississippi childhood, early acting career, and the challenges she faced as a woman in the industry. Dern, meanwhile, opens up about the emotional experience of growing up on film sets and navigating fame as a second-generation actor. Through their candid exchanges, the book provides both a Hollywood history lesson and a deeply personal exploration of love, loss, and the unbreakable bond between mother and daughter.
