Father of Alana Ladd and David Ladd with second wife, Sue Carol. Even during the filming of This Gun for Hire, Paramount knew it had a potential star and announced Ladd's next film, an adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's story, The Glass Key (1942). [113] His handprint appears in the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Actor: Shane. [13][14] Other productions included Outland (1981),[15] Night Shift, Blade Runner (both 1982), The Right Stuff (1983),[1] Police Academy (1984), and Gone Baby Gone (2007). [17], Ladd married his first wife Patricia Ann Beazley in September 1959. Sue Carol, the former silent star who is now an agent, undertook to advance the youth's career two years ago, and only recently could she locate an attentive ear. Cheryl Ladd/Spouse. Ladd was born in Los Angeles, California, on October 22, 1937. "[23] There had also been talk Ladd would appear in Red Harvest, another story by Hammett,[24] but this was never produced. She claims that in 1969, when she was working as a film producer in New York, she and Cosby began "hanging out." Carol's film career lasted from the late 1920s into the 1930s; when it ended, she became a talent agent. [104] He joined the board of 38 Inc., a new film producing company, which announced plans to make a movie out of a Ben Hecht script. Sadly, his height became his biggest insecurity, hindering him throughout his career. [5], In the early 1920s an economic downturn led to Ladd's family moving to California, which took four months. She purchased some arsenic-based ant paste from a grocer and died by suicide by drinking it in the back seat of Ladd's car. He had asked Paramount for higher pay and their response was absolutely ruthless. Ladd tested unsuccessfully for the lead in Golden Boy (1939) but obtained many other small roles in films such as the serial The Green Hornet (1940), Her First Romance (1940), The Black Cat (1941), and the Disney film The Reluctant Dragon (1941). [11] He worked in the advertising department of the San Fernando Sun Valley Record, becoming the newspaper's advertising manager. His family decided to move to California in the early 1920s in search of a better life. Alan Walbridge Ladd was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the only child of Ina Raleigh (aka Selina Rowley) and Alan Harwood Ladd, a freelance accountant. Most notably, he had a small uncredited part in Citizen Kane, playing a newspaper reporter toward the end of the film. In 1963, he began working in the film industry as an agent. Then, the breaks began. He took all of the harsh criticism and ran with it. One Foot in Hell is directed by James B. Clark and written by Aaron Spelling and Sydney Boehm. The majority of stars were earmarked as such when they appeared on the horizonfrom Broadway or from wherever they came; if it seemed unlikely that public acceptance would come with one film they were trained and built up: The incubation period was usually between two and five years. Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 19381946 [Archival Database]; World War II Army Enlistment Records; Alan W. Ladd, 19 January 1943, Los Angeles, California; Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 64; National Archives at College Park, College Park, Maryland. He'd say "I love you", and he'd be looking out there some place. Ladds last role was Nevada Smith in the 1964 film The Carpetbaggers. Director Frank Tuttle was struggling to find a new actor to play the role of Raven, a hit man with a conscience. Ladd was extremely touched by his sincerity, and an unlikely friendship formed. In 1917, at four years old, Ladd experienced loss far too soon. Alan Walbridge Ladd Jr. (October 22, 1937 March 2, 2022) was an American film industry executive and producer. He was 84. He was reteamed with Lake for the final time in Saigon (1948), then made Whispering Smith (1948), his first Western since he became a star (and his first movie in color). Ladds co-star, William Bendix, had planned to fake punch him but he accidentally made contact, leaving Ladd unconscious. Whats even more ironic about The Carpetbaggers is that it was a huge success. In 1950, the Hollywood Women's Press Club voted Ladd the easiest male star to deal with in Hollywood. [106] This was a co-production between Embassy and Paramount, meaning Ladd was filming on the Paramount back lot for the first time in over a decade. She wrote, "With the heaviest of hearts, we announce that on March 2, 2022, Alan Ladd, Jr. died peacefully at home surrounded by his family". That marriage also ended in divorce. Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, Icy Facts About Veronica Lake, The Peek-A-Boo Girl, Couldnt Pay Me To Go Back: Absolutely Wild Stories Of High School Drama, Truth Hurts: Binge-Worthy Stories About The Biggest Liars Of All Time, Stay Out Of The Woods: Campers And Hikers Share Their Creepiest Experiences, Over My Dead Body: These Outrageous Funerals Prove Drama Never Dies, Lawyers Reveal Their Most Jaw-Dropping Court Cases. Brian Russellm. He married his friend Midge in 1936, but couldn't afford her, so they lived apart. [13][14] Bard later claimed Ladd "was such a shy guy he just wouldn't speak up loud and strong. The couple relocated to the North Hollywood locality of California. Alan Ladd Jr was an American producer has died on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at the the age of 84. Ladd then appeared in Lucky Jordan (1943), a lighter vehicle with Helen Walker, playing a gangster who tries to get out of war service and tangles with Nazis. This caused him to miss out on some killer rolesunrivaled opportunities that definitely left Ladd swimming in regret. Ladd made a cameo appearance as a detective in the Bob Hope comedy, My Favorite Brunette (1947), and he made another cameo in an all-star Paramount film, titled, Variety Girl, singing Frank Loesser's "Tallahassee" with Dorothy Lamour. In the movie, Smith becomes popular for portraying cowboys in westerns. [8] The contract had options that could continue for seven years, but they were all in the studio's favour. The role of Gatsby was a significant move away from the tough cool guys Ladd was used to playing. A disastrous letdown. His next films were standard fare: Chicago Deadline, playing a tough reporter; Captain Carey, U.S.A., as a vengeful ex-OSS agent, for Maibaum; and Appointment with Danger, as a postal inspector investigating a murder with the help of nun Phyllis Calvert (shot in 1949, but not released until 1951). [50], Ladd's reinduction was then set for May 1945. 4: Younger half-brother of Alan Ladd Jr.. 5: His wife, Dey Young, is the sister of Leigh Taylor-Young and Lance Young. He sold cash registers and borrowed $150 to open his own hamburger and malt shop, across from his previous high school, which he called Tiny's Patio (his nickname at high school was Tiny), but he was unable to make a success of the shop. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. Ladd was recovering from chickenpox which delayed filming, while his co-star Edward G. Robinson was dealing with some personal family troubles. Nonetheless, even with the odds stacked against him, Ladd found a way to stick to the acting world like glue. I think he was very conscious of his looks. Still, as bolstering as this success was, Ladds personal life was a total mess. During the first shoot, he hurt his hand really badly, and over the course of the second film, he had a terrible infection. Ladd never allowed a wound or illness to disrupt shooting. Ladd was cast, instead, in Branded, a Western. The always aloof Alan Ladd, a former laborer, preferred the friendship of film crews rather than other actors or studio execs.Yet he was able to form lasting friendships with a few of his co-stars, especially William Bendix who accidentally cold-cocked Ladd during a particularly vicious fight scene in this film. "[21] John Houseman later wrote that Ladd played "a professional killer with a poignant and desolate ferocity that made him unique, for a time, among the male heroes of his day. Notes "Once Ladd had acquired an unsmiling hardness, he was transformed from an extra to a phenomenon. The man was a certified hot mess. [1] He produced The Brady Bunch Movie and Braveheart,[8] one of the two projects he was permitted to take with him after leaving MGM. Among all the bad decisions the actor would go on to make in his life, this one might be the worst. Poor Raleigh had endured a horrifically painful end, and her son knew it. When the paper changed hands, Ladd lost his job. Ladd's next role was a significant change of pace, playing Jay Gatsby in the 1949 version of The Great Gatsby, written and produced by Richard Maibaum. He had short-term stints at MGM and RKO and got regular professional acting work only when he turned to radio. Ladds physical appearance, no doubt, made establishing himself in the film industry difficult. When Ladd returned to Hollywood in 1954, he formed Jaguar Productions, a new production company that released movies through Warner Bros. But the reason why these two were often partnered together wasrather peculiar. Film crews had to build ramp systems, dig holes, and prepare mounds to adjust the disparity in height between Ladd and his co-stars. [6], Ladd enrolled in North Hollywood High School on February 18, 1930. "[98] He announced a six-picture deal with Warwick Productions[99] but ultimately did not work for Warwick again. By 1931 he was training for the 1932 Olympics, but an injury put an end to those plans. He served as president of 20th Century Fox from 1976 to 1979, during which he approved the production of Star Wars. Among Ladd's clients were Robert Redford and Judy Garland. [137] After he died, The Carpetbaggers was released and became a financial success. [130], In January 1964, after injuring his knees,[clarification needed] Ladd hoped to recuperate at his house in Palm Springs. Ladd was considered to play the lead in The Angry Hills, but Robert Mitchum eventually was cast. After retiring from acting in the late 1930s, Carol established her own talent agency, the Sue Carol Agency. But guess who wasnt so picky? Disappointments were piling up and Ladds mental health was in dire jeopardy, yet he still managed to find some success overseas.