The “Nebraska” actor also praised Ladd, who died Monday at 89, as “a wonderful mother to our incredible wunderkind daughter,” actress Laura Dern.

Bruce Dern pays tribute to late ex-wife Diane Ladd: ‘I will be forever grateful to her’

The "Nebraska" actor also praised Ladd, who died Monday at 89, as "a wonderful mother to our incredible wunderkind daughter," actress Laura Dern.

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Lauren Huff

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November 3, 2025 9:55 p.m. ET

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Diane Ladd and Bruce Dern together in New York in 1960. Credit:

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Bruce Dern is honoring his late ex-wife, three-time Oscar nominee Diane Ladd, after her death on Monday at 89.

“Diane was a tremendous actress," the *Nebraska* star began in a statement shared with *Entertainment* *Weekly*. Dern and Ladd were married from 1960 to 1969, and the two shared a daughter, Oscar-winning actress Laura Dern.

Bruce added in his remarks that he feels like his ex-wife, who starred in generation-defining films such as *Chinatown*, *Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore*, and *Wild at Heart*, was "a bit of a 'hidden treasure' until she ran into David Lynch. When he cast her as Laura‘s mom in *Wild at Heart* it felt like the world then really understood her brilliance."

Bruce Dern at an autograph signing in 2017; Diane Ladd at a 2016 TCA Press Tour event.

Albert L. Ortega/Getty; Todd Williamson/Getty

The mother-daughter duo would go on to star together in films and on television numerous times over the years, with two of Ladd's three Best Supporting Actress Oscar nominations coming from collaborations with Laura: in *Rambling Rose *and *Wild at Heart*. Her third nomination was for *Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore*.

"She was a great value as a decades long board member of [the Screen Actors Guild], giving a real actress’ point of view," Bruce's statement continued. "She lived a good life. She saw everything the way it was. She was a great teammate to her fellow actors. She was funny, clever, gracious."

The Oscar nominee ended his tribute, writing, "But most importantly to me, she was a wonderful mother to our incredible wunderkind daughter. And for that I will be forever grateful to her.”

Diane Ladd, Oscar-nominated actress and mother of Laura Dern, dies at 89

Diane Ladd wanted Laura Dern to quit acting to become a lawyer

Laura previously confirmed her mother's death on Monday with a statement shared to * *that read, "My amazing hero and my profound gift of a mother passed with me beside her this morning at her home in Ojai, Calif."

The *Big Little Lies *star continued, "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."

Ladd was also married to William Shea Jr. from 1969 to 1977 and to businessman Robert Charles Hunter from 1999 until his death earlier this year. Though she and Bruce divorced in 1969, she remained amicable with her first husband throughout her life.

"He's one of the world's greatest actors, Bruce. He wasn't such a great husband, but he's a really great actor," Ladd joked in 2023 by her daughter's side.

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Laura, too, remained close with both of her parents, whom she called her "heroes" in her acceptance speech for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for *Marriage Story* in 2020.

"Some say ‘never meet your heroes’ but I say if you’re really blessed, you get them as your parents," she said at the time. "I share this with my acting heroes, my legends, Diane Ladd and Bruce Dern."**

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