On January 29, 1964, at age fifty,Alan Laddwas founddeadat his Palm Springs home of an overdose of sedatives and alcohol. The gun went off, wounding him seriously. When Ladd returned from the army, Paramount announced a series of vehicles for him, including And Now Tomorrow[43] and Two Years Before the Mast. The first two films were solid hits, each earning over $2 million in rentals in the U.S. and Canada; Two Years Before the Mast was a blockbuster, earning over $4 million and ranking among the top 10 most popular films of the year. Alana died on November 23, 2014. In the mid-1980s, Ladd moved to MGM, which he would eventually lead. This was a rare type of film and character to see in the 1940s and it was this role that catapulted Alan Ladd to stardom. 'The combination of alcohol, seconal, librium and sparine produced together the total . In the early 1970s he formed a producing partnership in London with several others and produced his first movies, including The Nightcomers (1971), which starred Marlon Brando. He was cleaning a gun at his Hidden Valley ranch when he tripped. The producer and studio executive Alan Ladd Jr. in an undated photo. Gene Wilder, left, and Peter Boyle in Mel Brookss Young Frankenstein (1974). Ladd's first notable part under Carol's management was the 1939 film Rulers of the Sea, in which he played a character named Colin Farrell, at $250 per week. [14] She arranged to meet him and, impressed by his looks, she signed him to her books and enthusiastically promoted her new client in films as well as on radio. From a money pit 100 feet deep to Shakespearean manuscripts, the legendary finds on Oak Island have kept it in the news for centuries. No cause of death was given.Ladd Jr., the son of Shane star Alan Ladd, started in the film business as his father's stuntman but rose to become one of its leading and most widely liked executives. 6 quick takeaways from this year's Oscar nominations, Five big takeaways from the SAG Awards and what they might mean for the Oscars. [112], Ladd has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1601 Vine Street. [108], On November 2, 1962, Ladd was found lying unconscious in a pool of blood with a bullet wound near his heart. He wouldn't look at me. He had established himself as one of Hollywoods greatest leading men and character actors. This meant that the offers wouldnt slow down. 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]. Looking on are co-producers Alan Ladd Jr., left, and Bruce Davey. It was not a big success at the box office, and its mixed critical and commercial reception caused Ladd to avoid serious dramatic roles. "I'd produce. In fairness, MGM couldnt have afforded to make this film at the time. April 17, 2023, 11:08 am, by "[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. He was graduated from North Hollywood High School, where he had been a swimming and track star. Popular, by In 1962, Alan Ladd was found lying unconscious in his own blood! In fairness, MGM couldn't have afforded to make this film at the time. While Robert Urich was famous for doing battle with tough foes on the screen. Ladd next made Calcutta (1947), which reteamed him with John Farrow and William Bendix. [87] For Warners, he then made The McConnell Story (1955), co-starring June Allyson, which also proved popular. She was an actress, known for Duel of Champions (1961), 77 Sunset Strip (1958) and Guns of the Timberland (1960). No cause of death was given. His blonde hair caused him to get rejected for many potential roles. Let's look back at Alan Ladd's life and career as well as how his son paved his own way in Hollywood [33] Initially, he was classified 4-Funfit for military service because of stomach problemsbut he later enlisted for military service on January 19, 1943. "My biggest contribution to Star Wars was keeping my mouth shut and standing by the picture," Ladd told Variety. Alan was a producer and an executive of the renowned movie industry. In February 1950, Paramount announced that Ladd would star in a film version of the novel Shane. "If I were more eloquent, I would have thanked Credit Lyonnais for treating me shabbily and allowing me to take this project with me. NEW YORK (AP) Alan Ladd Jr., the Oscar-winning producer and studio boss who as a 20th Century Fox executive greenlit "Star Wars," has died. [124], Reports of Ladd's height vary from 5ft 5in (165cm) to 5ft 9in (175cm), with 5ft 6in (168cm) being cited most often in unofficial sources. It kept going on; it wasnt stopping, he recalled later. Lets hear your thoughts in the comments. Their overnight sensation pairing continued in three more films and included three more in guest spots in wartime all-star Hollywood musical revues. His sudden