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Alan Ladd Jr., an Oscar-winning producer behind an array of iconic films, has died. He was 84.
Ladd Jr.’s daughter, Amanda Ladd-Jones, confirmed he died on Wednesday in a social media statement. No cause of death was given.
“Words cannot express how deeply he will be missed,” his daughter added. “His impact on films and filmmaking will live on in his absence.”
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Born on Oct. 22, 1937, in Los Angeles, California, Ladd Jr. was the son of Alan Ladd, an actor and producer who found film success throughout the 1940s and early 1950s.
Ladd Jr. began his illustrious film career when he took a job at Creative Management Associates in 1963. There, he represented mega stars among the likes of Judy Garland, Robert Redford and Warren Beatty, according toDeadline.
In the early 1970s, Ladd Jr. then began producing films, and became the Head of Creative Affairs at Twentieth Century Fox, before later serving as studio president for the entertainment company, the outlet added.
While at Fox, Ladd Jr. greenlitGeorge Lucas’Star Wars, which he did, perTHR, “against the wishes of his board of directors.” He also helped bring other films to life, includingAlien, The Omen,Young Frankenstein,Norma Rae,All That Jazz,The Rocky Horror Picture ShowandThe Rose.
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Ladd Jr. later resigned from Fox in 1979 and formed The Ladd Co. with his Fox associates, Jay Kanter and Gareth Wigan, perTHR. There, the company produced films likeBlade Runner,Body Heat,Night Shift,The Right StuffandPolice Academy.
After the company suffered some financial issues, Ladd Jr. then joined MGM in 1983, where he helped bring films likeSpaceballs,Moonstruck,A Fish Called WandaandRain Manto life, the outlet added.
Ladd Jr. then moved over to Giancarlo Parretti’s Pathe Entertainment years later, before he started a second stint with MGM in 1991. He then re-established The Ladd Co. through a production deal with Paramount,THRreported, where Mel Gibson’sBraveheartfound a home.
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In a statement given toTHR, Lucas, 77, told the outlet that Ladd Jr. “loved film and believed in filmmakers.”
“He was one of the few executives who bet on the person rather than the project,” he added. “Without Laddie there would be noStar Wars. He didn’t understand whatStar Warswas about, but he believed in me and supported my vision. Quiet and thoughtful, he had an independent spirit that gave so many storytellers a chance. He stood up to the studios and went with his gut instinct. Laddie took a great personal and professional risk onStar Wars, and on me, and for that I will be forever grateful.”
source: people.com
