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PatB says on 27/Feb/10
Th American male is about 5'9.5" with an SD of about 2.8". So if Alan Ladd was indeed 5'6" he was just about one standard deviation below normal. That's not all that short.
Height is normally distributed. By definition most of the men you see everyday will be one SD plus or minus of the mean. Alan Ladd was not odd or unusual in terms of height - unless he wanted to play basketball or act in the movies.
The problem he had is clearly seen in the bar fight scene in Shane. He was a slight guy. There really are men who can stand in the middle of a bar and fist fight with all comers. But they don't weigh 123 lbs. He looks small on screen because he is playing the part of a guy who would have to have been bigger in real life.
We also know from the statistics available from dating sites that women want partners who are tall or at least taller than they are. Guys 5'6" just don't do as well with the broads as guys who are 6' or more.
So Alan Ladd should have portrayed celibate accountants. Then no one would have ever remarked on his stature.
Parker says on 3/Jan/10
Kent - Yes, I watched the film recently, and there is no doubt they used every trick in the book to make Ladd look taller - in the scene where he moves away from Jean Arthur after the fight with Heflin, he steps onto a brick just prior to the 'goodbye' scene.
What they can't disguise is the dance scene - I'm sure Ladd had lifts in his boots, but by the same rule Jean Arthur had small heels on her shoes. She is listed at 5'3 and 5'4 on different sites, and Ladd looked 3 or 4 inches taller in the dance scene. I've seen a barefoot shot of him stood next to Elisha Cook Jr in footwear, who is listed as 5'5 in his army enlistment. I think 5'6 is a fair estimate for Alan - not the 'about' 5'7 family members have quoted, and certainly not the 5'9 the army listed him at on discharge. Kent says on 30/Dec/09
There have been several comments here regarding Ladd in the movie Shane. Having seen this film recently, I noticed that Ladd is often situated in a way that makes him appear taller. In nearly every shot where he is inside Van Heflin's cabin, Ladd is standing near the door. The doorframe and the surrounding floor is a step above the rest of the room. And in the bar during the showdown, Ladd stands alone (he is frequently in shots by himself throughout the film) and is viewed upwards by the camera. Parker says on 11/Dec/09
Here you go Dylan. Rob posted this back in 2005 after I'd sent him through a barefoot shot of Alan Ladd next to Elisha Cook Jnr in footwear.Ladd was marginally taller.
CelebHeights Editor says on 5/Aug/05
Parker showed me the photo of alan ladd and Elisha Cook Jr. Now, I do think Elisha at his peak may be a solid 5ft 5. Whilst the pic isn't conclusive I'd say maybe Ladd got short shrift by being described as 5ft 4 and 5 back in the golden era. 5ft 6, and possible a tad more is very realistic for this guy.
Here's a bit of Trivia on Elisha Cook from I M D B
Enlisted in U.S. Army on 15 August 1942. Height and weight at enlistment given as 5' 5" and 123 lb. Education given as three years of high school. RisingForce says on 21/Nov/09
According to Edward Zwick, shoe lifts are still referred to as "Alan Ladds" in the movie business. Click Here Dylan says on 12/Nov/09
Frank2 - I always heard that Alan Ladd was no more than 5'5" and as you say, alot of tricks were pulled in order for him to look taller. He wasn't 5'6" in my opinion. Frank2 says on 10/Sep/09
Yes, Ladd was no more than 5'6". Paramount pulled a lot of tricks to hide it.
