Alan Ladd Jr. (1937–2022), producer who greenlit “Star Wars”
legacy.comAlan Ladd Jr. was a producer and movie executive who greenlit “Star Wars” and produced “Braveheart.”Ladd was the son of actor Alan Ladd (1913–1964), the star of movies including “Shane” and “This Gun for Hire.” After growing up in Los Angeles, he served in the U.S.
Air Force and spent several years in London working in the British film industry. Upon returning to the U.S., Ladd became an executive at 20th Century Fox, where he fought for the studio to make “Star Wars” and was one of its most enthusiastic supporters during production.
He later founded his own production company, the Ladd Company, as well as working as an executive at MGM/UA. Ladd produced films including “Braveheart,” “Police Academy,” “The Brady Bunch Movie,” and “The Man in the Iron Mask.” When “Braveheart” won the Oscar for Best Picture, Ladd was among the honorees who accepted the award onstage.
Many hit movies were released during his tenure as an executive, including “Moonstruck,” “Thelma & Louise,” “Blade Runner,” “and “The Right Stuff.”“One thing about films is that when you make them they’re lasting, they’re around forever.
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