Diane Ladd, who played Flo in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) and Marietta Fortune in Wild at Heart (1990), died on November 3, 2025, at the age of 89.
Diane Ladd was born Rose Diane Lanier on November 29, 1935, in Laurel, Mississippi. She graduated from high school when she was only 16, and then attended finishing school in New Orleans. On weekends, she sang with a jazz band called Dixie Hi De Ho Jo. She was offered a scholarship to the Louisiana State University law school. She chose to go into acting instead, and was cast in Room Service at the Gallery Circle Theater.in New Orleans.
John Carradine took notice of her in Room Service and he made her part of the touring company for Tobacco Road. Afterwards, she danced as a Copa Girl at the Copacabana in New York City. It was in 1958 that she met Bruce Dern while they were in an off-Broadway production of Orpheus Descending. The two married and would have three children, including actor Laura Dern. They divorced in 1969. She made her television debut in an episode of Stanley . In the late Fifties, she guest-starred on the shows Decoy, The Big Story, The Walter Winchell File, Naked City, and Deadline.
In the Sixties, Diane Ladd guest-starred on the shows The Detectives, Wide Country, Armstrong Circle Theatre, 77 Sunset Strip, Perry Mason, Mr. Novak, Hazel, The Fugitive, The Great Adventure,. Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, Gunsmoke, Daniel Boone, Shane, The Big Valley, Ironside, and Then Came Bronson. She made her Broadway debut in Carry Me Back to Morningside Heights in 1968. She made her film debut in a bit part in Something Wild in 1961. She appeared in the movies 4o Pounds of Trouble (1962), The Wild Angels (1966), The Reivers (1969), The Rebel Rousers (1970), Macho Callahan (1970), and WUSA (1970).
Diane Ladd began the Seventies playing the role of Kitty Styles on the daytime soap opera The Secret Storm from 1971 to 1972. In 1980, she joined the cast of Alice, the sitcom inspired by Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, playing Belle Dupree. She guest starred on the shows Movin' On and City of Angels, and appeared in several TV movies. She appeared on Broadway in A Texas Trilogy: Lu Ann Hampton Laverty Oberlander. It was in 1974 that Diane Ladd originated the role of Flo in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. She was nominated for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for the role and won the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress. She also appeared in the movies The Steagle (1971), White Lightning (1973), Chinatown (1974), and Embryo (1976).
In 1990, Diane Ladd played opposite her daughter, Laura Dern, in the David Lynch movie Wild at Heart. During the Eighties, she appeared in the movies All Night Long (1981), Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983), Black Widow (1987), Plain Clothes (1988), and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989). On television, she continued to appear on Alice early in the decade. She guest starred on Faerie Tale Theatre, The Love Boat, Father Dowling Mysteries, Heartland, and In the Heat of the Night.
In the Nineties, she guest starred on the shows Middle Ages; L. A. Law; Harts of the West; Sisters; Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman; Touched by an Angel; Grace Under Fire; and Strong Medicine. She appeared in the mini-series Cold Lazarus. In 1991, she played opposite her daughter again in the movie Rambling Rose. She appeared in the movies Forever (1992), Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me (1992), The Cemetery Club (1993), Carnosaur (1993), Father Hood (1993), Mrs. Munck (1995), Raging Angels (1995), Citizen Ruth (1996), Ghosts of Mississippi (1996), James Dean: Live Fast, Die Young (1997), The Westing Game (1997), Primary Colors (1998), Can't Be Heaven (1999), 28 Days (2000), and The Law of Enclosures (2000).
In the Naughts, Diane Ladd was a regular on Kingdom Hospital. She appeared in the mini-series Living with the Dead. She guest starred on Cold Case and ER.She appeared in the movies Rain (2001), Redemption of the Ghost (2002), More Than Puppy Love (2002), Charlie's War (2003), The World's Fastest Indian (2005), When I Find the Ocean (2006), Inland Empire (2006), Jake's Corner (2008), and American Cowslip (2009).
In the Teens, Diane Ladd had recurring roles on the shows Enlightened and Chesapeake Shores. She guest starred on the show Ray Donovan and appeared in the mini-series Deadtime Stories She appeared in the movies Grave Secrets (2013), Just Before I Go (2014), I Dream Too Much (2015), Joy (2015), Sophie and the Rising Sun (2015), AmeriGeddon (2016),. The Last Full Measure (2019), Boonville Redemption (2019), and Charlie's Christmas Wish (2020).
In the 2020, Diane Ladd continued to appear on Chesapeake Shores. She guest starred on Young Sheldon. She appeared in the movies Charming the Hearts of Men (2021), Gigi & Nate (2022), and Isle of Hope (2022).
Diane Ladd was an incredible actress. I suspect she will always be best remembered as Flo, the wisecracking, brassy waitress at Mel and Ruby's Cafe in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. She certainly gave a great performance, and I personally think she deserved the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Of course, Diane Ladd played many other roles as well. In Wild at Heart (1990), she played Marietta Fortune, the domineering, deranged mother of Lula (Laura Dern). Even when a movie wasn't particularly good, Diane Ladd often was. In the movie Father Hood (1993), she played Rita, the grifter mother of petty crook Jack Charles (Patrick Swayze), who has a whole wardrobe of disguises. Diane Ladd appeared on several television shows. In the Big Valley episode "Boy Into Man," she played a mother who deserts her children. In The Fugitive episode "Come Watch Me Die," she played opposite her husband Bruce Dern at the time. She played a diner waitress, while Bruce Dern played a member of a posse. Diane Ladd had an incredible amount of talent and could play a wide variety of roles.
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