death news has devastated the admirers and his every known one. His first taste of fame, though not celebrated by contemporary audiences, was in The Velvet Underground. PALM SPRINGS, Calif., Jan. 29 (AP)Alan Ladd, the film star, was found dead today in his home here, apparently of a heart attack. [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. [35], While Ladd was in the armed services, a number of films that had been announced for him were postponed and/or made with different actors, including Incendiary Blonde, The Story of Dr. Wassell, Ministry of Fear, and The Man in Half Moon Street. While the role in This Gun for Hire was a supporting role, Alan Ladds performance was so memorable that producers realized he was destined to become a leading man. ____________________________________________________________________________. From 1949-1951, he appeared in a nine-issue series of comic books published by DC Comics, portraying Ladd in a variety of adventurous situations; the first six issues had photos of him on the covers.[65]. Mr. Ladd, though, was. Most people believe Alan Ladd committed suicide, but the details surrounding his death are so convoluted no one can be sure what really happened. 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). Three years later he announced that he was leaving to form his own company. I think he was very conscious of his looks. Also pictured is co-producer Bruce Davey. Ladd gave her the money, thinking it was for alcohol. Along with several other film stars likewise spared, Ladd promptly enlisted with the Hollywood Victory Committee for the entertainment industry's overseas arm, volunteering to tour for USO shows.[53]. "[35] In December 1943, he was listed as the 15th most popular star in the U.S.[39], Ladd fell ill and went to the military hospital in Santa Barbara for several weeks in October. His only false move may have been granting Lucas merchandising rights rather than a raise when American Graffiti became a hit. Mr. Ladd then went to work for The San Fernando Valley SunRecord, but still desirous of being an actor, he took a job as a studio griplaborerwhich he held for two years. This was in addition to the films he made with Warner, solely as an actor. At present, his wife, Cindra, is mourning the death of her beloved husband. A former talent agent for stars like Robert Redford and Judy Garland, Ladd Jr. joined 20th Century Fox in 1973, and later became president. He died on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at the age of 84. As an independent producer, Ladd Jr. helped steer films including Once Upon a Time in America (1984), The Right Stuff (1983) Gone, Baby Gone (2007) and Mel Gibson's Braveheart (1995), for which he won best picture. He had short-term stints at MGM and RKO and got regular professional acting work only when he turned to radio. "The only reason it got off the ground was that Alan liked American Graffiti and said, 'I don't understand this movie, I don't get it at all, but I think you're a talented guy and I want you to make it,'" Lucas said in Tom Shone's 2004 book Blockbuster.Even when the studio's confidence wavered on Star Wars, Ladd kept his trust in what would become one of the highest grossing films ever made. The producer and executive of the movie industry, Alan Ladd Jr, passed away at 84-year-old. [25][26][27] His salary was raised to $750 per week. Finally, when it was over, I had to get up and walk outside because of the tears.. His father died of a heart attack when Ladd was four. His new status was reflected by the fact he was the only actor billed above the title. Ladd appeared unbilled in Once in a Lifetime (1932), but the studio eventually decided Ladd was too blond and too short, and it dropped him after six months. The 50year . )[63] In 1947, he was ranked among the top 10 popular stars in the U.S. That year finally had the release of Calcutta, along with Wild Harvest, where he reteamed with Robert Preston. [67] Before he made this film, he appeared in Red Mountain, produced by Hal Wallis. [9][109][110] At the time, Ladd said he thought he heard a prowler, grabbed a gun, and tripped over, accidentally shooting himself. In March 1957, it was announced that WarnerBros. A daughter from his second marriage, Chelsea Ladd, died in 2021. Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP, FILE - Mel Gibson, right, accepts the award for Best Picture for "Braveheart" at the 68th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Monday, March 25, 1996. His father, an accountant, died when Alan was only 4 years old leaving his immigrant mother to look after her son. 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. 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