Alan Ladd was an American actor and producer who found popularity in the 1940s and 1950s by starring in such films as The Great Gatsby (1949), Shane (1953), The Carpetbaggers (1964), Hell on Frisco Bay (1955), Botany Bay (1953), Two Years Before the Mast (1946), The Blue Dahlia (1946), Boy on a Dolphin (1957), The Proud Rebel (1958), The Badlanders (1958), etc.
Born Name
Alan Walbridge Ladd
Nick Name
Laddie
Age
He was born on September 3, 1913.
Died
Alan passed away on January 29, 1964, at the age of 50 years in Palm Springs, California. His death was caused by cerebral edema due to an accidental acute overdose of alcohol, barbiturate, and tranquilizers.
Sun Sign
Virgo
Born Place
Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States
Nationality
Occupation
Actor, Producer
Family
Father – Alan Ladd (Freelance Accountant)
Mother – Ina Raleigh (also known as Selina Rowley)
Build
Slim
Height
5 ft 6 in or 168 cm
His height had often been quoted differently. It had ranged from 5 ft 5 in or 165 cm to 5 ft 9 in or 175 cm. But, most often, it was cited as 5 ft 6 in or 168 cm.
Weight
67 kg or 147.5 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
Alan Ladd had dated –
Marjorie Jane Harrold (1936-1941) – Marjorie Jane Harrold was Alan’s high school sweetheart and the two wed in October 1936. She gave birth to their son Alan Ladd, Jr., on October 22, 1937. But, their marriage ended in divorce in July 1941.
Sue Carol (1942-1964) – On March 15, 1942, he married the former actress Sue Carol, who worked as his agent and manager. The couple was blessed with a daughter named Alana Ladd (b. April 21, 1943) and a son named David Ladd (b. February 5, 1947). Moreover, the two also raised Carol Lee (b. July 18, 1932), Sue’s daughter from a previous marriage together. Their marriage lasted until Ladd’s death in January 1964.
June Allyson (1950-1955)
Race / Ethnicity
White
He had English as well as some Irish and Scottish ancestry.
Hair Color
Blonde
Eye Color
Blue
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
Short height
Bright smile
Alan Ladd Facts
He was initially offered the role of Jett Rink (played by James Dean) in Giant (1956) and John J. Macreedy (played by Spencer Tracy) in Bad Day at Black Rock (1955).
The visual inspiration for the original illustrations of Green Lantern/Alan Scott was Ladd, who was 27 years old at the time of its creation in 1940. Moreover, the superhero character’s full name is Alan Ladd Wellington Scott.
The character Plato (played by Sal Mineo) in Rebel Without a Cause (1955) keeps a photograph of Alan in his school locker.
In 1949, he became the second actor to portray the character of Jay Gatsby in the film version of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s seminal 1925 novel, The Great Gatsby. The other actors to step into the iconic role are Warner Baxter in The Great Gatsby (1926), Robert Redford in The Great Gatsby (1974), and Leonardo DiCaprio in The Great Gatsby (2013).
Although his death was officially ruled as an accident, it was suspected to be suicide as Alan had previously attempted suicide by shooting himself in November 1962. But, the film studio had projected his unsuccessful suicide attempt as an accident.
Featured Image by Studio / Wikimedia / Public Domain
