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.
Acted in 96
2000s
- 2004
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6
Al - Baby Weems Storyboard Artist (archive footage) (uncredited)
1980s
- 1985
- 1982
1960s
- 1964
- 1962
- 1961
- 1960
One Foot in Hell
Mitch Barrett
All the Young Men
Sgt. Kincaid
1950s
- 1959
The Man in the Net
John Hamilton
- 1958
The Badlanders
Peter Van Hoek (The Dutchman)
The Deep Six
Alexander 'Alec' Austen
- 1957
Boy on a Dolphin
Dr. James 'Jim' Calder
The Big Land
Chad Morgan
- 1956
A Cry in the Night
Opening Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Santiago
Caleb 'Cash' Adams
- 1955
Hell on Frisco Bay
Steve Rollins
The McConnell Story
Capt. Joseph C. 'Mac' McConnell, Jr.
- 1954
Drum Beat
Johnny MacKay
Saskatchewan
Thomas O'Rourke
Hell Below Zero
Duncan Craig
- 1953
The Red Beret
Steve 'Canada' McKendrick
Desert Legion
Paul Lartal
General Electric Theater
Dan Holiday, Joe, Dan Donlan · 1 episode
- 1952
Botany Bay
Hugh Tallant
Thunder in the East
Steve Gibbs
- 1951
Red Mountain
Capt. Brett Sherwood
- 1950
Appointment with Danger
Al Goddard
Captain Carey, U.S.A.
Captain Webster Carey
1940s
- 1949
Chicago Deadline
Ed Adams
The Great Gatsby
Jay Gatsby
- 1948
Whispering Smith
Whispering Smith
Beyond Glory
Capt. Rockwell 'Rocky' Gilman
- 1947
Saigon
Major Larry Briggs
Wild Harvest
Joe Madigan
Variety Girl
Alan Ladd
- 1946
Calcutta
Neale Gordon
O.S.S.
John Martin / Lt. (j.g.) Philip Masson, U.S.N.R. / Philippe Martine
The Blue Dahlia
Johnny Morrison
- 1945
Hollywood Victory Caravan
Alan Ladd
Duffy's Tavern
Alan Ladd
Salty O'Rourke
Salty O'Rourke
- 1944
And Now Tomorrow
Doctor Merek Vance
- 1943
China
David Jones
Photographic Intelligence for Bombardment Aviation
Capt. Smith
- 1942
Lucky Jordan
Lucky Jordan
The Glass Key
Ed Beaumont
This Gun for Hire
Philip Raven
Star Spangled Rhythm
Alan Ladd
Joan of Paris
"Baby"
- 1941
Cadet Girl
Harry - Musician (uncredited)
Great Guns
Soldier in Photo Shop (uncredited)
Gangs Inc.
Jimmy Kelly aka Bill Dugan
The Black Cat
Richard Hartley
- 1940
Her First Romance
John Gilman
Victory
Heyst as an 18-Year-Old (uncredited)
Ellery Queen, Master Detective
Elevator Passenger (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Meet the Missus
John Williams
Meat and Romance
Bill Allen
The Howards of Virginia
Backwoodsman (uncredited)
Wildcat Bus
(uncredited)
Captain Caution
Newton
Those Were the Days!
Keg Rearick
Cross-Country Romance
Mr. Williams
Blame It on Love
TV Director (uncredited)
In Old Missouri
John Pittman Jr.
Sauce for the Gander
Man on the Spot Reporter
Brother Rat and a Baby
Cadet in Trouble
1930s
- 1939
Rulers of the Sea
Colin Farrell
Hitler: Beast of Berlin
Karl Bach
The Mysterious Miss X
Henchman
- 1938
Secrets of a Nurse
Hospital Orderly (uncredited)
Freshman Year
Student (uncredited)
Come On, Leathernecks!
Club Waiter (uncredited)
- 1937
Hold 'Em Navy
Chief Quartermaster (uncredited)
All Over Town
Young Man (uncredited)
The Last Train from Madrid
Soldier (uncredited)
- 1936
- 1934
Murder at the Vanities
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
- 1933
Saturday's Millions
Student
- 1932
Once in a Lifetime
Projectionist (uncredited)
Tom Brown of Culver
Cadet
Produced 5
1960s
- 1960
1950s
- 1957
The Big Land
Producer
- 1956
Santiago
Producer
- 1955
Hell on Frisco Bay
Producer
- 1954
Drum Beat
Producer
Appearances9
2020s
- 2022
Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
1990s
- 1999
Alan Ladd: The True Quiet Man
Self (archive footage)
1980s
- 1983
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1960s
- 1968
The Movie Orgy
Self (archive footage)
1950s
- 1955
- 1954
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Self
1940s
- 1941
I Look at You
Himself
The Basic Principles of Skiing
Self
1930s
- 1939
Petunia Natural Park
Narrator (uncredited)