Alan Ladd Jr.
Alan Gavin Ladd Jr. (born October 22, 1937) is an American film industry executive and producer. He is the son of actor Alan Ladd and Ladd's first wife Marjorie Jane (née Harrold), whom Ladd had met in high school.
Alan Ladd Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alan Gavin Ladd Jr. October 22, 1937 Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Film producer |
| Years active | 1963–present |
| Spouse(s) | Patricia Ann
( m. 1959; div. 1983)Cindra Ladd ( m. 1985) |
| Children | Kelliann Ladd Tracy Ladd Amanda Ladd Chelsea Ladd |
| Parent(s) | Alan Ladd Marjorie Jane Harrold |
| Relatives | David Ladd (half-brother) Alana Ladd (half-sister) Carol Lee Stuart-Ladd (step-sister) |
He started in films as an agent in 1963. In 1969, Ladd moved to London to produce, making nine films, including The Walking Stick, A Severed Head, Villain, The Nightcomers, and Zee and Co.. He returned to the States in 1973 to become Head of Creative Affairs at 20th Century Fox. In August 1976, he was promoted from worldwide production head to president of Fox's film division.[1]
He came to Fox President Gordon Stulberg to request consideration for making George Lucas' Star Wars. Stulberg approved the production and they remained as Lucas' support at times when the Board of Directors of 20th Century Fox wished to shut down production. The production was plagued by location difficulties, story problems and budgetary disagreements for a project that was mainly considered a risk to the studio. However, when Ladd saw the audience's rapturous appreciation of the film at its first public screening at the Northpoint Theatre in San Francisco in early May 1977, he was moved to joyful tears at seeing the unlikely production he and Stulberg had supported against all odds.[2] 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 multiple other films.
Star Wars and Alien were a few of the films produced during his tenure. But in 1979 Ladd left his position to found his own production company, The Ladd Company. He enjoyed successes with comedies such as Night Shift (1982) and Police Academy (1984), Oscar-winners Chariots of Fire (1981), The Right Stuff (1983), and Gone Baby Gone (2007). The company also produced Blade Runner (1982).
In 1985, Ladd joined MGM/UA, eventually becoming Chairman and CEO of MGM-Pathé Communications. During his tenure MGM/UA produced A Fish Called Wanda (1988), Moonstruck (1987) and Thelma & Louise (1991). Ladd reformed the Ladd Company with Paramount Pictures in 1993 where he produced The Brady Bunch Movie and Braveheart.
Ladd received the 2,348th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday, September 28, 2007.
Filmography
All films, he was producer unless otherwise noted.
Film
| Year | Film | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | The Walking Stick | ||
| Tam-Lin | |||
| A Severed Head | |||
| 1971 | Villain | ||
| The Nightcomers | Executive producer | ||
| 1972 | Zee and Co. | ||
| Fear Is the Key | |||
| 1984 | Police Academy | Executive producer | |
| 1988 | Vice Versa | Executive producer | |
| 1990 | Death Warrant | ||
| 1995 | The Brady Bunch Movie | Executive producer | |
| Braveheart | |||
| 1996 | The Phantom | ||
| A Very Brady Sequel | |||
| 1998 | The Man in the Iron Mask | Executive producer | |
| 2005 | An Unfinished Life | ||
| 2007 | Gone Baby Gone |
- Miscellaneous crew
References
- Daily Variety. August 27, 1976. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - Jenkins, Garry (1997). Empire Building. Simon and Scuster. p. 166.
External links
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