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Alan Ladd

Alan Ladd

Acting September 3, 1913 (50 years old) January 29, 1964 Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA

Biography

Alan Walbridge Ladd (September 3, 1913 – January 29, 1964) was an American actor and producer known for his cool, understated screen presence and his defining roles in 1940s and 1950s film noir and Westerns. Standing 5 ft 6 in (168 cm), Ladd became famous for the contrast between his modest height and his commanding on‑screen persona, a combination studios often enhanced through camera techniques and staging. He was frequently paired with Veronica Lake, one of the few major actresses shorter than he was, and together they became one of Hollywood’s iconic noir duos. Born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Ladd moved to North Hollywood as a child and worked various jobs before entering the film industry. After years of small roles — including an uncredited appearance in Citizen Kane — he achieved stardom with This Gun for Hire (1942). His quiet intensity and stoic charm resonated strongly with wartime audiences, making him one of the decade’s top box‑office draws. Ladd went on to star in a series of successful films, including The Glass Key (1942), The Blue Dahlia (1946), Whispering Smith (1948), Shane (1953), and The Proud Rebel (1958). Though his popularity declined somewhat in the late 1950s, he continued to work steadily in both film and television and produced several of his later projects. Ladd died in 1964 at the age of 50 from cerebral edema caused by acute alcohol and barbiturate intoxication, which was ruled an accidental death. Despite his relatively short life, he remains a defining figure of classic Hollywood — a performer whose quiet strength, distinctive presence, and memorable roles continue to influence the Western and noir genres.

Movies 107

Citizen Kane 8.0

Citizen Kane

as Reporter Smoking Pipe at End (uncredited)

1941
Shane 7.3

Shane

as Shane

1953
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid 6.6

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

as (in "This Gun For Hire") (archive footage)

1982
Boy on a Dolphin 5.8

Boy on a Dolphin

as Dr. James 'Jim' Calder

1957
This Gun for Hire 7.0

This Gun for Hire

as Philip Raven

1942
My Favorite Brunette 6.6

My Favorite Brunette

as Sam McCloud (uncredited)

1947
The Reluctant Dragon 6.6

The Reluctant Dragon

as Baby Weems Storyboard Artist

1941
Santiago 5.8

Santiago

as Caleb 'Cash' Adams

1956
Saskatchewan 5.9

Saskatchewan

as Thomas O'Rourke

1954
Murder at the Vanities 5.7

Murder at the Vanities

as Chorus Boy (uncredited)

1934
Red Mountain 6.7

Red Mountain

as Capt. Brett Sherwood

1951
The Glass Key 6.7

The Glass Key

as Ed Beaumont

1942
One Foot in Hell 5.3

One Foot in Hell

as Mitch Barrett

1960
The Proud Rebel 6.0

The Proud Rebel

as John Chandler

1958
Branded 6.2

Branded

as Choya

1950
Guns of the Timberland 6.2

Guns of the Timberland

as Jim Hadley

1960
The Blue Dahlia 6.7

The Blue Dahlia

as Johnny Morrison

1946
The Big Land 6.4

The Big Land

as Chad Morgan

1957
Thunder in the East 5.6

Thunder in the East

as Steve Gibbs

1952
Hell on Frisco Bay 5.3

Hell on Frisco Bay

as Steve Rollins

1955
Captain Carey, U.S.A. 5.8

Captain Carey, U.S.A.

as Captain Webster Carey

1950
The Last Train from Madrid 4.8

The Last Train from Madrid

as Soldier (uncredited)

1937
The Badlanders 6.2

The Badlanders

as Peter Van Hoek (The Dutchman)

1958
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage 7.0

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

1983
The Carpetbaggers 6.0

The Carpetbaggers

as Nevada Smith

1964
The Howards of Virginia 6.6

The Howards of Virginia

as Backwoodsman (uncredited)

1940
The Movie Orgy 6.8

The Movie Orgy

as Self (archive footage)

1968
The Great Gatsby 5.4

The Great Gatsby

as Jay Gatsby

1949
Hitler: Beast of Berlin 4.7

Hitler: Beast of Berlin

as Karl Bach

1939
The Man in the Net 5.2

The Man in the Net

as John Hamilton

1959
Appointment with Danger 5.7

Appointment with Danger

as Al Goddard

1950
The Green Hornet 6.0

The Green Hornet

as Gilpin - Student Pilot (uncredited)

1940
Drum Beat 6.1

Drum Beat

as Johnny MacKay

1954
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6 8.8

Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6

as Al - Baby Weems Storyboard Artist (archive footage) (uncredited)

2004
The Red Beret 6.6

The Red Beret

as Steve 'Canada' McKendrick

1953
Souls at Sea 6.5

Souls at Sea

as Sailor (uncredited)

1937
Whispering Smith 6.7

Whispering Smith

as Whispering Smith

1948
The Light of Western Stars 5.0

The Light of Western Stars

as Danny

1940
A Star Is Born World Premiere 8.0

A Star Is Born World Premiere

as Self

1954
Variety Girl 6.5

Variety Girl

as Alan Ladd

1947
Two Years Before the Mast 6.5

Two Years Before the Mast

as Charles Stewart

1946
All the Young Men 6.7

All the Young Men

as Sgt. Kincaid

1960
The Black Knight 6.4

The Black Knight

as John

1954
Victory 9.0

Victory

as Heyst as an 18-Year-Old (uncredited)

1940
Brother Rat and a Baby 6.1

Brother Rat and a Baby

as Cadet in Trouble

1940
The Black Cat 6.4

The Black Cat

as Richard Hartley

1941
George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey 5.8

George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey

as (archive footage)

