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 onscreen 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 Hollywoods 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 decades top boxoffice 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