Alan Ladd
Known for Acting · 107 credits
- Born
- 1913-09-03
- Died
- 1964-01-29
- Place of birth
- Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA
- Also known as
- Alan Walbridge Ladd
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
The Bob Cummings Show
1955
as Self
Citizen Kane
1941
as Reporter Smoking Pipe at End (uncredited)
Shane
1953
as Shane
General Electric Theater
1953
as Dan Holiday / Joe / Dan Donlan
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
1982
as (in "This Gun For Hire") (archive footage)
The Carpetbaggers
1964
as Nevada Smith
TV Shows (2)
Movies (105)
Citizen Kane
1941
as Reporter Smoking Pipe at End (uncredited)
Shane
1953
as Shane
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
1982
as (in "This Gun For Hire") (archive footage)
The Carpetbaggers
1964
as Nevada Smith
Rat Pack
2022
as Self (archive footage)
The Badlanders
1958
as Peter Van Hoek (The Dutchman)
The Big Land
1957
as Chad Morgan
Lucky Jordan
1942
as Lucky Jordan
Wildcat Bus
1940
as (uncredited)
Saskatchewan
1954
as Thomas O'Rourke
The Glass Key
1942
as Ed Beaumont
The Movie Orgy
1968
as Self (archive footage)
This Gun for Hire
1942
as Philip Raven
The Reluctant Dragon
1941
as Baby Weems Storyboard Artist
Botany Bay
1952
as Hugh Tallant
Branded
1950
as Choya
The Howards of Virginia
1940
as Backwoodsman (uncredited)
Petticoat Politics
1941
as Higgins Daughter's Boyfriend
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Boy on a Dolphin
1957
as Dr. James 'Jim' Calder
Santiago
1956
as Caleb 'Cash' Adams
Red Mountain
1951
as Capt. Brett Sherwood
A Star Is Born World Premiere
1954
as Self
Great Guns
1941
as Soldier in Photo Shop (uncredited)
Variety Girl
1947
as Alan Ladd
Beyond Glory
1948
as Capt. Rockwell 'Rocky' Gilman
Thunder in the East
1952
as Steve Gibbs
Appointment with Danger
1950
as Al Goddard
The Blue Dahlia
1946
as Johnny Morrison
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6
2004
as Al - Baby Weems Storyboard Artist (archive footage) (uncredited)
Two Years Before the Mast
1946
as Charles Stewart
13 West Street
1962
as Walt Sherill
The Great Gatsby
1949
as Jay Gatsby
Pigskin Parade
1936
as Student (uncredited)
Drum Beat
1954
as Johnny MacKay
The Proud Rebel
1958
as John Chandler
The Black Cat
1941
as Richard Hartley
Brother Rat and a Baby
1940
as Cadet in Trouble
The Iron Mistress
1952
as Jim Bowie
The Last Train from Madrid
1937
as Soldier (uncredited)
Hell Below Zero
1954
as Duncan Craig
O.S.S.
1946
as John Martin / Lt. (j.g.) Philip Masson, U.S.N.R. / Philippe Martine
Captain Carey, U.S.A.
1950
as Captain Webster Carey
China
1943
as David Jones
Chicago Deadline
1949
as Ed Adams
The Black Knight
1954
as John
Joan of Paris
1942
as "Baby"
Captain Caution
1940
as Newton
Duel of Champions
1961
as Horatius
Victory
1940
as Heyst as an 18-Year-Old (uncredited)
The Man in the Net
1959
as John Hamilton
Saigon
1947
as Major Larry Briggs
Hell on Frisco Bay
1955
as Steve Rollins
Calcutta
1946
as Neale Gordon
The Green Hornet
1940
as Gilpin - Student Pilot (uncredited)
Come On, Leathernecks!
1938
as Club Waiter (uncredited)
Those Were the Days!
1940
as Keg Rearick
Murder at the Vanities
1934
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Alan Ladd: The True Quiet Man
1999
as Self (archive footage)
Cadet Girl
1941
as Harry - Musician (uncredited)
Ellery Queen, Master Detective
1940
as Elevator Passenger (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Whispering Smith
1948
as Whispering Smith
Hitler: Beast of Berlin
1939
as Karl Bach
Hollywood Victory Caravan
1945
as Alan Ladd
The Deep Six
1958
as Alexander 'Alec' Austen
A Cry in the Night
1956
as Opening Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Star Spangled Rhythm
1942
as Alan Ladd
The Red Beret
1953
as Steve 'Canada' McKendrick
And Now Tomorrow
1944
as Doctor Merek Vance
Gangs Inc.
1941
as Jimmy Kelly aka Bill Dugan
Souls at Sea
1937
as Sailor (uncredited)
My Favorite Brunette
1947
as Sam McCloud (uncredited)
Desert Legion
1953
as Paul Lartal
Salty O'Rourke
1945
as Salty O'Rourke
Once in a Lifetime
1932
as Projectionist (uncredited)
The McConnell Story
1955
as Capt. Joseph C. 'Mac' McConnell, Jr.
Rulers of the Sea
1939
as Colin Farrell
Duffy's Tavern
1945
as Alan Ladd
One Foot in Hell
1960
as Mitch Barrett
Wild Harvest
1947
as Joe Madigan
All the Young Men
1960
as Sgt. Kincaid
Secrets of a Nurse
1938
as Hospital Orderly (uncredited)
The Goldwyn Follies
1938
as First Auditioning Singer (uncredited)
Tom Brown of Culver
1932
as Cadet
Unfinished Rainbows
1941
as Charles Martin Hall
American Portrait
1940
as Young man / Old man
The Light of Western Stars
1940
as Danny
Cross-Country Romance
1940
as Mr. Williams
Her First Romance
1940
as John Gilman
All Over Town
1937
as Young Man (uncredited)
Saturday's Millions
1933
as Student
Freshman Year
1938
as Student (uncredited)
The Mysterious Miss X
1939
as Henchman
Guns of the Timberland
1960
as Jim Hadley
In Old Missouri
1940
as John Pittman Jr.
Petunia Natural Park
1939
as Narrator (uncredited)
Meet the Missus
1940
as John Williams
Sauce for the Gander
1940
as Man on the Spot Reporter
Skirmish on the Home Front
1944
as Harry W. Average
Hold 'Em Navy
1937
as Chief Quartermaster (uncredited)
Blame It on Love
1940
as TV Director (uncredited)
Meat and Romance
1940
as Bill Allen
Photographic Intelligence for Bombardment Aviation
1943
as Capt. Smith
I Look at You
1941
as Himself
Military Training
1941
as Lieutenant, Platoon Leader, County Fair
About Alan Ladd
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 Hollywo… With 107 credits spanning from 1932 to 2022, Alan Ladd has appeared in 105 films and 2 TV shows.
Fans searching for Alan Ladd movies, Alan Ladd filmography, or the latest projects starring Alan Ladd can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Alan Ladd Movies
- Citizen Kane (1941) — as Reporter Smoking Pipe at End (uncredited)
- Shane (1953) — as Shane
- Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982) — as (in "This Gun For Hire") (archive footage)
- The Carpetbaggers (1964) — as Nevada Smith
- Rat Pack (2022) — as Self (archive footage)
Where to Watch Alan Ladd Films
Most Alan Ladd movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Alan Ladd, check our movies catalogue and browse page.