Here's Ladd with Bogart:
Click Here Django says on 9/Sep/09
Man, some of the estimates here are getting absurd. Was Ladd really that short? According to some of these posters he was 4'-10' and wore ten inch lifts to make him 5'8". Give the guy a break. guyfrommars says on 23/Jun/09
Hollywood was full of short guys back then, just as it is now. Bogart, Cagney, Ladd, Robinson... all wore lifts to appear taller on screen. bill says on 17/Jan/09
sam, yes, there are people who barely shrink at all. My uncle is 82 years old, 6 foot, and was always that height. Jane Doe says on 30/Dec/08
It surprises me how much fuss is made over Ladd's height when there were many actors about 5' 6'' or shorter. I can only guess that it was because he was a leading man and not of the gangster variety. As with most of the posts here I agree he was a fine actor and a unique one. I don't think anyone could have projected the enigma and pathos of the character of Shane as well as he did. Kugar says on 26/Dec/08
Alan Ladd was 5"6" at the most. Before his movie career, his nickname in the thirties was "Tiny". But a fine actor which made him tall in the hearts of movie fans. Parker says on 26/Aug/08
Absolutely agree with you Frank2. Ladd was the good looking hero in the Errol Flynn,Robert Taylor era. The leading man had to be significantly taller than the female interest. I think its a shame that nobody remembers Ladd as a great actor (as I believe he was) but more of the guy that stood on a box or his leading lady standing in a ditch,as Sophia Loren did in 'Boy on a Dolphin'. Reading the post by 'Richard'on 8th Feb regarding George Stephens Jr comments, Ladds 'Brother in Law's' comments in a recent Biography channel screening, and Virginia Mayo's estimate I think 5'6 give or take half inch is spot on. Frank2 says on 25/Aug/08
There was difference when it came to height regarding Ladd compared to Cagney, Raft, Bogart, Robinson and Garfield. Warner Brothers never hid the fact they were all short. Cagney was barely 5'5". Raft was 5'7" as was Bogart. Robinson was only 5'4" and Garfield was about 5'7". But over at Paramount they went to great lengths to conceal Ladd's short stature. Ladd was more of a leading man and leading men were all supposed be at least 6'. I doubt he was more than 5'6". They pulled all kinds of tricks in SHANE. One reason I believe Ladd drank so much was he became sick and tired of being in situations where he was forced to stand on boards and wear huge elevator shoes. Whereas Bogie laughed at his, calling them 'lifts' which I believe was the first time that term was used. GCM says on 25/Aug/08
Yes, it's impossible to tell from movies because they can tailor height as required. Hollwood will go to any lengths to accomodate people if they have "the look" Pretty faces sell tickets at the box office - allways have - probably allways will I guess - no denying that Ladd was a very handsome guy - that simple I think.
Gets back I guess to what has been mentioned here before - people who don't enjoy attention or privilage ( for instance those who aren't keenly sought out by the opposite sex ) get jealous and strike out using whatever they can.
I remember the stories about a trench being dug for Alan ladd when acting opposite taller leading ladies. These posts remind me that Veronica Lake was one of them and perhaps the one the story was about.
I remember also the suggestion ( and I think pretty much the accepted truth ) was that he become more and more addicted to the bottle and virtually consigned himself to the scrapheap.
Again if I remember correctly I think he and James Stewart and I think Gary Cooper were very very close.
I think Cooper and Stewart both tried to extricate him from his alcoholism without success and of course Cooper and Ladd died within 3 years of each other ( Cooper in '61 and Ladd in '64 I think )
Stewart was terribly hurt by their loss mourned them both very deeply. That's my memory of it but I stand to be corrected by anyone more knowledgeable.
It seems to me that in those days there was not such a focus on height. Indeed all the early gfilms were sort of strangely dominated by short guys - James Cagney, George Raft, Humphrey Bogart, Edward G Robinson, John Garfield and such. JOSH says on 27/Jun/08
He did not look short atall in shane. He may have been built up to 5ft 8 or 9.
But he went below 5ft 6. Jobbo says on 9/Jun/08
I knew Alan Ladd personally. He and I were the same height: 5'6". sam says on 8/May/08
damn dlladd, that sucks! I wonder if there's any people who have never in their lives lost any height... msdyn0myte says on 4/Mar/08
My father was actually friends with Alan Ladd, but he had been dead for years before I ever went to visit his widow, Sue Ladd at her home. I've been cleaning out storage and have found some letters from Sue and lots of memorabilia, including a the film Shane on a motion projector reel. Maybe something about his height will come up. DLLADD says on 22/Feb/08
In 1951, I was 5'6 1/2" when entering the USAF, today at 77 I am 5" 4". But that is beside the point. I was wondering; If when Alan died, at home, isn't customery for an autopsy to be performed. If so wouldn't the Coroner to have taken measurements of Alan's body? Just a thought. Oh, and yes my surname is LADD! sf says on 16/Feb/08
Parker - still boosting Ladd's height????