`. NEW YORK Alan Ladd Jr., the Oscar-winning producer and studio boss who as a 20th Century Fox executive greenlit Star Wars, has died. [134], He was buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. Carol was born Evelyn Jean Lederer in Chicago, Illinois, to Samuel and Caroline Lederer, Jewish emigrants from Austria and Germany, respectively. Luckily for him, Ms. Lake was only 4 ft 11 in, making Ladd look positively statuesque. Ladd was 27 years old at the point. Before Ladd could take the next step in his career, his life came to a halt with the tragic passing of his mother. Despite his talent, motion picture studios turned Ladd down because of his looks. This would become an issue for him again later, but during his school days at least, Ladd had one silver lining to hold on to. Ladd also appeared in ten films with William Bendix; both actors coincidentally died in 1964. Ladds mother, Ina Raleigh, had terrible luck with relationships. At 20, Ladd graduated from high school on February 1, 1934. He stayed for three years at KFWB, working as many as 20 shows per week.[14][16]. He replied tersely: "Everything". Alan Ladd Jr., who as a producer and studio executive was a guiding hand behind scores of successful films, none bigger than "Star Wars," which he championed when its young director, George. He was often paired with Veronica Lake in films noir, such as This Gun for Hire (1942), The Glass Key (1942), and The Blue Dahlia (1946). [20], According to author David Thomson in 1975, "Once Ladd had acquired an unsmiling hardness, he was transformed from an extra to a phenomenon. But that wasnt all. A retired silent film actress turned talent agent, Carol was already equipped with plenty of experience and connections when she met Ladd. He also announced plans to turn Box 13 into a feature-film script, and was hoping for cameos from old friends, such as Veronica Lake and William Bendix. Paramount had owned the film rights to A Gun for Sale, a novel by Graham Greene, since 1936 but waited until 1941 before making a movie out of it, changing the title to This Gun for Hire. Unluckily for him, although he escaped the army, he couldnt escape one of his greatest fears. And then in 1955, he made the most intimate connection of all. Another big hit he missed out on was The Sons of Katie Elder. All was well when Lake was Ladds co-star, but what if she wasnt? [123], Ladd's name was linked romantically with June Allyson when they made The McConnell Story together. They had a daughter, actress Carol Lee Ladd (born 1932), who was briefly married to actor Richard Anderson. Alan Ladd Jr., 'Star Wars' Savior and Oscar Winner for 'Braveheart,' Dies at 84 A longtime studio exec and son of a movie icon, he also had a hand in such films as 'Blade Runner,' 'The Turning. [82] Both movies were co-written by Richard Maibaum, with whom Ladd had worked at Paramount. He picked fruit, delivered papers, and swept stores. And when it came to his involvement in bloody disasters, this wouldnt be the last. Actress Alana Ladd, who co-starred with her father in Guns of the Timberland and Duel of Champions, was married to the veteran talk radio broadcaster Michael Jackson. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. He made sure his kids were set for life. [5], Ladd died of kidney failure at his home in Los Angeles on March 2, 2022, at the age of 84. After knocking Ladd unconscious on the set of The Glass Key, Bendix felt horrible and apologized to Ladd profusely multiple times. Fans, film critics, and studios fell head over heels for this attractive anti-hero. Ladd knew his mother was an alcoholic, but he didnt think much of it. [2] They had a son, David, and a daughter, Alana Ladd Jackson (married to radio commentator Michael Jackson). [119], On March 15, 1942, Ladd married his agent and manager, former film actress Sue Carol in Mexico City. [107], On November 29, 1937, Ladd's mother, who was staying with him following the breakup of a relationship, asked Ladd for some money to buy something at a local store. [17] He also received attention for a small part in Hitler Beast of Berlin (1939). [73] However, he expressed a desire to continue to work with Paramount. [49] He also found time to make a cameo in a big-screen version of Duffy's Tavern. When officers came upon this gory sight, they feared the worst. Loretta Young, who starred in a 1943 film with Ladd, talked about the serious aura that always surrounded him, and how she never saw him laugh. In the 1940s, Alan Ladd became one of the most prominent names in Hollywood. Ladd is a celebrity ambassador for the child abuse prevention and treatment non-profit Childhelp. [115][116] Their only child, Alan Ladd, Jr., was born on October 22, 1937. