Photo of Alan Ladd
Acting

Alan Ladd

Profession
Acting
Born
September 3, 1913 · Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA
Died
January 29, 1964

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.

Known for

Citizen Kane poster
Citizen Kane
Film · 1941 · ★ 8.0
Shane poster
Shane
Film · 1953 · ★ 7.3
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid poster
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
Film · 1982 · ★ 6.6
This Gun for Hire poster
This Gun for Hire
Film · 1942 · ★ 7.0
The Blue Dahlia poster
The Blue Dahlia
Film · 1946 · ★ 6.7
The Reluctant Dragon poster
The Reluctant Dragon
Film · 1941 · ★ 6.6
The Glass Key poster
The Glass Key
Film · 1942 · ★ 6.7
My Favorite Brunette poster
My Favorite Brunette
Film · 1947 · ★ 6.6
The Proud Rebel poster
The Proud Rebel
Film · 1958 · ★ 6.0
The Badlanders poster
The Badlanders
Film · 1958 · ★ 6.2
The Black Cat poster
The Black Cat
Film · 1941 · ★ 6.4
Great Guns poster
Great Guns
Film · 1941 · ★ 6.0

Filmography