David Ladd
Encyclopedia
David Ladd is an American producer and former actor.
, and is the son of Alan Ladd
and Sue Carol
and brother of Alana Ladd (born 1943). His other siblings include Carol Lee Veitch, Alana Ladd Jackson and Alan Ladd Jr.
Ladd attended Harvard School in Los Angeles
and, following the death of his father in 1964, went on to graduate from the University of Southern California where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree while also fulfilling his military obligations in the Air Force Reserves.
In 1972, Ladd met actress Cheryl Stoppelmoor (who would become known as Cheryl Ladd
upon the couple's marriage in 1973) with whom he later had a daughter, Jordan
in 1975. In 1977, Cheryl became a star, replacing Farrah Fawcett
in the television series Charlie’s Angels, and David, having always been interested in the behind-the-scenes of the industry, began to turn his attention toward producing. His first productions were for ABC and included specials and movies of the week, most notably When She Was Bad (1979) starring Cheryl and Robert Urich
.
David and Cheryl Ladd divorced in 1980. In 1982, Ladd married actress Dey Young
(the younger sister of actress Leigh Taylor-Young
), with whom he has another daughter, Shane Ladd.
. For this role, Ladd won a Golden Globe award as the "Best Newcomer of 1958" as well as a special award for "Best Juvenile Actor", and received a Best Supporting Actor nomination. He was also included in Film Daily’s Filmdom’s Famous Five critic’s award. Ladd followed this success with a series of films including The Sad Horse (1959), A Dog of Flanders (1960), Raymie (also 1960) and Misty (1961), as well as appearing in numerous television shows including Bonanza, Zane Grey Theatre, and Shirley Temple
’s Story Book Theatre (as Tom Sawyer). Ladd was again included in Film Daily's Filmdom's Famous Five in 1961 for A Dog of Flanders. Ladd's other feature film credits include RPM (1970), The Day of the Locust (1975), The Treasure of Jamaica Reef
(1975), Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1977) and The Wild Geese (1978).
In 1982, Ladd began working at Columbia Pictures as a creative executive. Shortly thereafter, his brother-in–law, John Veitch, stepped down as president of Columbia and asked Ladd to join him in establishing a new production company based at Columbia.
Ladd’s first solo producing credit came in the motion picture The Serpent and the Rainbow (1987), based on Wade Davis’ book of the same name. The film was quite successful, and he was subsequently asked to join his half-brother Alan Ladd Jr in forming Pathe Films in 1988. The duo produced several films before acquiring the venerable Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).
Ladd became a senior production executive at MGM and was part of the key team responsible for the resurgence of the studio (1989–1997). He was responsible for a variety of films, including the smash hit Get Shorty (1995).
Ladd left MGM as an executive in 1998, and signed a deal to produce movies for them. His first production was a re-imagining of the hit TV series The Mod Squad, in which he shared an Executive Producer credit with Aaron Spelling
, with whom he had first collaborated on The Zane Grey Theatre in 1961.
During this period, MGM changed hands twice, but Ladd was able to continue his productions. He found a manuscript written by John Katzenbach and developed it as a screenplay for the 2002 film, Hart's War, directed by Gregory Hoblit
and starring Bruce Willis
, Colin Farrell
and Terrence Howard
. Ladd followed this up with the 2003 comedy A Guy Thing, starring Jason Lee
, Julia Stiles
and Selma Blair
.
Shortly thereafter, MGM was sold and Ladd left the company as an independent. He is currently developing projects for Fox, Universal and Paramount, as well as projects for the independent film marketplace. In 2008, he helped shepherd Kevin Sheridan’s Leaving Barstow, which won several awards on the film festival circuit.
Ladd spent a portion of 2007 teaching film production at the Savannah College of Art and Design.
He is a member of the Producers Guild of America, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and an emeritus member of the Screen Actors Guild.
