Alan Walbridge Ladd was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the only child of Ina Raleigh . By the end of the 1950s liquor and a string of so-so films had taken their toll. In November 1962 he was found unconscious lying in a pool of blood with a bullet wound near his heart, a probable suicide attempt. In January 1964 he was found dead, apparently due to an accidental combination of alcohol and sedatives.
Father of Alan Ladd Jr. with first wife, Marjorie Midge Harrold. Father of Alana Ladd and David Ladd with second wife, Sue Carol. Grandfather of Jordan Ladd.
Interred at Forest Lawn, Glendale, California, USA, in the Freedom Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Heritage.
Owing to a clerical error, Ladd was inaccurately included in the cast credits for Born to the West in studio publicity material. In fact, he was never in the film, despite the fact that it often shows up in his credits and even on the video box!.
In his movies, suffers two cat-o-nine-tails floggings aboard sailing ships: (1) in Two Years Before the Mast , he receives 10 lashes for striking an officer; in Botany Bay (1952) , he receives 50 lashes for attempting to escape from a prison transport ship.
The prisoner he plays in 1953s Botany Bay (1952) is keelhauled, marking what may be the only time a Hollywood leading man suffers this particular form of punishment.
In a 1961 interview Ladd was asked, "What would you change about yourself if you could?" He replied tersely: "Everything."
Ladd portrayed Dan Holiday on Mutual Radios "Box 13" (1948-1949). This show was also syndicated.
A photograph of his flogging in Two Years Before the Mast appears on the cover of the 2004 book: "Lash! The Hundred Great Scenes of Men Being Whipped in the Movies".
Has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 1601 Vine Street.
He and Veronica Lake made seven movies together: The Blue Dahlia , Duffys Tavern , The Glass Key , Saigon , Star Spangled Rhythm , This Gun for Hire and Variety Girl . In Variety Girl , Star Spangled Rhythm and Duffys Tavern , they appear as themselves.
In 1956, Ladd proposed a television series based on his radio series "Box 13". The idea didnt sell. Ladd himself had played his "Box 13" character Dan Holiday in the "Committed" episode of "General Electric Theater" on television. In 1963, Ladd said he hoped to reunite several of his 1940s era co-stars, including William Bendix and Veronica Lake , for a big screen version of "Box 13".
His former home in Palm Springs, California, is still on the bus tour of movie stars homes. An office building also bears his name.
Discovered Rory Calhoun while horseback riding in Griffith Park.
Turned down James Dean s role in Giant and Spencer Tracy s role in Bad Day at Black Rock .
At the time of his death he had expressed an interest in playing Steve McQueen s role in Nevada Smith , a part hed played three years earlier in The Carpetbaggers .
While he never enjoyed popularity among film critics, Ladd himself and his films were popular with the public. He was mobbed at guest appearances on network radio programs such as "The Lux Radio Theater" and in the 1940s his films grossed almost $55 million.
In 1954 he and Barbara Stanwyck won the top spots in "Modern Screen" magazines Star of Stars Award competition as the most popular actors among fans in the previous ten years.
He ranked tenth in popularity in a poll of movie fans conducted by the "Motion Picture Herald" in 1947. From 1948-1950, he ranked number one in that poll.
In 1945, he ranked fourth in a "Modern Screen" magazine popularity poll among readers.
In 1943, "Modern Screen" magazine ran sixteen stories on him in its twelve issues that year.
He was a staunch Republican and campaigned for Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1952 presidential election.
He was the visual inspiration for the original illustrations of superhero Green Lantern/Alan Scott (created in 1940). Ladd was 27 years old at the point. Scotts full name is Alan Ladd Wellington Scott.
After Dick Cavett made a disparaging remark to John Houseman about Ladds minimal acting talents, Houseman replied, "Youd be in despair. Youd go down to the set and youd say, Why are we even making this film? Then youd go to the rushes, and thered be these beautiful eyes, full of hidden thoughts. A marvelous film actor.".
According to June Allyson in her biography, Alan Ladd was scared of flying. When he had to travel to Europe he used the boat, train or car.
He was a chain smoker.
Frequently attended meetings at the house of director George Cukor from the mid-1930s.
In Rebel Without a Cause Plato (played by Sal Mineo ) keeps a photograph of Ladd in his school locker.
Time scoots along pretty fast when you grow up.
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