LOL!! Parker says on 15/Feb/08
A great actor. 5'6/5'7 in my opinion. Most internet sets have him at 5'5. I've seen enough films,quotes from people that really knew him, and photographs to know 5'5 is too short for Ladd. Richard says on 8/Feb/08
According to George Stevens, Jr, son of the director of "Shane," Ladd was about 5'7, contrary to reports that had him 5'4 or less. Stevens mentions this in the recent DVD version of Shane with commentary. At least one shot bears this out. During the July 4 celebration, Ladd and Jean Arthur dance in a corral. The scene is a wide shot and it's obvious that, again contrary to rumor, Arthur is not in a ditch and Ladd is not on a box. It's clear that they are both on level ground, with him behind her. Ms. Arthur was 5'4 and Ladd appears a good three inches taller. Russ says on 6/Oct/07
I once saw a candid, public photograph of Alan Ladd standing next to a chain link(?)fence. On the other side of the fence were dozens of his female fans. It appeared that at least half of the females in the crowd were as tall as Mr. Ladd. Many were taller. When I saw that photo, I then realized that Alan Ladd could not have been much taller than 5' 5". He was a star in spite of his height. Parker says on 29/Jul/07
Steve - You did well to see him in San Diego in 1967, seeing as he died in 1964. Steve says on 29/Jul/07
Alan Ladd was 5'$' saw him in San Diego, 1967 patrick says on 18/Apr/07
Save if you consider that A.Ladd didn't care how tall he was or appeared since he considered himself as an "old baby face" and had been wondering all along his life and till his death, why on earth he could have been so popular.
He admittedly was 5'6 as far as we can guess despite wonderful tricks, trenches and angles used to make this fascinating actor having a star size! Parker says on 7/Mar/07
We'll never know Alan Ladd's height sf. but I really do think because Sophia Loren (5'8) was made to stand in a trench for the film they made together, a 'myth' has been propogated surrounding his height. There is someone on the Veronica Lake page claiming he was shorter than 5'2! Utter nonsense. I sent Rob a barefoot photo of him in swimwear next to a co-star a year or so ago - and believe me he looks around 5'6.
I'll accept he could have been as short as 5'5 just as I would accept he could have been as tall as 5'7. No shorter,no taller in my opinion. sf says on 19/Feb/07
Parker - I don't want them to be shorter than they are, just as short OR tall as they really are. It's Hollywood - most are bound to exaggerate their heights, that's pretty much a know fact - lifts, boxes, trenches, etc. So, it's more likely many of these stars were shorter than listed.
All that being said, nothing wrong with being 5'4" like Ladd possibly was, and Michael J. Fox, is, and being a movie and/or TV star. Those guys have to work even harder than their 6'1" counterparts, so more power to them. leonari says on 29/Jan/07
5´6 ain t right folks...5`5 is closer. Parker says on 29/Jan/07
Not his reincarnation, but a movie fan. I loved all the old actors of the 50's and 60's,Wayne,Flynn,Bogart,Ladd,Cagney, etc. All great actors, but the sad thing about Alan is that all people seem to remember him for is standing on a box, which then propogates the myth of him being 5'3/5'4 - which he wasn't. For some strange reason a lot of people on this forum want the stars to be shorter than they really are - not sure why. Here's my MINIMUM height guesses on the most debated - Wayne(6-4),Stallone (5-9) Cruise (5-7.5) Devito (4-10)Ladd(5-6)
Only my opinion of course. sf says on 27/Jan/07
Parker - you're just determined not to have Ladd any shorter!!! Are you the reincarnation of him??? Parker says on 26/Jan/07
They built scaled down sets for michael j Fox in Bright Lights, Big City. And as he said, short actors stand on a box, with short stars everyone stands in a ditch. Alan Ladd was a star, i doubt he would have stood on a box. In 'Boy on a Dolphin' with Sophia Loren, her first film, she was never out of a ditch.
There was a biography of Alan in the UK just recently, his brother in law was on and there was a segment discussing his height and he said Alan was about 5'7.
The box and ditch stories propogated the myth of Alan being very short, when he was in fact taller than a lot of stars of his day, James Cagney, Edward G Robinson etc. Personally I don't think he was as tall as 5'7, nor do I think he was as short as 5'5. I think Rob has got him pegged correctly. George H says on 24/Jan/07
I read somewhere they used to make him stand on a box and I've also heard they'd build scaled down sets to make him appear taller. Man, that must've been the ultimate attempt to make somebody look bigger than he was! R. j. Kelly says on 23/Jan/07
My father (Don Kelly) acted with Alan Ladd in the movie "The Big Land." I have close-ups of them together. My father was 6' tall. Alan Ladd was no more than 5'5" and that's stretching it. leonari says on 31/Dec/06
velvet: I agree. I don't see how in the 50 ies 5'6" was so short...with some lifts he would have looked more or less average. What was average height in the 50 ies ROB? any clue??
[Editor Rob: in America? 5ft 8 and 5ft 3] velvet says on 30/Dec/06
As a 60+ avid movie fan, I can tell you that as far back as the 50's, Photoplay and all the "movie" magazines always mentioned Ladd being 5!2". They had to build trenches for the woman when he stood next to them, or have him standing on makeshift ridges. Catch him embracing Sophia Loren in Boy On A Dolphin, and see just how tiny he was. Parker says on 27/Jul/06
Rob2 Why do you think he is now 5'5? The remark Rob the editor made was a 'spoof' comment. Alan Ladd has never made such a comment.
