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
as Self (archive footage)
Rat Pack
as Self (archive footage)
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6
as Al - Baby Weems Storyboard Artist (archive footage) (uncredited)
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6
as Al - Baby Weems Storyboard Artist (archive footage) (uncredited)
Alan Ladd: The True Quiet Man
as Self (archive footage)
Alan Ladd: The True Quiet Man
as Self (archive footage)
George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey
as (archive footage)
George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey
as (archive footage)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
as (in "This Gun For Hire") (archive footage)
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
as (in "This Gun For Hire") (archive footage)
The Movie Orgy
as Self (archive footage)
The Movie Orgy
as Self (archive footage)
The Carpetbaggers
as Nevada Smith
The Carpetbaggers
as Nevada Smith
13 West Street
as Walt Sherill
13 West Street
as Walt Sherill
Duel of Champions
as Horatius
Duel of Champions
as Horatius
One Foot in Hell
as Mitch Barrett
One Foot in Hell
as Mitch Barrett
All the Young Men
as Sgt. Kincaid
All the Young Men
as Sgt. Kincaid
Guns of the Timberland
as Jim Hadley
Guns of the Timberland
as Jim Hadley
The Man in the Net
as John Hamilton
The Man in the Net
as John Hamilton
The Badlanders
as Peter Van Hoek (The Dutchman)
The Badlanders
as Peter Van Hoek (The Dutchman)
The Proud Rebel
as John Chandler
The Proud Rebel
as John Chandler
The Deep Six
as Alexander 'Alec' Austen
The Deep Six
as Alexander 'Alec' Austen
Boy on a Dolphin
as Dr. James 'Jim' Calder
Boy on a Dolphin
as Dr. James 'Jim' Calder
The Big Land
as Chad Morgan
The Big Land
as Chad Morgan
A Cry in the Night
as Opening Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
A Cry in the Night
as Opening Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Santiago
as Caleb 'Cash' Adams
Santiago
as Caleb 'Cash' Adams
Hell on Frisco Bay
as Steve Rollins
Hell on Frisco Bay
as Steve Rollins
The McConnell Story
as Capt. Joseph C. 'Mac' McConnell, Jr.
The McConnell Story
as Capt. Joseph C. 'Mac' McConnell, Jr.
Drum Beat
as Johnny MacKay
Drum Beat
as Johnny MacKay
A Star Is Born World Premiere
as Self
A Star Is Born World Premiere
as Self
The Black Knight
as John
The Black Knight
as John
Saskatchewan
as Thomas O'Rourke
Saskatchewan
as Thomas O'Rourke
Hell Below Zero
as Duncan Craig
Hell Below Zero
as Duncan Craig
The Red Beret
as Steve 'Canada' McKendrick
The Red Beret
as Steve 'Canada' McKendrick
Desert Legion
as Paul Lartal
Desert Legion
as Paul Lartal
Shane
as Shane
Shane
as Shane
Botany Bay
as Hugh Tallant
Botany Bay
as Hugh Tallant
Thunder in the East
as Steve Gibbs
Thunder in the East
as Steve Gibbs
The Iron Mistress
as Jim Bowie
The Iron Mistress
as Jim Bowie
Red Mountain
as Capt. Brett Sherwood
Red Mountain
as Capt. Brett Sherwood
Branded
as Choya
Branded
as Choya
Appointment with Danger
as Al Goddard
Appointment with Danger
as Al Goddard
Captain Carey, U.S.A.
as Captain Webster Carey
Captain Carey, U.S.A.
as Captain Webster Carey
Chicago Deadline
as Ed Adams
Chicago Deadline
as Ed Adams
The Great Gatsby
as Jay Gatsby
The Great Gatsby
as Jay Gatsby
Whispering Smith
as Whispering Smith
Whispering Smith
as Whispering Smith
Beyond Glory
as Capt. Rockwell 'Rocky' Gilman
Beyond Glory
as Capt. Rockwell 'Rocky' Gilman
Saigon
as Major Larry Briggs
Saigon
as Major Larry Briggs
Wild Harvest
as Joe Madigan
Wild Harvest
as Joe Madigan
Variety Girl
as Alan Ladd
Variety Girl
as Alan Ladd
My Favorite Brunette
as Sam McCloud (uncredited)
My Favorite Brunette
as Sam McCloud (uncredited)
Calcutta
as Neale Gordon
Calcutta
as Neale Gordon
Two Years Before the Mast
as Charles Stewart
Two Years Before the Mast
as Charles Stewart
O.S.S.
as John Martin / Lt. (j.g.) Philip Masson, U.S.N.R. / Philippe Martine
O.S.S.