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? [12], Ladd managed to save and borrow enough money to attend an acting school run by Ben Bard, who had taught him when he was under contract at Universal. Yet, much like his early school days after moving to California, his experience was depressing. He followed this with Beyond Glory (1948), a melodrama with Farrow, which featured Audie Murphy in his film debut (and was released before Whispering Smith).[64]. His mother had no choice but to take her son and move away, setting off on a journey that would leave Ladd with startling repercussions. His contract with Paramount ended and he reluctantly left the studio. "I'd like to retire from acting", he said in 1960. "It wasn't on account of the picture", said Ladd. [69], In 1951, Ladd's contract had only one more year to run. She sat down in the backseat of Ladds car and gulped the poison down, ending her life on the spot. But did he let these injuries get in the way of his job? Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California, "Sue Carol Ladd, Ex-Actress And Widow of Alan Ladd, 72", Palm Springs Walk of Stars by date dedicated, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sue_Carol&oldid=1147852308, American people of Austrian-Jewish descent, Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale), Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2014, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 2 April 2023, at 16:04. The cause? Ouch. The movie was Ladd's second pairing with Lake, with Ladd offering confident support of Brian Donlevyso confident he even ended up with Donlevy's girl. He was buried with his wedding ring and a letter that his son David had written to him.[136]. Ladd earned a reported $88,909 for the 12 months up to June 1946. He was 5 ft 6 in, which was considered too short for an actor. Allyson loved her husband, Dick Powell, too much. The only problem was, most leading ladies towered over him. It premiered at Radio City Music Hall in New York City in April 1953,[77] grossing over $114,000 in its four weeks there (a large sum at the time),[78] and earning $8million in North America over its initial run. He had finally made it to the starting line of the long path to stardom. [1] He was posted to the Walla Walla Army Air Base at Walla Walla, Washington, attaining the rank of corporal. His new status was reflected by the fact he was the only actor billed above the title. It was also made clear that Ladd struggled with complex emotional roles. Her interests include learning different languages, trying adventurous food recipes, watching anime and dramas, and belting songs in foreign languages that she (oftentimes) doesnt understand. His first film for Jaguar was Drum Beat (1954), a Western directed by Delmer Daves, which was reasonably successful at the box office. Alan Walbridge Ladd Jr. was an American film executive and producer who lived from October 22, 1937, until March 2, 2022. Ladd was awfully accident-prone. The results? In January of 1964, Alan Ladd accidentally overdosed, passing due to cerebral edema. A struggling artist in a small town becomes the prime suspect when his wife mysteriously disappears. During his two 1954 films, he forged on despite his injuries and infections. [3], As a young woman, Carol married Allen H. Keefer, a buyer for a Chicago stock yard firm, divorcing in early 1929. To better his chances in the field, he set his sights on acting school. Father of Alan Ladd Jr. with first wife, Marjorie 'Midge' Harrold. . alan ladd cause of death. He then convinced Ladd that he should play the title role in an adaptation of The Great Gatsby, to which Paramount held the film rights; Ladd became enthusiastic at the chance to change his image, but the project was delayed by a combination of censorship wrangles and studio reluctance.[61]. Early life. [1][9][125], Ladd and Veronica Lake became a particularly popular pairing because, at 4ft 11in (150cm), she was one of the few Hollywood actresses substantially shorter than he was. "I like my home and my security and I don't intend to jeopardize them by being difficult at work. He subsequently joined Creative Management Associates as an agent in 1963 and worked under Freddie Fields. He suffered from insomnia and relied heavily on drugs and booze to help him sleep. It was only a small part, but it involved a touching death scene that brought him attention within the industry. Describing working with him, Young said I think he was very conscious of his looks. [11] Star Wars was a massive and critically hailed hit upon release, becoming, up to that point, the highest-grossing film of all time, and spawned an extensive media franchise that includes many other films as well as television, radio, video game and print media. He fell a few grades behind due to his familys move. Alan Ladd (born Alan Walbridge Ladd, September 3, 1913 - January 29, 1964) was an American actor. Still, if there was one thing he had in spades, it was unrelenting determination. Alan Ladd Jr.'s income source is mostly from being a successful Miscellaneous. [4] On July 3, 1918, young Alan accidentally burned down the family home while playing with matches. [133] Ladd suffered from chronic insomnia and regularly used sleeping pills and alcohol to induce sleep. [128] In outdoor scenes, trenches were dug for Loren to stand in. The Hollywood Reporter. Alan Ladd was in a relationship with June Allyson (1950 - 1955). A lethal interaction of the sleeping pills he was taking for his insomnia mixed with booze. Unfortunately, a terrible tragedy intercepted Ladds glowing comeback. [7] Ladd made nine films during his sojourn there, including The Walking Stick,[8] A Severed Head,[9] Villain,[8] The Nightcomers, and Zee and Co..