[Editor Rob: yes, that is a kid on quote, although if you submitted such a thing to XXXX for any celebrity you'd have more chance of changing a height.] Frank2 says on 18/Apr/06
Mayo was correct. Cagney was the shorter of the two men. My mom worked with Ladd in radio and she was 5'4" back then and told me that Ladd was her height when my mom wore three inch heels. Parker says on 18/Apr/06
Here's an abstract from an interview with Viginia Mayo for Ladd's autobiography. (Mayo starred with Ladd in a couple of films) Its interesting because it totally supports Frank2's comments on both Ladd and Cagney. It recounts a time when she and her husband and Ladd and his wife were sailing to England together. Ladd had a fear of flying.
' My husband Mike was so fond of Alan, whenever a photograph was taken of the whole group of us we were asked to stand together in a straight line, and Mike would always give Alan a little shove forward so he would always look taller in the pictures because that was such a big thing with Alan - he was shy about his height...but he was NOT that short. I worked with James Cagney who was much shorter than I. Alan wasn't. People are always saying to me Alan was so short and I always tell them the WASN'T so short. I'm Five five and a half, Alan was about an inch taller.
So if Cagney was much shorter than Mayo, Frank's absolutely right. 5'4/5'5
Parker says on 17/Apr/06
I know the latest comment eas not from the editor, as he has photographic evidence from me that proved Alan was 5'5 MINIMUM.
[Editor Rob: I only ever use 'editor rob' to distinguish myself, I post under nothing else, I let the other Rob use that name...maybe I may ask if other Rob adds an initial to the end 'RobD' or something?] Frank2 says on 17/Apr/06
Yeah, I think I posted that one on another thread. I met Jack Warner nearly forty years ago and he was about 5'6". He could have been 5'7" when he was younger, but that photo was taken in the 1950's when Jack was well into his sixties. Frank2 says on 11/Apr/06
I'm glad somebody liked it. I couldn't stand it. Babyboomer says on 6/Apr/06
Frank2 - I LOVED "Hammersmith is Out"! Don't recall it doing very well, but I found it very "Jungian". Wish I could find a copy! Great job on the color. "Billy Budd" is a favorite of mine. Frank2 says on 28/Mar/06
I was once on the set of The Adventures of Superman when I was a boy. I watched them film the episode where Superman freezes and has to walk into a blast furnace to thaw out. Jack Larson was very nice and gave me and the two kids I was with a tour of what had been Charley Chaplin's studio in Hollywood. By then it was called The Kling Studio, an independent studio on La Brea just south of Sunset Blvd. Later A & M took it over and now the Jim Henson company owns it. George Reeves was wonderful to us kids. I'll never forget that day as long as I live. Paul says on 28/Mar/06
I'm surprised Elisha was that tall. He just seemed very small on screen. I would have guessed 5'4" to 5'5". Great character actor though. He apparently was a good friend of Jack "Jimmy Olson" Larson (not a tall man by any means himself). Larson talks about his friend "Cookie" on one of the Superman DVDs.
Frank2 says on 26/Mar/06
It was me. It's based on reading his official height listed, meeting him as well as noticing how tall he appeared in films. Parker says on 26/Mar/06
Was it Frank2 or Frank that says Elisha cOok Jnr was 5'6? Could you also tell me what that is based on. The reason I ask is that there si a photograph of a barefooted Alan Ladd with Elisha Cook in shoes and they look about the same height, which would nail down Alan's height at minimum 5'6.
[Editor Rob: numero 2] Frank2 says on 22/Mar/06
I met Donna. she was friends with my mom. When my mother was younger she was 5'4" and Donna didn't look any taller. Taylor was short. I met her when she came to a screening of Hammersmith is Out along with Richard Burton and the director, Peter Ustinov who I had been working with for several days on that film's color timing. Peter was one of the funniest people I've ever met. One day in the screening room I told him that I loved Billy Budd (Ustinov also directed) and before I could say anything else he looked at me, winked and said, "It'll be our little secret. I won't tell a soul." By the way, Peter was just shy of 5'10", Burton was about 5'10" and Liz was no more than 5'2". Viv says on 21/Mar/06
Regarding Donna Reed: I've always heard 5'7" for her, too. But, I think she was shorter. I saw a rather unclear shot in "The Last Time I Saw Paris" of her next to Elizabeth Taylor (who, I'm convinced was 5'2" - not 5'4") Donna was barely taller than Elizabeth in the shot. Elizabeth was wearing 3" heels...Donna's heels looked to be 1"-2". She's probably closer to 5'5", if that helps. Frank says on 21/Mar/06
Elisha Cook Jr. was 5'6". sf says on 20/Mar/06
Frank2 - the only height I've ever seen listed for Donna was 5'7". I really don't know much about her height. She could be shorter or taller, I really don't know. And, since she is probably in heels in this picture - 5'7" or so. What I do know as that in the picture I referenced, Ladd and Murphy literally tower over here, which makes me laugh.
