Alan Ladd facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alan Ladd
Publicity photo of Ladd in late 1950s
Born	Alan Walbridge Ladd (1913-09-03)September 3, 1913 Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S.
Died	January 29, 1964(1964-01-29) (aged 50) Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor film producer
Years active	1932–1964
Height	5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Spouse(s)	Marjorie Jane Harrold ​ ​ (m. 1936; div. 1941)​ Sue Carol ​ (m. 1942)​
Children	3, including Alan Jr. and David Ladd
Relatives	Jordan Ladd (granddaughter)

Alan Walbridge Ladd (born September 3, 1913 – died January 29, 1964) was a famous American actor and film producer. He became very successful in movies during the 1940s and early 1950s. Alan Ladd was especially known for his roles in detective films (called films noir) and Westerns.

He often starred alongside actress Veronica Lake in popular films like This Gun for Hire (1942) and The Glass Key (1942). His Western movie Shane (1953) is still remembered today for its impact on the genre. Ladd also appeared in many films with actor William Bendix.

Other important movies he starred in include Two Years Before the Mast (1946) and The Great Gatsby (1949). Even though his popularity slowed down in the mid-1950s, he kept acting. His last big movie was The Carpetbaggers, released in 1964.

Alan Ladd's Early Life and Career

Growing Up and Early Dreams

Alan Ladd was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on September 3, 1913. He was the only child of Ina Raleigh and Alan Ladd. His mother was from England. Alan's father passed away from a heart attack when Alan was just four years old.

When Alan was five, he accidentally caused a fire that burned down the family home. After this, his mother moved them to Oklahoma City. There, she married Jim Beavers, a house painter.

In the early 1920s, the family moved to California because of money problems. They lived in a camp in Pasadena, California, before settling in the San Fernando Valley. Jim Beavers found work as a painter at FBO Studios.

High School and First Steps into Acting

Alan Ladd started at North Hollywood High School in 1930. He was a champion in swimming and diving. In his last year of high school, he joined the drama club. He even played a role in the play The Mikado. His diving skills also led him to perform in a water show called Marinella in 1933.

A talent scout saw Ladd's performance in The Mikado. In August 1933, he signed a contract with Universal Pictures. He appeared in a movie called Once in a Lifetime (1932). However, the studio thought he was too blond and too short. They let him go after six months.

After high school, Ladd tried different jobs. He worked in advertising for a newspaper and even opened his own hamburger shop called Tiny's Patio. He also worked at Warner Bros. as a grip, which means he helped move equipment on movie sets.

Learning to Act and Radio Success

Ladd decided to go to an acting school run by Ben Bard. Bard had taught him before at Universal. Ladd performed in several plays there. Bard helped him improve his voice, making it deeper and stronger.

In 1936, Ladd had a small, uncredited role in Pigskin Parade. He also had short jobs at MGM and RKO. He found steady acting work in radio. Ladd had worked hard to develop a rich, deep voice that was perfect for radio. In 1936, he was hired by station KFWB as their only radio actor. He worked on as many as 20 shows each week for three years.

Finding an Agent and Bigger Roles

One night, Alan Ladd was playing both a father and son on the radio. An agent named Sue Carol heard him. She was very impressed and called the station. When she found out it was one person playing both roles, she arranged to meet him. Impressed by his looks, she signed him as her client. She worked hard to get him roles in both films and radio.

Ladd's first important role with Sue Carol was in the 1939 film Rulers of the Sea. He earned $250 per week for this part. He also got attention for a small role in Hitler – Beast of Berlin (1939).

He tried out for the main role in Golden Boy (1939) but didn't get it. Still, he landed many other small parts. These included roles in The Green Hornet (1940), The Black Cat (1941), and even a Disney film, The Reluctant Dragon (1941). He also had a small, uncredited part in the famous movie Citizen Kane.

Ladd's career really took off when he got a featured role in Joan of Paris (1942). This was a wartime drama made at RKO. It was a small part, but his emotional death scene got him noticed in the film industry. RKO offered him a contract for $400 per week. However, he soon received an even better offer from Paramount.

