Alan Ladd
Acting
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.
Known for
Acting107
movieRat Pack
2022
Self (archive footage)
movieWalt Disney's Fables - Vol.6
2004
Al - Baby Weems Storyboard Artist (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieAlan Ladd: The True Quiet Man
1999
Self (archive footage)
movieHollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieDead Men Don't Wear Plaid
1982
(in "This Gun For Hire") (archive footage)
movieThe Movie Orgy
1968
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Carpetbaggers
1964
Nevada Smith
movie13 West Street
1962
Walt Sherill
movieDuel of Champions
1961
Horatius
movieOne Foot in Hell
1960
Mitch Barrett
movieAll the Young Men
1960
Sgt. Kincaid
movieGuns of the Timberland
1960
Jim Hadley
movieThe Man in the Net
1959
John Hamilton
movieThe Badlanders
1958
Peter Van Hoek (The Dutchman)
movieThe Proud Rebel
1958
John Chandler
movieThe Deep Six
1958
Alexander 'Alec' Austen
movieBoy on a Dolphin
1957
Dr. James 'Jim' Calder
movieThe Big Land
1957
Chad Morgan
movieA Cry in the Night
1956
Opening Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
movieSantiago
1956
Caleb 'Cash' Adams
movieHell on Frisco Bay
1955
Steve Rollins
movieThe McConnell Story
1955
Capt. Joseph C. 'Mac' McConnell, Jr.
movieDrum Beat
1954
Johnny MacKay
movieSaskatchewan
1954
Thomas O'Rourke
movieHell Below Zero
1954
Duncan Craig
movieThe Red Beret
1953
Steve 'Canada' McKendrick
movieDesert Legion
1953
Paul Lartal
movieShane
1953
Shane
tvGeneral Electric Theater
1953
Dan Holiday / Joe / Dan Donlan
movieBotany Bay
1952
Hugh Tallant
movieThunder in the East
1952
Steve Gibbs
movieThe Iron Mistress
1952
Jim Bowie
movieRed Mountain
1951
Capt. Brett Sherwood
movieBranded
1950
Choya
movieAppointment with Danger
1950
Al Goddard
movieCaptain Carey, U.S.A.
1950
Captain Webster Carey
movieChicago Deadline
1949
Ed Adams
movieThe Great Gatsby
1949
Jay Gatsby
movieWhispering Smith
1948
Whispering Smith
movieBeyond Glory
1948
Capt. Rockwell 'Rocky' Gilman
movieSaigon
1947
Major Larry Briggs
movieWild Harvest
1947
Joe Madigan
movieVariety Girl
1947
Alan Ladd
movieMy Favorite Brunette
1947
Sam McCloud (uncredited)
movieCalcutta
1946
Neale Gordon
movieTwo Years Before the Mast
1946
Charles Stewart
movieO.S.S.
1946
John Martin / Lt. (j.g.) Philip Masson, U.S.N.R. / Philippe Martine
movieThe Blue Dahlia
1946
Johnny Morrison
movieHollywood Victory Caravan
1945
Alan Ladd
movieDuffy's Tavern
1945
Alan Ladd
movieSalty O'Rourke
1945
Salty O'Rourke
movieAnd Now Tomorrow
1944
Doctor Merek Vance
Skirmish on the Home Front
1944
Harry W. Average
movieChina
1943
David Jones
movieLucky Jordan
1942
Lucky Jordan
movieThe Glass Key
1942
Ed Beaumont
movieThis Gun for Hire
1942
Philip Raven
movieStar Spangled Rhythm
1942
Alan Ladd
movieJoan of Paris
1942
"Baby"
Unfinished Rainbows
1941
Charles Martin Hall
Military Training
1941
Lieutenant, Platoon Leader, County Fair
movieCadet Girl
1941
Harry - Musician (uncredited)
movieGreat Guns
1941
Soldier in Photo Shop (uncredited)
movieThe Reluctant Dragon
1941
Baby Weems Storyboard Artist
movieGangs Inc.
1941
Jimmy Kelly aka Bill Dugan
movieThe Black Cat
1941
Richard Hartley
movieCitizen Kane
1941
Reporter Smoking Pipe at End (uncredited)
movieI Look at You
1941
Himself
moviePetticoat Politics
1941
Higgins Daughter's Boyfriend
movieHer First Romance
1940
John Gilman
movieVictory
1940
Heyst as an 18-Year-Old (uncredited)
movieEllery Queen, Master Detective
1940
Elevator Passenger (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
movieMeet the Missus
1940
John Williams
movieMeat and Romance
1940
Bill Allen
movieThe Howards of Virginia
1940
Backwoodsman (uncredited)
movieWildcat Bus
1940
(uncredited)
movieCaptain Caution
1940
Newton
American Portrait
1940
Young man / Old man
movieThose Were the Days!
1940
Keg Rearick
movieCross-Country Romance
1940
Mr. Williams
movieBlame It on Love
1940
TV Director (uncredited)
movieIn Old Missouri
1940
John Pittman Jr.
movieSauce for the Gander
1940
Man on the Spot Reporter
movieBrother Rat and a Baby
1940
Cadet in Trouble
movieThe Green Hornet
1940
Gilpin - Student Pilot (uncredited)
movieRulers of the Sea
1939
Colin Farrell
movieHitler: Beast of Berlin
1939
Karl Bach
movieThe Mysterious Miss X
1939
Henchman
moviePetunia Natural Park
1939
Narrator (uncredited)
movieSecrets of a Nurse
1938
Hospital Orderly (uncredited)
movieFreshman Year
1938
Student (uncredited)
movieCome On, Leathernecks!
1938
Club Waiter (uncredited)
movieThe Goldwyn Follies
1938
First Auditioning Singer (uncredited)
movieHold 'Em Navy
1937
Chief Quartermaster (uncredited)
movieSouls at Sea
1937
Sailor (uncredited)
movieAll Over Town
1937
Young Man (uncredited)
movieThe Last Train from Madrid
1937
Soldier (uncredited)
moviePigskin Parade
1936
Student (uncredited)
movieMurder at the Vanities
1934
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
movieSaturday's Millions
1933
Student
movieOnce in a Lifetime
1932
Projectionist (uncredited)
Production5
movieGuns of the Timberland
1960
Executive Producer
movieThe Big Land
1957
Producer
movieSantiago
1956
Producer
movieHell on Frisco Bay
1955
Producer
movieDrum Beat
1954
Producer