Personal life
Ladd was born in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, and is the son of Alan Ladd
Alan Ladd
-Early life:Ladd was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was the only child of Ina Raleigh Ladd and Alan Ladd, Sr. He was of English ancestry. His father died when he was four, and his mother relocated to Oklahoma City where she married Jim Beavers, a housepainter...
and Sue Carol
Sue Carol
Sue Carol was an American actress and talent agent.While at a social function in Los Angeles in 1927, a director offered her a part in a film. She took it and began playing minor parts...
and brother of Alana Ladd (born 1943). His other siblings include Carol Lee Veitch, Alana Ladd Jackson and Alan Ladd Jr.
Ladd attended Harvard School in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and, following the death of his father in 1964, went on to graduate from the University of Southern California where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree while also fulfilling his military obligations in the Air Force Reserves.
In 1972, Ladd met actress Cheryl Stoppelmoor (who would become known as Cheryl Ladd
Cheryl Ladd
Cheryl Ladd is an American actress, singer and author. Ladd is best known for her role as Kris Munroe in the television series Charlie's Angels, hired amid a swirl of publicity prior to its second season in 1977 to replace the departing Farrah Fawcett-Majors...
upon the couple's marriage in 1973) with whom he later had a daughter, Jordan
Jordan Ladd
Jordan Elizabeth Ladd is an American actress. She began taking small film roles before landing her first high-profile role in Never Been Kissed . Since then, Ladd has portrayed supporting as well as lead roles in films, including Cabin Fever , Club Dread , and Death Proof...
in 1975. In 1977, Cheryl became a star, replacing Farrah Fawcett
Farrah Fawcett
Farrah Fawcett was an American actress and artist. A multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee, Fawcett rose to international fame when she first appeared as private investigator Jill Munroe in the first season of the television series Charlie's Angels, in 1976...
in the television series Charlie’s Angels, and David, having always been interested in the behind-the-scenes of the industry, began to turn his attention toward producing. His first productions were for ABC and included specials and movies of the week, most notably When She Was Bad (1979) starring Cheryl and Robert Urich
Robert Urich
Robert Urich was an American actor. He played the starring roles in the television series Vega$ and Spenser: For Hire...
.
David and Cheryl Ladd divorced in 1980. In 1982, Ladd married actress Dey Young
Dey Young
Dey Young is an American actress and sculptor.Young was born in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, the daughter of Pauline, a sociologist, and Donald E. Young. Her older sister is actress Leigh Taylor-Young; her brother Lance is a writer/director. She attended Kingswood School...
(the younger sister of actress Leigh Taylor-Young
Leigh Taylor-Young
Leigh Taylor-Young is an American actress who has appeared on stage, screen, and television.-Early life:Leigh Taylor-Young was born on January 25, 1945 in Washington, D.C. Her last name is an amalgamation of the last names of her father, a diplomat, and her stepfather, a successful Detroit executive...
), with whom he has another daughter, Shane Ladd.
Career
Ladd’s professional career in Hollywood began in 1957 with a supporting role in a film starring his father titled The Big Land. As a result of that film's success, Samuel Goldwyn Jr offered him a role as a mute in the 1958 movie The Proud Rebel, once again playing opposite his father and co-starring Olivia de HavillandOlivia de Havilland
Olivia Mary de Havilland is a British American film and stage actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1946 and 1949. She is the elder sister of actress Joan Fontaine. The sisters are among the last surviving leading ladies from Hollywood of the 1930s.-Early life:Olivia de Havilland...
. For this role, Ladd won a Golden Globe award as the "Best Newcomer of 1958" as well as a special award for "Best Juvenile Actor", and received a Best Supporting Actor nomination. He was also included in Film Daily’s Filmdom’s Famous Five critic’s award. Ladd followed this success with a series of films including The Sad Horse (1959), A Dog of Flanders (1960), Raymie (also 1960) and Misty (1961), as well as appearing in numerous television shows including Bonanza, Zane Grey Theatre, and Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple Black , born Shirley Jane Temple, is an American film and television actress, singer, dancer, autobiographer, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia...
