Laura Dern’s mom, Diane Ladd, died from acute on chronic hypoxic respiratory failure at her home in California on November 3 at the age of 89.
Laura Dern has paid a heartfelt tribute to her mom Diane Ladd to mark the first anniversary of the Oscar-nominated actress’ death.
The Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore star died from acute on chronic hypoxic respiratory failure, which was listed on her death certificate alongside interstitial lung disease and oesophageal dysmotility as contributing conditions.
She died at her home in California on November 3 2025 at the age of 89.
Taking to Instagram on Tuesday (03.11.26), Laura, 59, shared an old black-and-white portrait of Diane as a young woman, with “November 29, 1935-November 3, 2025” printed at the bottom.
The Jurassic Park actress captioned the upload: “Light of my life.”
Laura’s celebrity pals and fans filled the post’s comments section with love.
Her Big Little Lies co-star Reese Witherspoon, 50, penned: “Thinking about you and our angel Mama D. Love and light (sic).”
The Odyssey’s Charlize Theron, 51, typed: “So sad to hear. Thinking of you (sic).”
Iron Man alum Leslie Bibb, 52, wrote: “[Red hert emojis] You @lauradern. She was a queen (sic).”
One follower reacted: “I’m so grateful to have known your Mom. She was so warm and loving, a vivid and captivating storyteller, so tuned in to the mystical dimensions of life, an extraordinary actress and she loved you so much. (sic)”
A second supporter commented: “What a remarkable woman! Truly sorry for your sadness. But she now moves on to her next journey and what a legacy she takes.”
And a third fan said: “Beautiful. You are forever connected and loved deeply. Sending my love to both your spirits, Laura + your family.”
As well as acute on chronic hypoxic respiratory failure, Diane’s death certificate, obtained by People, listed oesophageal dysmotility as another significant contributing condition.
The document also noted that the actress had interstitial lung disease, which had been present for months before her death.
Diane was cremated on November 10, a week after Laura announced her death.
In a statement, the Wild at Heart alum said: “My amazing hero and my profound gift of a mother, Diane Ladd, passed with me beside her this morning, at her home in Ojai, Ca.
“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.”
Diane appeared in more than 200 films and television shows during an acting career spanning over six decades and earned Oscar nominations in the Best Supporting Actress category for her work in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, appearing alongside Laura in the latter two films.
Born in Mississippi in 1935, Diane began acting at an early age and went on to earn her first film credit in the 1966 biker movie The Wild Angels, in which she appeared alongside her husband Bruce Dern and the late Peter Fonda.
Reflecting on the film, Diane told People in 2019: “I remember when were filming Wild Angels, my very first film, we were practically children back then.
“It was a foggy night, and some bikers came up the mountain and threatened to tie Peter and another crew member to a generator… (but) Peter and Bruce Dern protected us and led us all to safety. His courage always shined through like that.”
After starring in Martin Scorsese’s film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Diane went on to appear in movies including Chinatown, Black Widow, Citizen Ruth, 28 Days and Joy.
Diane’s TV credits include Naked City, Perry Mason, ER, Ray Donovan and Young Sheldon.
She also authored a number of books, including 2023’s Honey, Baby, Mine: A Mother and Daughter Talk Life, Death, Love (and Banana Pudding) with her daughter.
Diane was married to Laura’s father Bruce Dern from 1960 to 1969, but their eldest daughter, Diane, died at the age of 18 months in 1962 after a drowning accident.
She then tied the knot with businessman William A. Shea Jr before they divorced in 1976, and went on to marry her third husband, Robert Charles Hunter, in 1999. Hunter died in August 2025 at the age of 77.
Laura Dern marks first anniversary of mom Diane Ladd’s death with heartfelt tribute