1985
Chicago Deadline 6.7

Chicago Deadline

as Ed Adams

1949
Lucky Jordan 7.4

Lucky Jordan

as Lucky Jordan

1942
Hell Below Zero 7.0

Hell Below Zero

as Duncan Craig

1954
Great Guns 6.0

Great Guns

as Soldier in Photo Shop (uncredited)

1941
Botany Bay 6.6

Botany Bay

as Hugh Tallant

1952
Star Spangled Rhythm 6.2

Star Spangled Rhythm

as Alan Ladd

1942
Photographic Intelligence for Bombardment Aviation 3.0

Photographic Intelligence for Bombardment Aviation

as Capt. Smith

1943
Calcutta 6.4

Calcutta

as Neale Gordon

1946
Rat Pack 9.0

Rat Pack

as Self (archive footage)

2022
Tom Brown of Culver 6.8

Tom Brown of Culver

as Cadet

1932
Hollywood Victory Caravan 5.6

Hollywood Victory Caravan

as Alan Ladd

1945
The Deep Six 5.7

The Deep Six

as Alexander 'Alec' Austen

1958
Beyond Glory 8.0

Beyond Glory

as Capt. Rockwell 'Rocky' Gilman

1948
Duel of Champions 5.6

Duel of Champions

as Horatius

1961
China 6.9

China

as David Jones

1943
Those Were the Days! 8.0

Those Were the Days!

as Keg Rearick

1940
Saigon 6.0

Saigon

as Major Larry Briggs

1947
13 West Street 6.1

13 West Street

as Walt Sherill

1962
Ellery Queen, Master Detective 5.8

Ellery Queen, Master Detective

as Elevator Passenger (uncredited) (unconfirmed)

1940
The McConnell Story 6.8

The McConnell Story

as Capt. Joseph C. 'Mac' McConnell, Jr.

1955
Petticoat Politics 9.0

Petticoat Politics

as Higgins Daughter's Boyfriend

1941
The Iron Mistress 5.3

The Iron Mistress

as Jim Bowie

1952
Pigskin Parade 6.0

Pigskin Parade

as Student (uncredited)

1936
And Now Tomorrow 6.0

And Now Tomorrow

as Doctor Merek Vance

1944
Once in a Lifetime 7.3

Once in a Lifetime

as Projectionist (uncredited)

1932
Rulers of the Sea 6.7

Rulers of the Sea

as Colin Farrell

1939
A Cry in the Night 5.4

A Cry in the Night

as Opening Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

1956
Freshman Year 10.0

Freshman Year

as Student (uncredited)

1938
Cross-Country Romance 6.7

Cross-Country Romance

as Mr. Williams

1940
Secrets of a Nurse 5.5

Secrets of a Nurse

as Hospital Orderly (uncredited)

1938
Joan of Paris 6.5

Joan of Paris

as "Baby"

1942
The Mysterious Miss X 5.4

The Mysterious Miss X

as Henchman

1939
I Look at You 8.3

I Look at You

as Himself

1941
Come On, Leathernecks! 7.5

Come On, Leathernecks!

as Club Waiter (uncredited)

1938
Desert Legion 6.1

Desert Legion

as Paul Lartal

1953
O.S.S. 6.9

O.S.S.

as John Martin / Lt. (j.g.) Philip Masson, U.S.N.R. / Philippe Martine

1946
Duffy's Tavern 6.4

Duffy's Tavern

as Alan Ladd

1945
In Old Missouri 6.8

In Old Missouri

as John Pittman Jr.

1940
Blame It on Love 4.8

Blame It on Love

as TV Director (uncredited)

1940
Wild Harvest 7.0

Wild Harvest

as Joe Madigan

1947
The Basic Principles of Skiing

The Basic Principles of Skiing

as Self

1941
Meet the Missus 7.0

Meet the Missus

as John Williams

1940
Cadet Girl 8.0

Cadet Girl

as Harry - Musician (uncredited)

1941
Wildcat Bus 5.4

Wildcat Bus

as (uncredited)

1940
Hold 'Em Navy 4.7

Hold 'Em Navy

as Chief Quartermaster (uncredited)

1937
Alan Ladd: The True Quiet Man 8.0

Alan Ladd: The True Quiet Man

as Self (archive footage)

1999
Captain Caution 5.7

Captain Caution

as Newton

1940
Sauce for the Gander 5.0

Sauce for the Gander

as Man on the Spot Reporter

1940
Salty O'Rourke 6.0

Salty O'Rourke

as Salty O'Rourke

1945
Her First Romance 6.5

Her First Romance

as John Gilman

1940
Saturday's Millions 7.0

Saturday's Millions

as Student

1933
The Goldwyn Follies 5.2

The Goldwyn Follies

as First Auditioning Singer (uncredited)

1938
Gangs Inc. 5.6

Gangs Inc.

as Jimmy Kelly aka Bill Dugan

1941
Skirmish on the Home Front 10.0

Skirmish on the Home Front

as Harry W. Average

1944
American Portrait 10.0

American Portrait

as Young man / Old man

1940
All Over Town 6.4

All Over Town

as Young Man (uncredited)

1937
Military Training 7.0

Military Training

as Lieutenant, Platoon Leader, County Fair

1941
Meat and Romance 6.0

Meat and Romance

as Bill Allen

1940
Unfinished Rainbows 9.0

Unfinished Rainbows

as Charles Martin Hall

1941
Petunia Natural Park 6.0

Petunia Natural Park

as Narrator (uncredited)

1939

TV Shows 4

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