Becoming a Movie Star

This Gun for Hire and Instant Fame

Ladd with Brian Donlevy and Esther Fernández in Two Years Before the Mast (1946)

Paramount had the rights to a novel called A Gun for Sale by Graham Greene. They decided to make it into a movie in 1941, changing the title to This Gun for Hire. The director, Frank Tuttle, was looking for a new actor to play the character Raven. Alan Ladd auditioned and got the part! Paramount signed him to a long-term contract in September 1941 for $300 per week.

The New York Times newspaper wrote about how Ladd had been trying to get into movies for eight years. He tried everything, from extra work to acting schools, but had no luck until Sue Carol helped him.

This movie and Ladd's performance were very important for the "gangster" movie style. Even though Robert Preston was the main romantic lead, Ladd's pairing with Veronica Lake really caught the public's attention. They became an instant hit together! They starred in three more films and made guest appearances in other wartime musical shows.

The Glass Key and Growing Popularity

Promotional photo for The Glass Key (1942); fltr: Brian Donlevy, Ladd, and Veronica Lake

While filming This Gun for Hire, Paramount realized they had a potential star in Alan Ladd. They quickly announced his next movie, The Glass Key (1942), based on a story by Dashiell Hammett. This movie was Ladd's second time working with Veronica Lake.

Ladd's cool, serious, and calm acting style was very popular with audiences during wartime. In 1942, he was named one of the top 10 "stars of tomorrow" by Motion Picture Herald. His salary was raised to $750 per week.

Ladd then appeared in Lucky Jordan (1943), where he played a gangster trying to avoid war service. This movie showed his new status, as he was the only actor whose name appeared above the title. He also had a funny cameo in Star Spangled Rhythm, which featured many Paramount stars. Then he starred in China (1943) with Loretta Young.

Ladd was supposed to make another film, Incendiary Blonde, but he joined the army on January 18, 1943.

Alan Ladd's Army Service

Alan Ladd served briefly in the U.S. Army Air Forces' First Motion Picture Unit. He was first considered unfit for service due to stomach problems. However, he later joined the military on January 19, 1943. He was stationed at the Walla Walla Army Air Base in Washington and reached the rank of corporal.

While Ladd was in the military, many films planned for him were delayed or made with other actors. Paramount even started promoting new actors like Sonny Tufts to replace him. Old Ladd films were re-released with his name highlighted more. He was reportedly receiving 20,000 fan letters every week! In December 1943, he was listed as the 15th most popular star in the U.S.

Ladd became ill and spent several weeks in a military hospital in October. On October 28, he received an honorable medical discharge due to a stomach issue combined with the flu.

Return to Filmmaking and Big Hits

When Ladd returned from the army, Paramount announced many new movies for him. These included And Now Tomorrow and Two Years Before the Mast. And Now Tomorrow was a drama where Ladd played a doctor who treats (and falls in love with) a wealthy deaf woman played by Loretta Young.

In March 1944, Ladd had another physical exam and was reclassified for military service. He was supposed to rejoin the army, but he received a delay to make Two Years Before the Mast. He was meant to be re-inducted in September 1944, but Paramount managed to push it back again so he could make Salty O'Rourke. He also made a quick appearance in the movie Duffy's Tavern.

Ladd's re-induction was then set for May 1945. Paramount quickly made The Blue Dahlia, a film written by Raymond Chandler, just in case they lost Ladd to the military again. However, in May 1945, the U.S. Army released all men aged 30 or over from induction. Alan Ladd was finally free from the draft! He then volunteered to tour for USO shows to entertain soldiers overseas.

Ladd next made Calcutta (1947), working again with director John Farrow and actor William Bendix.

Contract Issues and Success

Ladd was supposed to make California with Betty Hutton, but he refused to start work in August 1945. He wanted more money, so Paramount suspended him. They settled their differences in November, and Ladd received a salary increase to $75,000 per film. However, he didn't get the right to approve stories or work for other studios, which he had wanted. Still, movie theater owners voted him the 15th most popular star in the country.

Ladd's next film was O.S.S, a wartime spy thriller. He then became interested in playing the main role in The Great Gatsby. This project was delayed due to problems with censors and the studio's doubts.

