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Alan Ladd, Jr. is an American film industry executive and producer. He is the son of actor Alan Ladd and Ladd's first wife Marjorie Jane, whom Ladd had met in high school.
He is famous for giving George Lucas the go-ahead to make Star Wars and remained as Lucas' only support at times when the Board of Directors of 20th Century Fox wished to shut down production. The production was plagued by location difficulties, story problems and budgetary disagreements for a project that was mainly considered a pending embarrassment before the studio likely closed its doors. However, when Ladd saw first hand the audience's rapturous appreciation of the film at its first public screening at the Northpoint Theatre in San Francisco in early May 1977, he was moved to tears at seeing this unlikely production he supported against all odds become a spectacular validation of his efforts.
Ladd received the 2,348th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday, September 28, 2007.
He started in films as an agent in 1963. In 1969, Ladd moved to London to produce, making nine films. He returned to the States in 1973 to become Head of Creative Affairs at 20th Century Fox.
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