‘Wild at Heart’ Star Dies at 89

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I was so sad to hear that Diane Ladd passed away at 89. She was such a fantastic actress – I loved her in movies like Wild at Heart, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, and Rambling Rose. She really had a way of bringing characters to life, and she’ll be greatly missed.

Actress Laura Dern announced the passing of her mother, Diane Ladd, on Monday, November 3rd, in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. Dern described her mother as an incredible woman – a loving daughter, mother, grandmother, and talented actress and artist – and said she passed away peacefully at her home in Ojai, California, with her daughter by her side. She called her mother a truly special and empathetic person, and expressed gratitude for having had her in their lives.

Born on November 29, 1935, in Laurel, Mississippi, Angela Ladd was the daughter of veterinarian Preston Paul Ladner and actress Mary Bernadette Ladner. She grew up loving to perform, enjoying acting, dancing, and singing. When she started her career in Hollywood, she simplified her name by dropping the ‘ner’ from Ladner, becoming known as Angela Ladd.

Throughout the 1950s and 60s, she guest-starred on numerous TV series, including popular shows like Naked City, Perry Mason, and Mr. Novak. She made her film debut in 1966 with the crime drama The Wild Angels, alongside Nancy Sinatra, Bruce Dern, and Peter Fonda.

As a movie lover, I always admired Ladd. She had such a long and impressive career, earning Oscar and Emmy nominations – a total of six between the two! But it wasn’t just the accolades; she really commanded the screen. Her performances were always so strong and memorable – she just had this incredible presence that drew you in.

Despite her successful career, Ladd’s personal life included both happiness and heartbreak. She married actor Bruce Dern in 1960, and they had two daughters, Diane and Laura. Sadly, their daughter Diane died in a tragic accident at the very young age of 18 months.

In a 2023 interview with CBS News, Ladd shared the pain of losing his daughter, explaining that she tragically and unexpectedly died after hitting her head. He emphasized the profound and lasting grief, stating, ‘You never get over that.’ He added that it feels fundamentally wrong for a child to pass away before their parent.

I recently came across an old interview with Ladd, and she really opened up about how devastating the loss of her daughter was for her and her husband. She explained that they hoped having another child would help them heal, but honestly, they were both just too heartbroken at the time. It was a really poignant thing to read, and you could just feel the weight of their grief.

Following her divorce from Dern in 1969, she primarily raised Laura as a single mother. She admitted to being scared at first, but realized she couldn’t be overprotective after losing another child. Instead, she encouraged Laura’s independence, which helped her develop into a strong and independent individual.

After marrying William A. Shea Jr. in 1969, Ladd was with him until 1977. She then married Robert Charles Hunter in 1999, and they were married until he passed away earlier this year, only three months before Ladd herself died.

In 2018, Ladd experienced severe health issues after being incorrectly diagnosed with pneumonia. Doctors initially gave her less than a year to live, believing she’d been affected by dangerous chemicals from neighboring farms. Fortunately, her daughter Laura transferred her to a different hospital, and she fully recovered.

Throughout her career, Ladd was celebrated for more than just her talent as an actress. People also admired her kind nature, imagination, and resilience. She was a dedicated advocate for important issues, famously supporting Jesse Jackson’s run for president in 1988, and she continued to perform on screen and stage for many years.

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2025-11-04 00:15