as John Martin / Lt. (j.g.) Philip Masson, U.S.N.R. / Philippe Martine
The Blue Dahlia
as Johnny Morrison
The Blue Dahlia
as Johnny Morrison
Hollywood Victory Caravan
as Alan Ladd
Hollywood Victory Caravan
as Alan Ladd
Duffy's Tavern
as Alan Ladd
Duffy's Tavern
as Alan Ladd
Salty O'Rourke
as Salty O'Rourke
Salty O'Rourke
as Salty O'Rourke
And Now Tomorrow
as Doctor Merek Vance
And Now Tomorrow
as Doctor Merek Vance
Skirmish on the Home Front
as Harry W. Average
Skirmish on the Home Front
as Harry W. Average
China
as David Jones
China
as David Jones
Photographic Intelligence for Bombardment Aviation
as Capt. Smith
Photographic Intelligence for Bombardment Aviation
as Capt. Smith
Lucky Jordan
as Lucky Jordan
Lucky Jordan
as Lucky Jordan
The Glass Key
as Ed Beaumont
The Glass Key
as Ed Beaumont
This Gun for Hire
as Philip Raven
This Gun for Hire
as Philip Raven
Star Spangled Rhythm
as Alan Ladd
Star Spangled Rhythm
as Alan Ladd
Joan of Paris
as "Baby"
Joan of Paris
as "Baby"
Unfinished Rainbows
as Charles Martin Hall
Unfinished Rainbows
as Charles Martin Hall
Military Training
as Lieutenant, Platoon Leader, County Fair
Military Training
as Lieutenant, Platoon Leader, County Fair
Cadet Girl
as Harry - Musician (uncredited)
Cadet Girl
as Harry - Musician (uncredited)
Great Guns
as Soldier in Photo Shop (uncredited)
Great Guns
as Soldier in Photo Shop (uncredited)
The Reluctant Dragon
as Baby Weems Storyboard Artist
The Reluctant Dragon
as Baby Weems Storyboard Artist
Gangs Inc.
as Jimmy Kelly aka Bill Dugan
Gangs Inc.
as Jimmy Kelly aka Bill Dugan
The Black Cat
as Richard Hartley
The Black Cat
as Richard Hartley
Citizen Kane
as Reporter Smoking Pipe at End (uncredited)
Citizen Kane
as Reporter Smoking Pipe at End (uncredited)
I Look at You
as Himself
I Look at You
as Himself
Petticoat Politics
as Higgins Daughter's Boyfriend
Petticoat Politics
as Higgins Daughter's Boyfriend
Her First Romance
as John Gilman
Her First Romance
as John Gilman
Victory
as Heyst as an 18-Year-Old (uncredited)
Victory
as Heyst as an 18-Year-Old (uncredited)
Ellery Queen, Master Detective
as Elevator Passenger (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Ellery Queen, Master Detective
as Elevator Passenger (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Meet the Missus
as John Williams
Meet the Missus
as John Williams
Meat and Romance
as Bill Allen
Meat and Romance
as Bill Allen
The Howards of Virginia
as Backwoodsman (uncredited)
The Howards of Virginia
as Backwoodsman (uncredited)
Wildcat Bus
as (uncredited)
Wildcat Bus
as (uncredited)
Captain Caution
as Newton
Captain Caution
as Newton
American Portrait
as Young man / Old man
American Portrait
as Young man / Old man
Those Were the Days!
as Keg Rearick
Those Were the Days!
as Keg Rearick
Cross-Country Romance
as Mr. Williams
Cross-Country Romance
as Mr. Williams
Blame It on Love
as TV Director (uncredited)
Blame It on Love
as TV Director (uncredited)
In Old Missouri
as John Pittman Jr.
In Old Missouri
as John Pittman Jr.
The Light of Western Stars
as Danny
The Light of Western Stars
as Danny
Sauce for the Gander
as Man on the Spot Reporter
Sauce for the Gander
as Man on the Spot Reporter
Brother Rat and a Baby
as Cadet in Trouble
Brother Rat and a Baby
as Cadet in Trouble
The Green Hornet
as Gilpin - Student Pilot (uncredited)
The Green Hornet
as Gilpin - Student Pilot (uncredited)
Rulers of the Sea
as Colin Farrell
Rulers of the Sea
as Colin Farrell
Hitler: Beast of Berlin
as Karl Bach
Hitler: Beast of Berlin
as Karl Bach
The Mysterious Miss X
as Henchman
The Mysterious Miss X
as Henchman
Petunia Natural Park
as Narrator (uncredited)
Petunia Natural Park
as Narrator (uncredited)
Secrets of a Nurse
as Hospital Orderly (uncredited)
Secrets of a Nurse
as Hospital Orderly (uncredited)
Freshman Year
as Student (uncredited)
Freshman Year
as Student (uncredited)
Come On, Leathernecks!
as Club Waiter (uncredited)
Come On, Leathernecks!
as Club Waiter (uncredited)
The Goldwyn Follies
as First Auditioning Singer (uncredited)
The Goldwyn Follies
as First Auditioning Singer (uncredited)
Hold 'Em Navy
as Chief Quartermaster (uncredited)
Hold 'Em Navy
as Chief Quartermaster (uncredited)
Souls at Sea
as Sailor (uncredited)
Souls at Sea
as Sailor (uncredited)
All Over Town
as Young Man (uncredited)
All Over Town
as Young Man (uncredited)
The Last Train from Madrid
as Soldier (uncredited)
The Last Train from Madrid
as Soldier (uncredited)
Pigskin Parade
as Student (uncredited)
Pigskin Parade
as Student (uncredited)
Murder at the Vanities
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Murder at the Vanities
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Saturday's Millions
as Student
Saturday's Millions
as Student
Once in a Lifetime
as Projectionist (uncredited)
Once in a Lifetime
as Projectionist (uncredited)
Tom Brown of Culver
as Cadet
Tom Brown of Culver
as Cadet