By Salma El-Sakka
Laura Dern marked the first anniversary of her mother Diane Ladd's death with a heartfelt Instagram tribute, sharing a black-and-white portrait of the late actress captioned "Light of my life." Ladd, an Oscar-nominated star of more than 200 films, died at her California home on November 3, 2025, at age 89.
Instagram tribute
On November 3, 2026, Dern posted the portrait with the dates "November 29, 1935-November 3, 2025" printed at the bottom. The post drew supportive messages from friends, fans, and fellow actors.
Celebrity support
Reese Witherspoon, Dern's co-star in "Big Little Lies," commented: "Thinking about you and our angel Mama D. Love and light." Charlize Theron and Leslie Bibb also offered condolences, while fans praised Ladd's warmth, storytelling, and legacy.
Diane Ladd's career and legacy
Ladd earned Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress for "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," "Wild at Heart," and "Rambling Rose," the latter two alongside Dern. In 1991 they became the first mother-daughter pair nominated for Oscars for the same film. Ladd's death certificate cited acute on chronic hypoxic respiratory failure, oesophageal dysmotility, and interstitial lung disease. Dern dedicated her 2020 Oscar win for "Marriage Story" to both parents, calling them her acting heroes.
