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