Alan Ladd - Wikipedia

Alan Walbridge Ladd (September 3, 1913 – January 29, 1964) was an American actor and film and television producer. Ladd found success in film in the 1940s and early 1950s, particularly in Westerns such as Shane (1953) and in films noir. He was often paired with Veronica Lake, in noirish films such as This Gun for Hire (1942), The Glass Key (1942) and The Blue Dahlia (1946).

His other notable credits include Two Years Before the Mast (1946), Whispering Smith, his first Western and color film, (1948) and The Great Gatsby (1949). His popularity diminished in the late 1950s, though he continued to appear in popular films until his accidental death due to a lethal combination of alcohol, a barbiturate, and two tranquilizers.[2]

Ladd briefly served in the United States Army Air Forces First Motion Picture Unit.[32] Ladd was initially classified 4-F unfit for military service because of stomach problems, but began his military service in January 1943. He was posted to the Walla Walla Army Air Base at Walla Walla, Washington, attaining the rank of Corporal. He attended the Oscars in March 1943[33] and in September appeared in a trailer promoting a war loan drive, Letter from a Friend.[34]

While Ladd was in the armed services, a number of films which had been announced for him were either postponed, and/or made with different actors, including Incendiary Blonde, The Story of Dr. Wassell, Ministry of Fear and The Man in Half Moon Street. Paramount started promoting Ladd replacements such as Sonny Tufts and Barry Sullivan.[35] Old Ladd films were reissued with him being given more prominent billing, such as Hitler, Beast of Berlin.[36] He was reportedly receiving 20,000 fan letters a week.[37] The New York Times reported that "Ladd in the brief period of a year and with only four starring pictures to his credit... had built up a following unmatched in film history since Rudolph Valentino skyrocketed to fame."[34] In December 1943 he would be listed as the 15th most popular star in the US.[38]

Ladd fell ill and went to military hospital in Santa Barbara for several weeks in October.[39] On 28 October, he was given an honorable medical discharge because of a stomach disorder complicated by influenza.[40][41]