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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.
as Self (archive footage)
as Al - Baby Weems Storyboard Artist (archive footage) (uncredited)
as Self (archive footage)
as (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
as (in "This Gun For Hire") (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
as Nevada Smith
as Walt Sherill
as Horatius
as Mitch Barrett
as Sgt. Kincaid
as Jim Hadley
as John Hamilton
as Peter Van Hoek (The Dutchman)
as John Chandler
as Alexander 'Alec' Austen
as Dr. James 'Jim' Calder
as Chad Morgan
as Opening Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
as Caleb 'Cash' Adams
as Steve Rollins
as Capt. Joseph C. 'Mac' McConnell, Jr.
as Johnny MacKay
as John
as Thomas O'Rourke
as Duncan Craig
as Steve 'Canada' McKendrick
as Paul Lartal
as Shane
as Hugh Tallant
as Steve Gibbs
as Jim Bowie
as Capt. Brett Sherwood
as Choya
as Al Goddard
as Captain Webster Carey
as Ed Adams
as Jay Gatsby
as Whispering Smith
as Capt. Rockwell 'Rocky' Gilman
as Major Larry Briggs
as Joe Madigan
as Alan Ladd
as Sam McCloud (uncredited)
as Neale Gordon
as Charles Stewart
as John Martin / Lt. (j.g.) Philip Masson, U.S.N.R. / Philippe Martine
as Johnny Morrison
as Alan Ladd
as Alan Ladd
as Salty O'Rourke
as Doctor Merek Vance
as Harry W. Average
as David Jones
as Capt. Smith
as Lucky Jordan
as Ed Beaumont
as Philip Raven
as Alan Ladd
as "Baby"
as Charles Martin Hall
as Lieutenant, Platoon Leader, County Fair
as Harry - Musician (uncredited)
as Soldier in Photo Shop (uncredited)
as Baby Weems Storyboard Artist
as Jimmy Kelly aka Bill Dugan
as Richard Hartley
as Reporter Smoking Pipe at End (uncredited)
as Himself
as Higgins Daughter's Boyfriend
as John Gilman
as Heyst as an 18-Year-Old (uncredited)
as Elevator Passenger (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
as John Williams
as Bill Allen
as Backwoodsman (uncredited)
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as Newton
as Young man / Old man
as Keg Rearick
as Mr. Williams
as TV Director (uncredited)
as John Pittman Jr.
as Danny
as Man on the Spot Reporter
as Cadet in Trouble
as Gilpin - Student Pilot (uncredited)
as Colin Farrell
as Karl Bach
as Henchman
as Narrator (uncredited)
as Hospital Orderly (uncredited)
as Student (uncredited)
as Club Waiter (uncredited)
as First Auditioning Singer (uncredited)
as Chief Quartermaster (uncredited)
as Sailor (uncredited)
as Young Man (uncredited)
as Soldier (uncredited)
as Student (uncredited)
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
as Student
as Projectionist (uncredited)
as Cadet