[9][10] He eventually returned to the United States in 1973 to become vice president of creative affairs at 20th Century Fox. Ladd then received an offer to star in Boy on a Dolphin (1957), a film being made in Greece for 20th Century Fox. Considering his fear of them, its ironic to think that, later on, these destructive tools played a part in Ladds most dangerous accident of all. He served as president of 20th Century Fox from 1976 to 1979, during which he approved the production of Star Wars. In 1962, Ladd almost lost his life to another alleged freak accident. In August 1933 Ladd was one of a group of young "discoveries" signed to a long-term contract with Universal Pictures. His blonde hair and light skin didnt translate well on camera, with Universal Pictures even citing that he was too blonde. To Ladds dismay, they dropped him only six months after signing him. But when it came to Ladds misfortune, this particular breakup was only the cherry on top. Soon after starting work, he fell off a scaffold and injured himself. He was too rigid, too serious, and so overwhelmingly cynicalthat even his co-stars struggled to get along with him. Were always looking for your input! Ladd was meant to make California with Betty Hutton, but he refused to report for work in August 1945. Stulberg approved the production, and the two men remained as Lucas's support at times when the board of directors of 20th Century Fox wished to shut down production. [40] On October 28, he was given an honorable medical discharge because of a stomach disorder complicated by influenza.[41][42]. All Rights Reserved. On January 29, 1964, his butler said that he saw Ladd on his bed at 10 am; when he returned at 3:30pm, he found Ladd dead on his bed. Sue Carol (born Evelyn Jean Lederer, October 30, 1906 - February 4, 1982) was an American actress and talent agent. Alan Ladd was previously married to Sue Carol (1942 - 1964) and Marjorie Jane Harrold (1936 - 1941). In a sense, his work ethic was truly amazing. In March 1957, it was announced that WarnerBros. He became a high-school swimming and diving champion and participated in high school dramatics in his senior year, including the role of Ko-Ko in The Mikado. Hell on Frisco Bay is a 1956 American CinemaScope film noir crime film directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Alan Ladd, Edward G. Robinson and Joanne Dru. He was 84. The rejection of this idea stemmed from Britains disdain for the widely accepted American belief that Americans had single-handedly won the conflict. [citation needed], Ladd relocated to London at the end of the 1960s to work as an independent producer. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. Ruba holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in English and minors in History and Global Narratives. To say that Ladd was a humble actor would be an understatement. With Marjorie, he had 1 son, Alan Ladd Jr. His second marriage was to the former actress Sue Carol, who was also Alan's agent and manager. While he had not taken a lethal amount of any one drug, the combination apparently caused fatal interaction. [13][21], "Alan Ladd Jr. dies; Oscar-winning producer and studio boss greenlighted 'Star Wars', "Alan Ladd Jr., 'Star Wars' Savior and Oscar Winner for 'Braveheart,' Dies at 84", "Alan Ladd Jr., Hitmaking Film Executive, Dies at 84", "Oscar-winning producer Alan Ladd Jr. dies at 84", "Alan Ladd Jr. A few years later, she even married him. But Paramount hoped that women might feel that beneath the rock-like expression there smouldered fires of passion, or something like. Ladd died a wealthy man, with his holdings including a 5,000-acre ranch at Hidden Valley and a hardware store in Palm Springs. Amanda Ladd-Jones, the renowned film producer's daughter, confirmed his death on social media. [6] Ladd founded his own production company, The Ladd Company, with Kanter and Gareth Wigan. The Man in the Net: Directed by Michael Curtiz. [45][56][57] Exhibitors voted him the 15th-most popular star in the country. Wide-Screen at Music Hall for Premiere of 'Shane'". The last of her four marriages was to one of her clients, Alan Ladd, from 1942 until his death in 1964. But on the other hand, he didnt take good care of himself. I never made any contact with him. What Shows Have Been Renewed or Canceled? Sue Carol (born Evelyn Jean Lederer, October 30, 1906 February 4, 1982) was an American actress and talent agent.
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