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.
TV Shows(2)
Movies(106)
Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
2022
Los Angeles Plays Itself
Philip Raven in This Gun For Hire (archive footage)
2004
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6
Al - Baby Weems Storyboard Artist (archive footage) (uncredited)
2004
Alan Ladd: The True Quiet Man
Self (archive footage)
1999
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
(in "This Gun For Hire") (archive footage)
1982
The Movie Orgy
Self (archive footage)
1968
The Carpetbaggers
Nevada Smith
1964
13 West Street
Walt Sherill
1962
Duel of Champions
Horatius
1961
One Foot in Hell
Mitch Barrett
1960
All the Young Men
Sgt. Kincaid
1960
Guns of the Timberland
Jim Hadley
1960
The Man in the Net
John Hamilton
1959
The Badlanders
Peter Van Hoek (The Dutchman)
1958
The Proud Rebel
John Chandler
1958
The Deep Six
Alexander 'Alec' Austen
1958
Boy on a Dolphin
Dr. James 'Jim' Calder
1957
The Big Land
Chad Morgan
1957
A Cry in the Night
Opening Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1956
Santiago
Caleb 'Cash' Adams
1956
Hell on Frisco Bay
Steve Rollins
1955
The McConnell Story
Capt. Joseph C. 'Mac' McConnell, Jr.
1955
Drum Beat
Johnny MacKay
1954
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Self
1954
The Black Knight
John
1954
Saskatchewan
Thomas O'Rourke
1954
Hell Below Zero
Duncan Craig
1954
The Red Beret
Steve 'Canada' McKendrick
1953
Desert Legion
Paul Lartal
1953
Shane
Shane
1953
Botany Bay
Hugh Tallant
1952
Thunder in the East
Steve Gibbs
1952
The Iron Mistress
Jim Bowie
1952
Red Mountain
Capt. Brett Sherwood
1951
Branded
Choya
1950
Appointment with Danger
Al Goddard
1950
Captain Carey, U.S.A.
Captain Webster Carey
1950
Chicago Deadline
Ed Adams
1949
The Great Gatsby
Jay Gatsby
1949
Whispering Smith
Whispering Smith
1948
Beyond Glory
Capt. Rockwell 'Rocky' Gilman
1948
Saigon
Major Larry Briggs
1947
Wild Harvest
Joe Madigan
1947
Variety Girl
Alan Ladd
1947
My Favorite Brunette
Sam McCloud (uncredited)
1947
Calcutta
Neale Gordon
1946
Two Years Before the Mast
Charles Stewart
1946
O.S.S.
John Martin / Lt. (j.g.) Philip Masson, U.S.N.R. / Philippe Martine
1946
The Blue Dahlia
Johnny Morrison
1946
Hollywood Victory Caravan
Alan Ladd
1945
Duffy's Tavern
Alan Ladd
1945
Salty O'Rourke
Salty O'Rourke
1945
And Now Tomorrow
Doctor Merek Vance
1944
Skirmish on the Home Front
Harry W. Average
1944
China
David Jones
1943
Photographic Intelligence for Bombardment Aviation
Capt. Smith
1943
Lucky Jordan
Lucky Jordan
1942
The Glass Key
Ed Beaumont
1942
This Gun for Hire
Philip Raven
1942
Star Spangled Rhythm
Alan Ladd
1942
Joan of Paris
"Baby"
1942
Unfinished Rainbows
Charles Martin Hall
1941
Military Training
Lieutenant, Platoon Leader, County Fair
1941
Cadet Girl
Harry - Musician (uncredited)
1941
Great Guns
Soldier in Photo Shop (uncredited)
1941
The Reluctant Dragon
Baby Weems Storyboard Artist
1941
Gangs Inc.
Jimmy Kelly aka Bill Dugan
1941
The Black Cat
Richard Hartley
1941
Citizen Kane
Reporter Smoking Pipe at End (uncredited)
1941
I Look at You
Himself
1941
Petticoat Politics
Higgins Daughter's Boyfriend
1941
Her First Romance
John Gilman
1940
Victory
Heyst as an 18-Year-Old (uncredited)
1940
Ellery Queen, Master Detective
Elevator Passenger (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
1940
Meet the Missus
John Williams
1940
Meat and Romance
Bill Allen
1940
The Howards of Virginia
Backwoodsman (uncredited)
1940
Wildcat Bus
(uncredited)
1940
Captain Caution
Newton
1940
American Portrait
Young man / Old man
1940
Those Were the Days!
Keg Rearick
1940
Cross-Country Romance
Mr. Williams
1940
Blame It on Love
TV Director (uncredited)
1940
In Old Missouri
John Pittman Jr.
1940
The Light of Western Stars
Danny
1940
Sauce for the Gander
Man on the Spot Reporter
1940
Brother Rat and a Baby
Cadet in Trouble
1940
The Green Hornet
Gilpin - Student Pilot (uncredited)
1940
Rulers of the Sea
Colin Farrell
1939
Hitler: Beast of Berlin
Karl Bach
1939
The Mysterious Miss X
Henchman
1939
Petunia Natural Park
Narrator (uncredited)
1939
Secrets of a Nurse
Hospital Orderly (uncredited)
1938
Freshman Year
Student (uncredited)
1938
Come On, Leathernecks!
Club Waiter (uncredited)
1938
The Goldwyn Follies
First Auditioning Singer (uncredited)
1938
Hold 'Em Navy
Chief Quartermaster (uncredited)
1937
Souls at Sea
Sailor (uncredited)
1937
All Over Town
Young Man (uncredited)
1937
The Last Train from Madrid
Soldier (uncredited)
1937
Pigskin Parade
Student (uncredited)
1936
Murder at the Vanities
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
1934
Saturday's Millions
Student
1933
Once in a Lifetime
Projectionist (uncredited)
1932
Tom Brown of Culver
Cadet
1932