The son of 1940s and 50s film star Alan Ladd, this former talent agent and London-based independent producer ("Walking Stick" and "A Severed Head" in 1970, "Tam Lin" and "Villain" in 1971, and "X, Y & Zee" in 1972) joined 20th Century-Fox Pictures in 1973 in the creative affairs department, rising to studio head in only three years. The more notable Fox films under Ladd's directorship were "Star Wars" (1977), "An Unmarried Woman" and "Norma Rae" (both 1978) and "The Rose" (1979). In 1979, Ladd founded The Ladd Company, based at Warner Brothers, which co-produced such diverse fare as "Chariots of Fire" (1981), "Outland" (1981), "Blade Runner" (1982), "Star 80" and "The Right Stuff" (both 1983), "Police Academy" and "Once Upon a Time in America" (both 1984).Ladd became president and chief operating officer of MGM/UA Entertainment in 1983, resigning in 1988 to chair Pathe. The most notable films during Ladd's tenure at MGM/UA were "Moonstruck" (1987), "A Fish Called Wanda" and "Rain Man" (both 1988). In 1990, he became chairman and CEO of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc., during that time producing only one huge financial hit 1991's "Thelma and Louise", which grossed $45.3 domestically.
Ladd was ousted in 1993, to be replaced by Frank Mancuso, but was soon snapped up as a producer by Paramount. Concentrating less on studio politics and more on turning out individual projects, Ladd had his most notable success to date with the Oscar-winning "Braveheart" (1995), the Mel Gibson-directed epic set in 13th-century Scotland. Other Ladd films have included the successful "Brady Bunch Movie" (1995) and its enjoyable "A Very Brady Sequel" (1996), and the disappointing actioner "The Phantom" (1996).
Profession(s):
producer, agent, studio executive
Sometimes Credited As:
'Laddie'
Alan Walbridge Ladd III
Family
daughter:Kelliann Ladd (married to entertainment lawyer John Gatti; gave birth to daughter Isabelle in May 1999)
father:Alan Ladd (born on September 3, 1913; died on January 29, 1964; tough-guy star of such films as "This Gun for Hire" (1942), "The Blue Dahlia" (1946), "Shane" (1953) and "The Carpetbaggers" (1964))
half-brother:David Ladd (born on February 5, 1947; mother, Sue Carol)
half-sister:Alana Ladd (mother, Sue Carol)
wife:Cindra Ladd (married on July 13, 1985)
wife:Patricia Ann Ladd (married on August 30, 1959; divorced in 1983)
BAFTA Lloyds Bank Award for Favorite Film "Braveheart" 1995
Oscar Best Picture "Braveheart" 1995
1996 Signed three-year extension with Paramount
1993 Ousted as head of MGM in July; signed an exclusive three-year pact with Paramount to develop and produce films
1992 Dennis Stanfill appointed co-chair and co-CEO of MGM-Pathe
1991 Appointed chairman and CEO of MGM-Pathe Communications Corp after the resignation of Giancarlo Parretti (April)
1989 Named co-chairman of Pathe Communications Corp.; also chairman and CEO of Pathe Entertainment
1988 Executive produced first feature, "Vice Versa"
1988 Resigned from MGM/UA
1986 Named CEO of UA Corp and chairman of the board of directors; also CEO Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Inc., Culver City, CA; successful films included "Moonstruck" (1987) and "A Fish Called Wanda" (1988
1985 Appointed president and COO of MGM/UA Entertainment Co.
1979 Resigned from 20th Century-Fox
1979 Founded The Ladd Co, Burbank CA; used the Warner Bros lot
1976 Promoted to senior vice president, 20th Century-Fox Film Corp, (Worldwide Productions division), Beverly Hills, CA
1974 Named vice president of production at 20th Century-Fox Film Corp, Los Angeles
1973 Joined 20th Century-Fox in charge of creative affairs in feature division
1970 Produced first feature, "A Severed Head"
1961 - 1963 Served with US Air Force
Began career as motion picture talent agent at Creative Management Associates, Los Angeles
Rose to president, 20th Century-Fox Pictures
