While navigating the world of Hollywood family trees, you might have stumbled upon a curious question: are actresses Cheryl Ladd and Diane Ladd related? They share a famous surname and both made their marks on television and film, which naturally leads to speculation about a family connection. However, despite the shared last name and successful careers in the same industry, these two celebrated actresses are not related. The confusion is common enough that Diane Ladd herself has had to address it publicly, putting the rumors to rest.
The mix-up is understandable but has a simple explanation. For Cheryl, “Ladd” is a surname she acquired through marriage. Diane Ladd’s case is different; her original birth name was Rose Diane Ladner, and the change to “Ladd” was a professional adaptation early in her career. This coincidence of names has linked them in the public’s imagination, but their family histories and lineages are entirely separate. Their paths even crossed professionally in the 1983 TV biopic “Grace Kelly,” where Diane played the mother of Cheryl’s title character, but this was a fictional on-screen relationship, not a reflection of real-life family ties.
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The Story Behind the Shared Surname
The reason these two stars share a last name is purely a matter of coincidence, not kinship. For Cheryl Ladd, the name came from her first marriage. She was born Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor in South Dakota In 1973, she married actor David Ladd, the son of legendary film star Alan Ladd. Even after their divorce in 1980, she kept the professional surname “Ladd,” which had become famous around the world during her tenure on Charlie’s Angels.
Diane Ladd’s story is different. She was born Rose Diane Ladner in Mississippi in 1935. The similarity to “Ladd” is the root of the confusion. As she explained in an interview, her original surname was Ladner, but it was shortened early in her Hollywood career. She once joked about the mix-up, stating, “My name originally was Ladner, not Ladd. Hollywood took my ‘ner’ away.”
REST IN PEACE: Diane Ladd, the prolific Oscar-nominated actress and mother of Laura Dern, has died. She was 89. pic.twitter.com/cRdxfGkOMx
— Essential Network (@EssentialNetOnX) November 3, 2025
The confusion became so widespread that when she won a British Academy Award, it was mistakenly announced to millions that she was the daughter of Alan Ladd, which she was not. This official clarification confirms that any connection to Alan Ladd’s family, including his daughter-in-law Cheryl, is nonexistent.
Two Distinct Legacies in Hollywood
Beyond their surnames, Cheryl and Diane have built impressive and distinct careers in entertainment. Cheryl Ladd became a household name when she joined the cast of Charlie’s Angels in 1977, replacing Farrah Fawcett and playing Kris Munroe for four seasons. She leveraged that fame to also pursue a singing career, even performing the national anthem at Super Bowl XIV. Her career continued with numerous television movies, series like Las Vegas, and film roles.
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Diane Ladd, on the other hand, was celebrated for her gritty and powerful character roles. She earned three Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress for her work in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974), Wild at Heart (1990), and Rambling Rose (1991). Her career spanned over six decades, featuring iconic parts in films like Chinatown and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. She also made history with her daughter, Laura Dern, when they both received Oscar nominations for Rambling Rose, marking the first time a mother-daughter duo was nominated for the same film.
So, while it’s tempting to connect the dots between two famous people with the same last name, in this case, the line doesn’t exist. Cheryl Ladd and Diane Ladd are two separate talents who each earned their place in Hollywood history on their own remarkable merits.
