Acting · Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA · Born September 3, 1913
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.
MovieRat Pack
2022
as Self (archive footage)
MovieWalt Disney's Fables - Vol.6
2004
as Al - Baby Weems Storyboard Artist (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieAlan Ladd: The True Quiet Man
1999
as Self (archive footage)
MovieHollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieDead Men Don't Wear Plaid
1982
as (in "This Gun For Hire") (archive footage)
MovieThe Movie Orgy
1968
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Carpetbaggers
1964
as Nevada Smith
Movie13 West Street
1962
as Walt Sherill
MovieDuel of Champions
1961
as Horatius
MovieOne Foot in Hell
1960
as Mitch Barrett
MovieAll the Young Men
1960
as Sgt. Kincaid
MovieGuns of the Timberland
1960
as Jim Hadley
MovieThe Man in the Net
1959
as John Hamilton
MovieThe Badlanders
1958
as Peter Van Hoek (The Dutchman)
MovieThe Proud Rebel
1958
as John Chandler
MovieThe Deep Six
1958
as Alexander 'Alec' Austen
MovieBoy on a Dolphin
1957
as Dr. James 'Jim' Calder
MovieThe Big Land
1957
as Chad Morgan
MovieA Cry in the Night
1956
as Opening Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
MovieSantiago
1956
as Caleb 'Cash' Adams
MovieHell on Frisco Bay
1955
as Steve Rollins
MovieThe McConnell Story
1955
as Capt. Joseph C. 'Mac' McConnell, Jr.
TVThe Bob Cummings Show
1955
as Self
MovieDrum Beat
1954
as Johnny MacKay
MovieA Star Is Born World Premiere
1954
as Self
MovieThe Black Knight
1954
as John
MovieSaskatchewan
1954
as Thomas O'Rourke
MovieHell Below Zero
1954
as Duncan Craig
MovieThe Red Beret
1953
as Steve 'Canada' McKendrick
MovieDesert Legion
1953
as Paul Lartal
MovieShane
1953
as Shane
TVGeneral Electric Theater
1953
as Dan Holiday
MovieBotany Bay
1952
as Hugh Tallant
MovieThunder in the East
1952
as Steve Gibbs
MovieThe Iron Mistress
1952
as Jim Bowie
MovieRed Mountain
1951
as Capt. Brett Sherwood
MovieBranded
1950
as Choya
MovieAppointment with Danger
1950
as Al Goddard
MovieCaptain Carey, U.S.A.
1950
as Captain Webster Carey
MovieChicago Deadline
1949
as Ed Adams
MovieThe Great Gatsby
1949
as Jay Gatsby
MovieWhispering Smith
1948
as Whispering Smith
MovieBeyond Glory
1948
as Capt. Rockwell 'Rocky' Gilman
MovieSaigon
1947
as Major Larry Briggs
MovieWild Harvest
1947
as Joe Madigan
MovieVariety Girl
1947
as Alan Ladd
MovieMy Favorite Brunette
1947
as Sam McCloud (uncredited)
MovieCalcutta
1946
as Neale Gordon
MovieTwo Years Before the Mast
1946
as Charles Stewart
MovieO.S.S.
1946
as John Martin / Lt. (j.g.) Philip Masson, U.S.N.R. / Philippe Martine
MovieThe Blue Dahlia
1946
as Johnny Morrison
MovieHollywood Victory Caravan
1945
as Alan Ladd
MovieDuffy's Tavern
1945
as Alan Ladd
MovieSalty O'Rourke
1945
as Salty O'Rourke
MovieAnd Now Tomorrow
1944
as Doctor Merek Vance
Skirmish on the Home Front
1944
as Harry W. Average
MovieChina
1943
as David Jones
MoviePhotographic Intelligence for Bombardment Aviation
1943
as Capt. Smith
MovieLucky Jordan
1942
as Lucky Jordan
MovieThe Glass Key
1942
as Ed Beaumont
MovieThis Gun for Hire
1942
as Philip Raven
MovieStar Spangled Rhythm
1942
as Alan Ladd
MovieJoan of Paris
1942
as "Baby"
Unfinished Rainbows
1941
as Charles Martin Hall
Military Training
1941
as Lieutenant, Platoon Leader, County Fair
MovieCadet Girl
1941
as Harry - Musician (uncredited)
MovieGreat Guns
1941
as Soldier in Photo Shop (uncredited)
MovieThe Reluctant Dragon
1941
as Baby Weems Storyboard Artist
MovieGangs Inc.
1941
as Jimmy Kelly aka Bill Dugan
MovieThe Black Cat
1941
as Richard Hartley
MovieCitizen Kane
1941
as Reporter Smoking Pipe at End (uncredited)
MovieI Look at You
1941
as Himself
MoviePetticoat Politics
1941
as Higgins Daughter's Boyfriend
MovieHer First Romance
1940
as John Gilman
MovieVictory
1940
as Heyst as an 18-Year-Old (uncredited)
MovieEllery Queen, Master Detective
1940
as Elevator Passenger (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
MovieMeet the Missus
1940
as John Williams
MovieMeat and Romance
1940
as Bill Allen
MovieThe Howards of Virginia
1940
as Backwoodsman (uncredited)
MovieWildcat Bus
1940
as (uncredited)
MovieCaptain Caution
1940
as Newton
American Portrait
1940
as Young man / Old man
MovieThose Were the Days!
1940
as Keg Rearick
MovieCross-Country Romance
1940
as Mr. Williams
MovieBlame It on Love
1940
as TV Director (uncredited)
MovieIn Old Missouri
1940
as John Pittman Jr.
MovieThe Light of Western Stars
1940
as Danny
MovieSauce for the Gander
1940
as Man on the Spot Reporter
MovieBrother Rat and a Baby
1940
as Cadet in Trouble
MovieThe Green Hornet
1940
as Gilpin - Student Pilot (uncredited)
MovieRulers of the Sea
1939
as Colin Farrell
MovieHitler: Beast of Berlin
1939
as Karl Bach
MovieThe Mysterious Miss X
1939
as Henchman
MoviePetunia Natural Park
1939
as Narrator (uncredited)
MovieSecrets of a Nurse
1938
as Hospital Orderly (uncredited)
MovieFreshman Year
1938
as Student (uncredited)
MovieCome On, Leathernecks!
1938
as Club Waiter (uncredited)
MovieThe Goldwyn Follies
1938
as First Auditioning Singer (uncredited)
MovieHold 'Em Navy
1937
as Chief Quartermaster (uncredited)
MovieSouls at Sea
1937
as Sailor (uncredited)
MovieAll Over Town
1937
as Young Man (uncredited)
MovieThe Last Train from Madrid
1937
as Soldier (uncredited)
MoviePigskin Parade
1936
as Student (uncredited)
MovieMurder at the Vanities
1934
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
MovieSaturday's Millions
1933
as Student
MovieOnce in a Lifetime
1932
as Projectionist (uncredited)
MovieTom Brown of Culver
1932
as Cadet
