Alan Ladd

Alan Ladd

Acting
Born 1913-09-03 - Died 1964-01-29Hot 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 (106)

Citizen Kane
8.0

Citizen Kane

1941Movie8.0
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
6.6

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

1982Movie6.6
Shane
7.3

Shane

1953Movie7.3
The Iron Mistress
5.3

The Iron Mistress

1952Movie5.3
The Glass Key
6.7

The Glass Key

1942Movie6.7
The Reluctant Dragon
6.6

The Reluctant Dragon

1941Movie6.6
The Movie Orgy
6.8

The Movie Orgy

1968Movie6.8
The Last Train from Madrid
4.8

The Last Train from Madrid

1937Movie4.8
Boy on a Dolphin
5.8

Boy on a Dolphin

1957Movie5.8
The Badlanders
6.2

The Badlanders

1958Movie6.2
The Proud Rebel
6.0

The Proud Rebel

1958Movie6.0
The Blue Dahlia
6.7

The Blue Dahlia

1946Movie6.7
The Black Cat
6.4

The Black Cat

1941Movie6.4
Saskatchewan
6.0

Saskatchewan

1954Movie6.0
This Gun for Hire
7.0

This Gun for Hire

1942Movie7.0
Santiago
5.8

Santiago

1956Movie5.8
Great Guns
6.0

Great Guns

1941Movie6.0
And Now Tomorrow
6.0

And Now Tomorrow

1944Movie6.0
Cross-Country Romance
6.7

Cross-Country Romance

1940Movie6.7
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
7.0

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

1983Movie7.0
Joan of Paris
6.5

Joan of Paris

1942Movie6.5
Souls at Sea
6.5

Souls at Sea

1937Movie6.5
Brother Rat and a Baby
6.1

Brother Rat and a Baby

1940Movie6.1
The McConnell Story
6.8

The McConnell Story

1955Movie6.8
Hell on Frisco Bay
5.3

Hell on Frisco Bay

1955Movie5.3
My Favorite Brunette
6.7

My Favorite Brunette

1947Movie6.7
Chicago Deadline
6.7

Chicago Deadline

1949Movie6.7
Thunder in the East
5.6

Thunder in the East

1952Movie5.6
Rat Pack
9.0

Rat Pack

2022Movie9.0
Star Spangled Rhythm
6.2

Star Spangled Rhythm

1942Movie6.2
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6
8.8

Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6

2004Movie8.8
Hollywood Victory Caravan
5.6

Hollywood Victory Caravan

1945Movie5.6
Beyond Glory
8.0

Beyond Glory

1948Movie8.0
The Black Knight
6.4

The Black Knight

1954Movie6.4
The Carpetbaggers
5.9

The Carpetbaggers

1964Movie5.9
The Goldwyn Follies
5.2

The Goldwyn Follies

1938Movie5.2
The Red Beret
6.7

The Red Beret

1953Movie6.7
Variety Girl
6.5

Variety Girl

1947Movie6.5
The Great Gatsby
5.4

The Great Gatsby

1949Movie5.4
13 West Street
6.1

13 West Street

1962Movie6.1
Saigon
6.0

Saigon

1947Movie6.0
Skirmish on the Home Front
10.0

Skirmish on the Home Front

1944Movie10.0
Secrets of a Nurse
5.5

Secrets of a Nurse

1938Movie5.5
Red Mountain
6.7

Red Mountain

1951Movie6.7
One Foot in Hell
5.3

One Foot in Hell

1960Movie5.3
George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey
5.8

George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey

1985Movie5.8
Drum Beat
6.1

Drum Beat

1954Movie6.1
Hell Below Zero
7.0

Hell Below Zero

1954Movie7.0
Petticoat Politics
9.0

Petticoat Politics

1941Movie9.0
The Man in the Net
5.2

The Man in the Net

1959Movie5.2
Whispering Smith
6.7

Whispering Smith

1948Movie6.7
Guns of the Timberland
6.2

Guns of the Timberland

1960Movie6.2
The Deep Six
5.7

The Deep Six

1958Movie5.7
Wild Harvest
7.0

Wild Harvest

1947Movie7.0
The Howards of Virginia
6.7

The Howards of Virginia

1940Movie6.7
Ellery Queen, Master Detective
5.8

Ellery Queen, Master Detective

1940Movie5.8
Freshman Year
10.0

Freshman Year

1938Movie10.0
Captain Carey, U.S.A.
5.8

Captain Carey, U.S.A.