Eventually, The Blue Dahlia was released and received great praise. It was quickly followed by O.S.S. and then Two Years Before the Mast. The first two films were big hits, each earning over $2 million. Two Years Before the Mast was a huge success, earning over $4 million and becoming one of the top 10 most popular films of the year. Ladd's roles in these movies made him known as a tough, no-nonsense guy in crime films, which later became known as film noir.

In 1947, he was ranked among the top 10 popular stars in the U.S. That year, Calcutta was finally released, along with Wild Harvest, where he worked with Robert Preston again.

Ladd made a small appearance as a detective in the Bob Hope comedy My Favorite Brunette (1947). He also had another cameo in an all-star Paramount film called Variety Girl, where he sang a song. He worked with Veronica Lake for the last time in Saigon (1948). Then he made Whispering Smith (1948), his first Western movie since becoming a star, and his first movie in color. He followed this with Beyond Glory (1948).

Radio and Comic Books

Even after becoming a movie star, Ladd continued to appear on radio. He often acted in radio versions of movies for shows like Lux Radio Theatre. In 1948, he starred in and produced Box 13, a weekly radio series that ran for 52 episodes.

From 1949 to 1951, he was featured in a nine-issue series of comic books published by DC Comics. These comics showed Ladd in various adventurous situations.

The Great Gatsby and Later Films

Ladd's next role was very different: he played Jay Gatsby in the 1949 movie version of The Great Gatsby. This film had been planned since 1946. However, it wasn't a big success at the box office. Its mixed reviews made Ladd avoid serious dramatic roles for a while.

His next films were more typical for him. He played a tough reporter in Chicago Deadline. He was a revenge-seeking ex-OSS agent in Captain Carey, U.S.A.. He also played a postal inspector investigating a murder with a nun in Appointment with Danger.

Paramount bought the rights to the play Detective Story for Ladd, but the role went to Kirk Douglas. Instead, Ladd was cast in Branded, a Western. In February 1950, Paramount announced that Ladd would star in a movie version of the novel Shane. Before that, he appeared in Red Mountain.

In 1950, the Hollywood Women's Press Club voted Alan Ladd the easiest male star to work with in Hollywood. The next year, a poll listed Ladd as the second most popular male film star in the world, after Gregory Peck.

Shane and Becoming a Freelance Star

Two pictures from the movie Shane (1953), (left): Ladd with Jean Arthur, and a publicity image

In 1951, Ladd's contract with Paramount was almost over. He said he wanted to stay at Paramount for one movie a year but also wanted to be free to work for other studios. He was talking with Warner Bros. In May 1951, Ladd announced he had started his own production company, Ladd Enterprises.

Ladd's last three movies for Paramount were Thunder in the East, Shane, and Botany Bay. Once he finished Botany Bay in February 1952, it was announced that his contract with Paramount would end early.

Shane, where he played a strong, quiet, and brave character, was incredibly popular. It premiered in New York City in April 1953 and earned a lot of money. This led to Ladd being voted one of the 10 most popular stars in the U.S. in 1953.

Working for Different Studios

Studio Publicity Photograph of Tony Caruso and Ladd in The Iron Mistress

Ladd's deal with Warner Bros. was to make one film per year for 10 years. He would earn $150,000 per film, plus a share of the profits. This made him one of the highest-paid stars in Hollywood. His first movie for Warner Bros. was The Iron Mistress (1952), where he played Jim Bowie.

This arrangement allowed Ladd to work for other studios too. He made Desert Legion at Universal Studios (1953), playing a member of the French Foreign Legion.

Ladd also signed a deal to make three films in Britain, where he was very popular. These included The Red Beret (1953), a wartime story, and Hell Below Zero (1954), a whaling adventure. He played a mountie in Saskatchewan for Universal in Canada. His last film with Warwick was The Black Knight (1954), a medieval adventure where Ladd played the main role. He earned $200,000 per film for these movies.

Jaguar Productions

When Ladd returned to Hollywood in 1954, he started a new production company called Jaguar Productions. This company released movies through Warner Bros.

His first film for Jaguar was Drum Beat (1954), a Western that did well. For Warners, he then made The McConnell Story (1955), which was also popular. He also appeared in some episodes of General Electric Theater on TV.

Ladd made Hell on Frisco Bay (1955) for Jaguar. He also produced, but did not appear in, A Cry in the Night.

