Alan Ladd
AKA: Alan Walbridge Ladd
Birthday: 1913-09-03
Died: 1964-01-29
Birthplace: Hot Springs, Arkansas USA
Alan Walbridge Ladd was an American actor and film and television producer. Ladd found success in film the 1940s and early 1950s, particularly in Westerns and film noirs where he was often paired with Veronica Lake, as she was one of the few Hollywood actresses shorter than he. His popularity diminished in the late 1950s, though he continued to appear in popular films until his death from cerebral edema in January 1964.
Ladd was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, but later relocated to North Hollywood, California when his mother re-married. He worked briefly as a studio carpenter (as did his stepfather) and for a short time was part of the Universal Pictures studio school for actors. Intent on acting, he found work in small theatres. He had short term stints at MGM and RKO, and eventually started getting steady work on radio. Ladd began by appearing in dozens of films in small roles, including Citizen Kane , before reaching recognition for his 1942 appearance in This Gun for Hire, invigorating Hollywood's desire for gangster-crime features. His cool, unsmiling persona proved popular with wartime audiences, and he was quickly established as one of the top box office stars of the decade.
Filmography
Character: Baby Weems Storyboard Artist
Character: (in "This Gun For Hire") (archive footage)
Character: Major Larry Briggs
Character: Richard Hartley
Character: Whispering Smith
Character: Dr. James 'Jim' Calder
Character: Johnny Morrison
Character: Jimmy Kelly aka Bill Dugan
Character: Steve 'Canada' McKendrick
Character: Peter Van Hoek (The Dutchman)
Character: John Martin / Lt. (j.g.) Philip Masson, U.S.N.R. / Philippe Martine
Character: Capt. Joseph C. 'Mac' McConnell, Jr.
Character: Alexander 'Alec' Austen
Character: Capt. Rockwell 'Rocky' Gilman
Character: Salty O'Rourke
Character: Captain Webster Carey
Character: Doctor Merek Vance
Character: Capt. Brett Sherwood
Character: Thomas O'Rourke
Character: Caleb 'Cash' Adams
Character: Charles Stewart
Character: Harry W. Average
Character: Reporter Smoking Pipe at End (uncredited)
Character: Young man / Old man
Character: Cadet in Trouble
Character: John Pittman Jr.
Character: Man on the Spot Reporter
Character: Al - Baby Weems Storyboard Artist (archive footage)
Character: Self (archive footage)
Character: Self (archive footage)
Character: Self (archive footage)
Character: Higgins Daughter's Boyfriend
Character: Projectionist (uncredited)
Character: Sam McCloud (uncredited)
Character: Harry - Musician (uncredited)
Character: Soldier in Photo Shop (uncredited)
Character: Heyst as an 18-Year-Old (uncredited)
Character: Backwoodsman (uncredited)
Character: TV Director (uncredited)
Character: Gilpin - Student Pilot (uncredited)
Character: First Auditioning Singer (uncredited)
Character: Chief Quartermaster (uncredited)
Character: Sailor (uncredited)
Character: Student (uncredited)
Character: Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Character: Philip Raven in This Gun For Hire (archive footage)
Character: Opening Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Character: Narrator (uncredited)
Character: Hospital Orderly (uncredited)
Character: Student (uncredited)
Character: Club Waiter (uncredited)
Character: Young Man (uncredited)
Character: Soldier (uncredited)
Character: Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Character: Elevator Passenger (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Character: Self (archive footage)