Acting
Alan Ladd
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.
Filmography
Rat Pack
Film · 2022
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6
Film · 2004
Alan Ladd: The True Quiet Man
Film · 1999
George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey
Film · 1985
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Film · 1983
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
Film · 1982
The Movie Orgy
Film · 1968
The Carpetbaggers
Film · 1964
13 West Street
Film · 1962
Duel of Champions
Film · 1961
All the Young Men
Film · 1960
One Foot in Hell
Film · 1960
Guns of the Timberland
Film · 1960
The Man in the Net
Film · 1959
The Badlanders
Film · 1958
The Proud Rebel
Film · 1958
The Deep Six
Film · 1958
Boy on a Dolphin
Film · 1957
The Big Land
Film · 1957
A Cry in the Night
Film · 1956
Santiago
Film · 1956
Hell on Frisco Bay
Film · 1955
The McConnell Story
Film · 1955
The Bob Cummings Show
Series · 1955
The Black Knight
Film · 1954
Hell Below Zero
Film · 1954
Drum Beat
Film · 1954
Saskatchewan
Film · 1954
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Film · 1954
Shane
Film · 1953
The Red Beret
Film · 1953
Desert Legion
Film · 1953
General Electric Theater
Series · 1953
General Electric Theater
Series · 1953
General Electric Theater
Series · 1953
The Iron Mistress
Film · 1952
Botany Bay
Film · 1952
Thunder in the East
Film · 1952
Red Mountain
Film · 1951
Appointment with Danger
Film · 1950
Captain Carey, U.S.A.
Film · 1950
Branded
Film · 1950
Chicago Deadline
Film · 1949
The Great Gatsby
Film · 1949
Whispering Smith
Film · 1948
Beyond Glory
Film · 1948
Saigon
Film · 1947
My Favorite Brunette
Film · 1947
Variety Girl
Film · 1947
Wild Harvest
Film · 1947
Calcutta
Film · 1946
The Blue Dahlia
Film · 1946
O.S.S.
Film · 1946
Two Years Before the Mast
Film · 1946
Salty O'Rourke
Film · 1945
Duffy's Tavern
Film · 1945
Hollywood Victory Caravan
Film · 1945
And Now Tomorrow
Film · 1944
Skirmish on the Home Front
Film · 1944
China
Film · 1943
Photographic Intelligence for Bombardment Aviation
Film · 1943
Joan of Paris
Film · 1942
This Gun for Hire
Film · 1942
The Glass Key
Film · 1942
Star Spangled Rhythm
Film · 1942
Lucky Jordan
Film · 1942
The Reluctant Dragon
Film · 1941
Petticoat Politics
Film · 1941
The Black Cat
Film · 1941
Gangs Inc.
Film · 1941
Cadet Girl
Film · 1941
Great Guns
Film · 1941
Citizen Kane
Film · 1941
I Look at You
Film · 1941
Military Training
Film · 1941
Unfinished Rainbows
Film · 1941
Blame It on Love
Film · 1940
The Green Hornet
Film · 1940
Victory
Film · 1940
The Howards of Virginia
Film · 1940
Ellery Queen, Master Detective
Film · 1940
Those Were the Days!
Film · 1940
American Portrait
Film · 1940
Her First Romance
Film · 1940
Brother Rat and a Baby
Film · 1940
In Old Missouri
Film · 1940
Captain Caution
Film · 1940
The Light of Western Stars
Film · 1940
Cross-Country Romance
Film · 1940
Meat and Romance
Film · 1940
Meet the Missus
Film · 1940
Sauce for the Gander
Film · 1940
Wildcat Bus
Film · 1940
Petunia Natural Park
Film · 1939
The Mysterious Miss X
Film · 1939
Hitler: Beast of Berlin
Film · 1939
Rulers of the Sea
Film · 1939
The Goldwyn Follies
Film · 1938
Come On, Leathernecks!
Film · 1938
Freshman Year
Film · 1938
Secrets of a Nurse
Film · 1938
Hold 'Em Navy
Film · 1937
Souls at Sea
Film · 1937
The Last Train from Madrid
Film · 1937
All Over Town
Film · 1937
Pigskin Parade
Film · 1936
Murder at the Vanities
Film · 1934
Saturday's Millions
Film · 1933
Once in a Lifetime
Film · 1932
Tom Brown of Culver
Film · 1932