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.
105 movies · 2 shows
Rat Pack
2022·9.0
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6
2004·8.8
Alan Ladd: The True Quiet Man
1999·8.0
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983·7.0
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
1982·6.7
The Movie Orgy
1968·6.7
The Carpetbaggers
1964·5.9
13 West Street
1962·6.1
Duel of Champions
1961·5.6
One Foot in Hell
1960·5.3
All the Young Men
1960·6.7
Guns of the Timberland
1960·6.2
The Man in the Net
1959·5.2
The Badlanders
1958·6.2
The Proud Rebel
1958·6.1
The Deep Six
1958·5.7
Boy on a Dolphin
1957·5.8
The Big Land
1957·6.5
A Cry in the Night
1956·5.4
Santiago
1956·5.8
Hell on Frisco Bay
1955·5.3
The McConnell Story
1955·6.8
Drum Beat
1954·6.1
A Star Is Born World Premiere
1954·8.0
The Black Knight
1954·6.4
Saskatchewan
1954·6.0
Hell Below Zero
1954·7.0
The Red Beret
1953·6.7
Desert Legion
1953·6.1
Shane
1953·7.3
Botany Bay
1952·6.6
Thunder in the East
1952·5.6
The Iron Mistress
1952·5.3
Red Mountain
1951·6.7
Branded
1950·6.2
Appointment with Danger
1950·5.7
Captain Carey, U.S.A.
1950·5.8
Chicago Deadline
1949·6.7
The Great Gatsby
1949·5.4
Whispering Smith
1948·6.7
Beyond Glory
1948·8.0
Saigon
1947·6.0
Wild Harvest
1947·7.0
Variety Girl
1947·6.5
My Favorite Brunette
1947·6.6
Calcutta
1946·6.4
Two Years Before the Mast
1946·6.5
O.S.S.
1946·6.9
The Blue Dahlia
1946·6.7
Hollywood Victory Caravan
1945·5.6
Duffy's Tavern
1945·6.4
Salty O'Rourke
1945·6.0
And Now Tomorrow
1944·6.0
Skirmish on the Home Front
1944·10.0
China
1943·6.9
Photographic Intelligence for Bombardment Aviation
1943·3.0
Lucky Jordan
1942·7.4
The Glass Key
1942·6.6
This Gun for Hire
1942·7.0
Star Spangled Rhythm
1942·6.2
Joan of Paris
1942·6.5
Unfinished Rainbows
1941·9.0
Military Training
1941·7.0
Cadet Girl
1941·8.0
Great Guns
1941·5.9
The Reluctant Dragon
1941·6.6
Gangs Inc.
1941·5.6
The Black Cat
1941·6.4
Citizen Kane
1941·8.0
I Look at You
1941·8.3
Petticoat Politics
1941·9.0
Her First Romance
1940·6.5
Victory
1940·9.0
Ellery Queen, Master Detective
1940·5.8
Meet the Missus
1940·7.0
Meat and Romance
1940·6.0
The Howards of Virginia
1940·6.8
Wildcat Bus
1940·5.5
Captain Caution
1940·5.7
American Portrait
1940·10.0
Those Were the Days!
1940·8.0
Cross-Country Romance
1940·6.7
Blame It on Love
1940·4.8
In Old Missouri
1940·6.8
The Light of Western Stars
1940·5.0
Sauce for the Gander
1940·5.0
Brother Rat and a Baby
1940·6.1
The Green Hornet
1940·6.0
Rulers of the Sea
1939·6.7
Hitler: Beast of Berlin
1939·4.7
The Mysterious Miss X
1939·5.4
Petunia Natural Park
1939·6.0
Secrets of a Nurse
1938·5.5
Freshman Year
1938·10.0
Come On, Leathernecks!
1938·7.5
The Goldwyn Follies
1938·5.2
Hold 'Em Navy
1937·4.7
Souls at Sea
1937·6.5
All Over Town
1937·6.4
The Last Train from Madrid
1937·4.8
Pigskin Parade
1936·6.2
Murder at the Vanities
1934·5.6
Saturday's Millions
1933·7.0
Once in a Lifetime
1932·7.3
Tom Brown of Culver
1932·6.8