Diane Ladd (born November 29, 1935) is an American actress, film director and producer. She has appeared in over 120 roles, in numerous popular TV shows or mini-series during 1958-2003, and several major feature films, including Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), Wild at Heart, Rambling Rose (1991), Ghosts of Mississippi, Primary Colors, 28 Days (2000), American Cowslip (2008) and Jake's Corner (see below: Filmography). Married three times, Ladd is the mother of actress Laura Dern with ex-husband actor Bruce Dern, the father.

Ladd was born Rose Diane Ladner in Meridian, Mississippi, the daughter of Mary Bernadette (née Anderson), a housewife and actress, and Preston Paul Ladner, a poulterer. She is the second cousin of playwright Tennessee Williams and also related to poet Sidney Lanier. Ladd was raised Catholic. Ladd was formerly married to actor and one-time co-star Bruce Dern from 1960-1969; the couple had two children, Diane Elizabeth Dern and Laura Elizabeth Dern, of whom only actress Laura Dern survives. (Diane died at 18 months from head injuries caused by falling into a swimming pool). Ladd and Laura Dern co-starred in the films Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose. They also appeared together in Inland Empire, another film by David Lynch. Ladd is now married to Robert Charles Hunter.

In 1971, Ladd joined the cast of the CBS soap opera, "The Secret Storm." She was the second actress to play the role of Kitty Styles on the long-running daytime serial. Ladd had a supporting role in Roman Polanski's 1974 film Chinatown, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role as Flo in the film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. That film inspired the TV series Alice, in which Flo was portrayed by Polly Holliday. When Holliday left the TV series, Ladd succeeded her as waitress Isabelle "Belle" Dupree. In 1993, Ladd appeared in the episode "Guess Who's Coming to Chow?" of the CBS comedy/western series Harts of the West in the role of the mother of co-star Harley Jane Kozak. The 15-episode program, set on a dude ranch in Nevada starred Beau Bridges and Lloyd Bridges.