Alan Ladd Jr.

Alan Walbridge Ladd Jr. (October 22, 1937 – March 2, 2022) was an American film industry executive and producer. He was president of 20th Century Fox from 1976 to 1979, during which he approved the production of Star Wars, based on his confidence in George Lucas, which proved well-founded. He later established The Ladd Company and headed MGM/UA. Ladd won an Academy Award for Best Picture in 1996 for producing Braveheart.

Early life Ladd was born in Los Angeles, California, on October 22, 1937. He was the only child of Alan Ladd and Marjorie Jane (née Harrold), who divorced when he was two years old. before being employed by his stepfather's business for a brief period. He subsequently joined Creative Management Associates as an agent in 1963 and worked under Freddie Fields. Among Ladd's clients were Robert Redford and Judy Garland. His paternal half-brother is actor and producer David Ladd.

Career Ladd relocated to London at the end of the 1960s to work as an independent producer. Ladd made nine films during his sojourn there, including The Walking Stick, 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 many other films as well as television, radio, video game, and print media.

Star Wars and Alien were a few of the films produced during Ladd's tenure. However, he stepped down and left Fox in 1979 after falling out with Fox chairman Dennis Stanfill. Other productions included Outland (1981), Night Shift, Blade Runner (both 1982), The Right Stuff (1983), He later received the 2,348th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 28, 2007.

Personal life and death Ladd married his first wife, Patricia Ann Beazley, in September 1959. They met while studying at the University of Southern California together. They had three children, Kelliann, Tracy, and Amanda, but divorced in 1983. and later divorced.

Filmography Ladd was a producer of all films unless otherwise noted.

Year Film Credit Notes 1970 The Walking Stick Tam Lin A Severed Head Executive producer 1972 X Y & Zee 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 2022 Elvis