Alan Ladd the American actor and producer was born in 1913 and died on January 29, 1964. He found success in film in the 1940s and early 1950s, particularly in films noir and Westerns. 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). Whispering Smith (1948) was his first Western and colour film and Shane (1953) was noted for its contributions to the genre. He also appeared in ten films with William Bendix. Other notable credits include Two Years Before the Mast (1946) and The Great Gatsby (1949). His popularity diminished in the mid-1950s, though he continued to appear in numerous films, including his first supporting role since This Gun for Hire in the smash hit The Carpetbaggers released in 1964. He died of an accidental combination of alcohol, a barbiturate and two tranquilisers.