’s Story Book Theatre (as Tom Sawyer). Ladd was again included in Film Daily's Filmdom's Famous Five in 1961 for A Dog of Flanders. Ladd's other feature film credits include RPM (1970), The Day of the Locust (1975), The Treasure of Jamaica Reef
The Treasure of Jamaica Reef
The Treasure of Jamaica Reef is a 1975 American film directed by Virginia L. Stone.The film is also known as Evil in the Deep .- Cast :*Stephen Boyd as Hugo Graham*David Ladd as Joshua Owens...
(1975), Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1977) and The Wild Geese (1978).
In 1982, Ladd began working at Columbia Pictures as a creative executive. Shortly thereafter, his brother-in–law, John Veitch, stepped down as president of Columbia and asked Ladd to join him in establishing a new production company based at Columbia.
Ladd’s first solo producing credit came in the motion picture The Serpent and the Rainbow (1987), based on Wade Davis’ book of the same name. The film was quite successful, and he was subsequently asked to join his half-brother Alan Ladd Jr in forming Pathe Films in 1988. The duo produced several films before acquiring the venerable Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).
Ladd became a senior production executive at MGM and was part of the key team responsible for the resurgence of the studio (1989–1997). He was responsible for a variety of films, including the smash hit Get Shorty (1995).
Ladd left MGM as an executive in 1998, and signed a deal to produce movies for them. His first production was a re-imagining of the hit TV series The Mod Squad, in which he shared an Executive Producer credit with Aaron Spelling
Aaron Spelling
Aaron Spelling was an American film and television producer. As of 2009, Spelling's eponymous production company Spelling Television holds the record as the most prolific television writer, with 218 producer and executive producer credits...
, with whom he had first collaborated on The Zane Grey Theatre in 1961.
During this period, MGM changed hands twice, but Ladd was able to continue his productions. He found a manuscript written by John Katzenbach and developed it as a screenplay for the 2002 film, Hart's War, directed by Gregory Hoblit
Gregory Hoblit
Gregory King Hoblit is an American Hollywood film director and TV producer.Hoblit was born in Abilene, Texas, the son of Elizabeth Hubbard King and Harold Foster Hoblit, an FBI agent. Much of Hoblit's work is oriented towards police, attorneys, and legal cases...
and starring Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis
Walter Bruce Willis , better known as Bruce Willis, is an American actor, producer, and musician. His career began in television in the 1980s and has continued both in television and film since, including comedic, dramatic, and action roles...
, Colin Farrell
Colin Farrell
Colin James Farrell is an Irish actor, who has appeared in such film as Tigerland, Miami Vice, Minority Report, Phone Booth, The Recruit, Alexander and S.W.A.T....
and Terrence Howard
Terrence Howard
Terrence Dashon Howard is an American actor. Having his first major role in the 1995 film Mr. Holland's Opus, which subsequently led to a number of roles in films and high visibility among African American audiences. Howard broke into the mainstream with a succession of well-reviewed television...
. Ladd followed this up with the 2003 comedy A Guy Thing, starring Jason Lee
Jason Lee (actor)
Jason Michael Lee is an American actor and skateboarder known for his role as the title character on the NBC television series My Name is Earl, his portrayal of Syndrome in the film The Incredibles, his role as Dave Seville in the Alvin and the Chipmunks films, and his work with director Kevin...
, Julia Stiles
Julia Stiles
Julia O'Hara Stiles is an American actress.After beginning her career in small parts in a New York City theatre troupe, she has moved on to leading roles in plays by writers as diverse as William Shakespeare and David Mamet...
and Selma Blair
Selma Blair
Selma Blair is an American actress who has worked in film, theatre and television. She has performed in feature films including Cruel Intentions, Legally Blonde, The Sweetest Thing, Hellboy, The Fog, Purple Violets and Hellboy II: The Golden Army...
.
Shortly thereafter, MGM was sold and Ladd left the company as an independent. He is currently developing projects for Fox, Universal and Paramount, as well as projects for the independent film marketplace. In 2008, he helped shepherd Kevin Sheridan’s Leaving Barstow, which won several awards on the film festival circuit.
Ladd spent a portion of 2007 teaching film production at the Savannah College of Art and Design.
He is a member of the Producers Guild of America, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and an emeritus member of the Screen Actors Guild.