Alan Ladd
Known for: 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.
Filmography
Film
Citizen Kane
Reporter Smoking Pipe at End (uncredited)
1941
Series
The Bob Cummings Show
Self
1955
Film
Shane
Shane
1953
Film
Hollywood Victory Caravan
Alan Ladd
1945
Film
The Movie Orgy
Self (archive footage)
1968
Film
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
(in "This Gun For Hire") (archive footage)
1982
Film
The Reluctant Dragon
Baby Weems Storyboard Artist
1941
Film
Appointment with Danger
Al Goddard
1950
Series
General Electric Theater
Dan Holiday
1953
Series
General Electric Theater
Joe
1953
Series
General Electric Theater
Dan Donlan
1953
Film
Drum Beat
Johnny MacKay
1954
Film
The Blue Dahlia
Johnny Morrison
1946
Film
The Proud Rebel
John Chandler
1958
Film
Boy on a Dolphin
Dr. James 'Jim' Calder
1957
Film
Red Mountain
Capt. Brett Sherwood
1951
Film
Saskatchewan
Thomas O'Rourke
1954
Film
Come On, Leathernecks!
Club Waiter (uncredited)
1938
Film
My Favorite Brunette
Sam McCloud (uncredited)
1947
Film
This Gun for Hire
Philip Raven
1942
Film
Santiago
Caleb 'Cash' Adams
1956
Film
The Badlanders
Peter Van Hoek (The Dutchman)
1958
Film
Variety Girl
Alan Ladd
1947
Film
The Black Cat
Richard Hartley
1941
Film
The Carpetbaggers
Nevada Smith
1964
Film
The Glass Key
Ed Beaumont
1942
Film
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6
Al - Baby Weems Storyboard Artist (archive footage) (uncredited)
2004
Film
Hell Below Zero
Duncan Craig
1954
Film
Great Guns
Soldier in Photo Shop (uncredited)
1941
Film
Salty O'Rourke
Salty O'Rourke
1945
Film
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Self
1954
Film
The Great Gatsby
Jay Gatsby
1949
Film
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983
Film
The Red Beret
Steve 'Canada' McKendrick
1953
Film
The Man in the Net
John Hamilton
1959
Film
Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
2022
Film
The Green Hornet
Gilpin - Student Pilot (uncredited)
1940
Film
Her First Romance
John Gilman
1940
Film
Star Spangled Rhythm
Alan Ladd
1942
Film
Petticoat Politics
Higgins Daughter's Boyfriend
1941
Film
The Big Land
Chad Morgan
1957
Film
The Iron Mistress
Jim Bowie
1952
Film
Lucky Jordan
Lucky Jordan
1942
Film
Guns of the Timberland
Jim Hadley
1960
Film
The Howards of Virginia
Backwoodsman (uncredited)
1940
Film
The Black Knight
John
1954
Film
13 West Street
Walt Sherill
1962
Film
Whispering Smith
Whispering Smith
1948
Film
Saigon
Major Larry Briggs
1947
Film
Branded
Choya
1950
Film
Hell on Frisco Bay
Steve Rollins
1955
Film
Botany Bay
Hugh Tallant
1952
Film
Souls at Sea
Sailor (uncredited)
1937
Film
Rulers of the Sea
Colin Farrell
1939
Film
Desert Legion
Paul Lartal
1953
Film
The Last Train from Madrid
Soldier (uncredited)
1937
Film
Brother Rat and a Baby
Cadet in Trouble
1940
Film
Two Years Before the Mast
Charles Stewart
1946
Film
Captain Caution
Newton
1940
Film
Calcutta
Neale Gordon
1946
Film
Joan of Paris
"Baby"
1942
Film
Murder at the Vanities
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
1934
Film
The Deep Six
Alexander 'Alec' Austen
1958
Film
The McConnell Story
Capt. Joseph C. 'Mac' McConnell, Jr.
1955
Film
Thunder in the East
Steve Gibbs
1952
Film
Duel of Champions
Horatius
1961
Film
Duffy's Tavern
Alan Ladd
1945
Film
George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey
(archive footage)
1985
Film
Captain Carey, U.S.A.
Captain Webster Carey
1950
Film
Beyond Glory
Capt. Rockwell 'Rocky' Gilman
1948
Film
Chicago Deadline
Ed Adams
1949
Film
And Now Tomorrow
Doctor Merek Vance
1944
Film
Cadet Girl
Harry - Musician (uncredited)
1941
Film
All the Young Men
Sgt. Kincaid
1960
Film
A Cry in the Night
Opening Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1956
Film
O.S.S.
John Martin / Lt. (j.g.) Philip Masson, U.S.N.R. / Philippe Martine
1946
Film
Ellery Queen, Master Detective
Elevator Passenger (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
1940
Film
Cross-Country Romance
Mr. Williams
1940
Film
One Foot in Hell
Mitch Barrett
1960
Film
Once in a Lifetime
Projectionist (uncredited)
1932
Film
All Over Town
Young Man (uncredited)
1937
Film
Pigskin Parade
Student (uncredited)
1936
Film
Meat and Romance
Bill Allen
1940
Film
Alan Ladd: The True Quiet Man
Self (archive footage)
1999
Film
Hitler: Beast of Berlin
Karl Bach
1939
Film
Tom Brown of Culver
Cadet
1932
Film
The Light of Western Stars
Danny
1940
Film
China
David Jones
1943
Skirmish on the Home Front
Harry W. Average
1944
Film
Wild Harvest
Joe Madigan
1947
Film
Gangs Inc.
Jimmy Kelly aka Bill Dugan
1941
Film
Victory
Heyst as an 18-Year-Old (uncredited)
1940
Film
Meet the Missus
John Williams
1940
Film
Saturday's Millions
Student
1933
Film
The Goldwyn Follies
First Auditioning Singer (uncredited)
1938
Film
The Mysterious Miss X
Henchman
1939
Film
Sauce for the Gander
Man on the Spot Reporter
1940
American Portrait
Young man / Old man
1940
Film
Wildcat Bus
(uncredited)
1940
Film
Those Were the Days!
Keg Rearick
1940
Unfinished Rainbows
Charles Martin Hall
1941
Film
Secrets of a Nurse
Hospital Orderly (uncredited)
1938
Film
Petunia Natural Park
Narrator (uncredited)
1939
Film
Hold 'Em Navy
Chief Quartermaster (uncredited)
1937
Film
I Look at You
Himself
1941
Film
Blame It on Love
TV Director (uncredited)
1940
Film
Freshman Year
Student (uncredited)
1938
Film
Photographic Intelligence for Bombardment Aviation
Capt. Smith
1943
Military Training
Lieutenant, Platoon Leader, County Fair
1941
Film
In Old Missouri
John Pittman Jr.
1940