Diane Ladd Illness: Who is She? What Illness does She have?
Updated Apr 26, 2023
Who is Diane Ladd?
American actress Diane Ladd has a distinguished background in theatre, television, and film. She was raised all around the country after being born in Meridian, Mississippi, on November 29, 1935. Ladd has enjoyed a long and successful acting career, garnering praise from critics and countless accolades for her work. In the 1950s, Ladd started her acting career, and she became well-known for her parts in films like "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951) and "Wild at Heart" (1990).
For her supporting parts in "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" (1974), "Wild at Heart" (1990), and "Rambling Rose" (1991), she has received three Academy Award nominations. Additionally, Ladd has made important cameos in well-known TV programs such as "Chinatown" (1974), "Grace Under Fire" (1993-1998), and "Enlightened" (2011-2013). Ladd is renowned for her advocacy efforts in addition to her acting career, particularly in promoting women's health problems.
She has participated in numerous philanthropic endeavors and received recognition for her support of women's health and well-being. Diane Ladd has made a lasting impression on the entertainment world through her talent, commitment, and perseverance. She is still a major player in Hollywood.
Diane Ladd Illness
In order to help actress Diane Ladd restore her lung capacity through the doctor-recommended walks, Ladd's only daughter and fellow actor Laura Dern set out when Ladd was given six months to live after being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Ladd was misdiagnosed with pneumonia. Her daughter Laura transferred her to another medical facility, where she made a full recovery.
Chest pain, fever, coughing up blood, and breathing difficulties are symptoms of pneumonia, a respiratory condition that can damage the lungs. Its development may be influenced by a variety of factors, including bacterial, viral, or fungal illnesses. Pneumonia is often treated with medicine, rest, and supportive care.
What Illness Does Diane Ladd Have?
In 2018, Ladd was misdiagnosed with pneumonia and given 6 months to a year to live after inhaling "poison spray" from the fields next to her home and narrowing her esophagus. Diane Ladd received a pneumonia diagnosis in 2018 and was given six months to live. Dern made the decision to record their conversations and encouraged Ladd to share personal stories about anything and everything, from life in show business to intimate domestic details and even prized family recipes.
Dern was motivated to turn the challenging daily task into a "creative challenge" for her storyteller mother. She told Closer Weekly that Laura Dern, her daughter, instantly "went bananas crying, saying, 'You can’t die! I don’t have any brothers or sisters — Mother, you’re all I have! When Diane outlived the doctors' estimated life expectancy, she said, But I proved the doctors wrong — I didn’t die. I fooled them!"
How Old is Diane Ladd?
The date of Diane Lane's 1935 birth is November 29. She is currently 87 years old. After fully recovering from her illness, Diane claims that she has no immediate plans to terminate her career in Hollywood, not even at the age of 87. Laura said that the family took extra care throughout the coronavirus pandemic to protect Diane, who was vulnerable despite recovering from her pneumonia diagnosis, in an interview with Elle Magazine in 2021.
She stated: "My Mom had pneumonia and specifically was high-risk in terms of her lungs. So, being so protective of her, it was a very locked-down time, like so many of us with a high-risk family member." Laura added, "Watching how my children rallied in being so protective of her was gorgeous, and watching movies and taking care of each other." The family had a cake in bed on Diane's 86th birthday in 2021.
She took a picture for Instagram and added a sentimental remark honoring her mother. "Nothing like waking up my cutie mama on her birthday surrounded by friends and cakes! I love you beyond measure, amazing Diane!!!!!!! I’m such a blessed daughter."
Diane Ladd in Christmas Vacation
Diane Ladd, known as the former wife of actor Bruce Dern and the mother of acclaimed actress Laura Dern, portrayed Nora Griswold, Clark's mother, in the popular movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, released in 1989. With a career spanning several decades, Ladd has amassed numerous credits, including TV appearances on The Secret Storm, Gunsmoke, Alice, and The Love Boat, after her Hollywood debut in the 1950s.
Following the success of Christmas Vacation, Ladd collaborated with her daughter Laura Dern on the films Wild at Heart (1990) and Rambling Rose (1991), earning two additional Oscar nominations for her performances. She continued her acting career with roles in Father Hood (1993), Primary Colors (1998), and 28 Days (2000), and made appearances on popular TV shows like Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Touched by an Angel, and Grace Under Fire in the mid-1990s.
After reuniting with her daughter once more on the HBO series Enlightened, Ladd went on to appear in films like Joy (2015) and Gigi & Nate (2022), among others.
Diane Ladd Net Worth
The total wealth of Diane Ladd is $20 - $22 million. She received an Academy Award nomination for her performance as Flo in the movie Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. She is the only child of Preston Paul Ladner, a veterinarian who sold items for poultry and livestock, and Mary Bernadette Ladner (née Anderson), a homemaker and actor. Although they resided in Meridian, Mississippi, she was born in Laurel, Mississippi, while the family was visiting relatives there for Thanksgiving.
Diane Ladd Spouse
Diane Ladd has three previous marriages. She was married to fellow actor Bruce Dern for ten years, from 1960 until 1969. Together, they are parents to Bryan Dern, Diane's son, and Laura Dern, Diane's daughter who is also a well-known actress. During their marriage, Diane Ladd and Bruce Dern co-starred in a number of films, including "Wild Angels" (1966) and "White Lightning" (1973). After divorcing Bruce Dern, Diane Ladd wed William A. Shea, a businessman, as her second spouse in 1999.
After more than two decades of marriage, they divorced in 1976, and she later wed Robert Charles Hunter in 1999. Author, speaker, advisor, and entrepreneur Robert Charles Hunter is in the business world. Throughout high school and college, he was employed by his family's business.
Diane Ladd Illness - FAQs
With her ex-husband, actor Bruce Dern, Ladd is the mother of actress Laura Dern.
Robert Charles Hunter is Diane Ladd's husband.
Diane Ladd is 87 years old and appeared in Chesapeake Shores.
Diane and Cheryl Ladd are unrelated, sharing just a last name.
Diane Ladd rose to fame after portraying the witty waitress Flo in the iconic film "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" (1974).