1950Movie5.8
Calcutta
6.4

Calcutta

1946Movie6.4
A Star Is Born World Premiere
8.0

A Star Is Born World Premiere

1954Movie8.0
Lucky Jordan
7.4

Lucky Jordan

1942Movie7.4
The Big Land
6.5

The Big Land

1957Movie6.5
Appointment with Danger
5.7

Appointment with Danger

1950Movie5.7
Salty O'Rourke
6.0

Salty O'Rourke

1945Movie6.0
China
6.9

China

1943Movie6.9
Branded
6.2

Branded

1950Movie6.2
Botany Bay
6.6

Botany Bay

1952Movie6.6
Meet the Missus
7.0

Meet the Missus

1940Movie7.0
Hitler: Beast of Berlin
4.7

Hitler: Beast of Berlin

1939Movie4.7
The Light of Western Stars
5.0

The Light of Western Stars

1940Movie5.0
Duel of Champions
5.6

Duel of Champions

1961Movie5.6
Two Years Before the Mast
6.5

Two Years Before the Mast

1946Movie6.5
The Green Hornet
6.0

The Green Hornet

1940Movie6.0
Desert Legion
6.1

Desert Legion

1953Movie6.1
Hold 'Em Navy
4.7

Hold 'Em Navy

1937Movie4.7
A Cry in the Night
5.4

A Cry in the Night

1956Movie5.4
Murder at the Vanities
5.6

Murder at the Vanities

1934Movie5.6
Duffy's Tavern
6.4

Duffy's Tavern

1945Movie6.4
O.S.S.
6.9

O.S.S.

1946Movie6.9
Cadet Girl
8.0

Cadet Girl

1941Movie8.0
Come On, Leathernecks!
7.5

Come On, Leathernecks!

1938Movie7.5
Pigskin Parade
6.1

Pigskin Parade

1936Movie6.1
Gangs Inc.
5.6

Gangs Inc.

1941Movie5.6
Alan Ladd: The True Quiet Man
8.0

Alan Ladd: The True Quiet Man

1999Movie8.0
Captain Caution
5.7

Captain Caution

1940Movie5.7
Photographic Intelligence for Bombardment Aviation
3.0

Photographic Intelligence for Bombardment Aviation

1943Movie3.0
Rulers of the Sea
6.7

Rulers of the Sea

1939Movie6.7
All the Young Men
6.7

All the Young Men

1960Movie6.7
I Look at You
8.3

I Look at You

1941Movie8.3
The Mysterious Miss X
5.4

The Mysterious Miss X

1939Movie5.4
Sauce for the Gander
5.0

Sauce for the Gander

1940Movie5.0
Saturday's Millions
7.0

Saturday's Millions

1933Movie7.0
Her First Romance
6.5

Her First Romance

1940Movie6.5
Tom Brown of Culver
6.8

Tom Brown of Culver

1932Movie6.8
Victory
9.0

Victory

1940Movie9.0
Once in a Lifetime
7.3

Once in a Lifetime

1932Movie7.3
Wildcat Bus
5.5

Wildcat Bus

1940Movie5.5
Those Were the Days!
8.0

Those Were the Days!

1940Movie8.0
American Portrait
10.0

American Portrait

1940Movie10.0
Unfinished Rainbows
9.0

Unfinished Rainbows

1941Movie9.0
Meat and Romance
6.0

Meat and Romance

1940Movie6.0
In Old Missouri
6.8

In Old Missouri

1940Movie6.8
Petunia Natural Park
6.0

Petunia Natural Park

1939Movie6.0
All Over Town
6.4

All Over Town

1937Movie6.4
Blame It on Love
4.8

Blame It on Love

1940Movie4.8
Military Training
7.0

Military Training

1941Movie7.0

TV Shows (2)

The Bob Cummings Show
6.3

The Bob Cummings Show

1955Series6.3
General Electric Theater
6.8

General Electric Theater

1953Series6.8