Sometimes, Ladd made choices that weren't the best for his career. He turned down the role of Jett Rink in Giant (1956) because it wasn't the main part. James Dean took the role, and the film became a huge hit. He also bought himself out of a contract to make The Sons of Katie Elder, which later became a big hit with John Wayne.

Instead, Ladd signed a new four-year contract with Warner Bros. The first film under this new deal was The Big Land (1957), a Western. He also appeared in Boy on a Dolphin (1957), a film made in Greece for 20th Century Fox.

Ladd's next film as an actor was The Proud Rebel, where he co-starred with his son David. Many people thought his performance was excellent, but the film didn't become as popular as it should have. He then made The Badlanders for MGM, but it was not a box-office success.

Later Films and Final Years

For Walter Mirisch at United Artists, Ladd appeared in The Man in the Net. He also produced TV show pilots, but they didn't become full series. He starred in Guns of the Timberland for Jaguar and Warners, which was his last movie for Warners.

As an actor, he made All the Young Men with Sidney Poitier. In One Foot in Hell (1960), Ladd played a villain for the first time in a long while, but audiences didn't like it much.

In 1960, he said, "I'd like to retire from acting. I'd produce." Ladd worked on developing many projects, some of which were for his son, David.

Ladd continued acting, making Duel of Champions (1961) in Italy. Back in Hollywood, he made 13 West Street, where he was both a star and producer.

In 1963, Ladd's career seemed to be making a comeback. He took a supporting role in The Carpetbaggers, based on a very popular novel. This film was made at Paramount, where he hadn't filmed in over ten years.

Personal Life

Alan Ladd has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1601 Vine Street. His handprint is also in the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. In 1995, he received a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.

Family and Relationships

Ladd married his high school sweetheart, Marjorie Jane "Midge" Harrold, in October 1936. Their son, Alan Ladd, Jr., was born on October 22, 1937. They divorced in July 1941.

On March 15, 1942, Ladd married his agent, former actress Sue Carol. Sue had a daughter from a previous marriage, Carol Lee, whom Alan and Sue raised. They also had two children together: Alana (born in 1943) and David Ladd (born in 1947).

Alan Ladd, Jr., became a film executive and founded the Ladd Company. His daughter Alana Ladd acted with her father in some movies. She was married to radio broadcaster Michael Jackson. His son David Ladd, who acted with his father as a child, was married to actress Cheryl Ladd. Their daughter is actress Jordan Ladd.

His Height

Alan Ladd's height has been reported differently over the years. Some say he was about 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) to 5 ft 9.5 in (177 cm). His army records from 1943 list him as 5 ft 7 in (170 cm).

Ladd and Veronica Lake were a popular acting pair partly because she was shorter than him, at 4 ft 11 in (150 cm). To make up for Ladd's height when he acted with taller stars, filmmakers sometimes used special tricks. For example, during the filming of Boy on a Dolphin with the 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) Sophia Loren, the crew built ramps or dug trenches so the actors would appear to be at the same eye level.

Alan Ladd's Passing

Alan Ladd passed away at his home in Palm Springs on January 29, 1964. He was 51 years old. His death was caused by swelling in his brain.

His funeral was held on February 1, and fans were allowed to see his coffin. He was buried with his wedding ring and a special letter from his son David.

Ladd was a wealthy man when he died. He owned a large ranch and a hardware store. After he passed away, his film The Carpetbaggers was released and became a big financial success.

Select Radio Credits

Alan Ladd was a very active radio actor throughout his career. He appeared in many radio dramas and shows, often performing in adaptations of popular films. He also starred in his own weekly radio series called Box 13, which ran for 52 episodes from 1948 to 1949.

Filmography

Awards

• Photoplay 1953 Gold Medal for his performance in Shane

Box Office Ranking

For many years, movie theater owners voted Alan Ladd among the top stars who brought in the most money at the box office.

• In 1948, a survey of 4,500 teenagers in Lakewood, Ohio, showed that Alan Ladd was their "overwhelming first choice" as a film star.

Images for kids

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  Ladd in the movie Shane (1953)

• 

  A publicity image of Alan Ladd

See also

In Spanish: Alan Ladd para niños