Secondly, Parker, not trying to be rude, but so what if they've just been given awards? This is golden age Hollywood - time for apple boxes and trenches! Even if they've just been given an award, doesn't mean a place wasn't set up for the pictures, making sure such devices were present so that any picture could be staged as needed. Parker says on 20/Mar/06
sf - Agree with the publicity shots from films, but in the Monroe picture they have both just been given awards. However if Monroe was 5'4, as suggested by Frank, the picture makes much more sense. Monroe 5'7 in heels, Ladd 5'9 with lifts. larry says on 20/Mar/06
I did physicals on inductees into the US army right after basic training. I measured the poor devils and was told to be accurate. BUT, I never measured a celebrity that I KNOW of. Maybe celebrities, sons of politicians, US "royalty", etc. didn't have to take physicals "with us peasants"? :-) Ladd certainly LOOKED small (in build too). Wasn't he paired with Veronnica Lake because she was under 5' (or was that a rumor)? James Whitmore NEVER looked 5'10" tall. BTW: one way to assure being a target in lovely "Nam" was to BE tall! I'm 195-196 cms tall and was a medical corpsman (medivac) and was shot at more times than I could count! :-) I always felt like I had a big target on my back when we were evacuating the casualties off the ground! Finally got plugged in the glutius maximus and sent home to finish my tour (so, maybe they accidently did me a favor). The other medical corpsmen said they always wanted to partner up with me, BECAUSE they figgured I was a better target!!! :-) Well, that's getting off-subject, but their ARE disadvantages to being a big guy! Frank2 says on 19/Mar/06
James Whitmore was never more than 5'7". Where on earth did you ever read he was 5'10"? Now at age 85 he's about 5'4"! All photos of Ladd taken for publicity purposes used a box. In scenes with taller actors Ladd was placed on a height ramp. I don't think there's ever been a case where another big Hollywood star had so much subterfuge going to protect his status. Paramount would even purposely cast male extras who were 5'6" or under just to make Ladd appear taller. Ladd despised it all and tried to drink himself to death, eventually dying from alcoholism as well as an overdose of prescription sleeping pills when he was only 50. And Marilyn was most likely only about 5'4". I got that from two people who knew her better than most. One of them who worked in publicity at 20th Century Fox was given the thankless job of escorting her around and making sure she didn't get into too much trouble when she was under countract to that studio. sf says on 19/Mar/06
Parker - going to comment on the Marilyn Monroe picture. We can't see their feet, so we don't know what's going on there. Remember the picture of Ladd and Audy Murphy where both men tower over 5'7" Donna Reed?
Guess I'm saying, if I can't see their feet, I don't put much stock into those photos. Parker says on 19/Mar/06
Frank - What do you make of the photo on this page of Alan with Marilyn Monroe. If Marilyn's height is 5'5, and she has 3 inch heels (I'm guessing) then Ladd's up at 5'10.? I can only think Marilyn has taken her shoes off? Frank2 says on 19/Mar/06
My mom did some radio programs with Ladd back in the 1940's. I asked her and she remembers him being only slightly taller than her and that was when she was wearing three inch heels and my mom was 5'4" when she was young. She believes he was about 5'6" and usually wore lifts to boost him another couple of inches. And please people!! DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT THE ARMY PUBLISHED REGARDING HEIGHTS OF CELEBS! The fellow who measured lad was most likely paid off by Ladd's people to adjust the height to be more in line with what his public was told back then. If I had to bet the farm I'd say Ladd was 5'6", but not an inch taller. He could have even been 5'5". And James Dean was only 5'6". I'd bet the farm on that one too! leonari says on 19/Mar/06
Finally somebody who realizes that THE ARMY is not the Bible. Off course they can fudge heights...Ladd was short and Dean as well. I would give Ladd a max of 5'6" and Dean 5'7" but not higher. Just watch the movies he is in! Looks short! Parker says on 19/Mar/06
Yes. Its a pity we can't see the feet of Alan in the pic with Marilyn Monroe because even if he was 5'6 and 1/2 (which is my guess) I don't understand the photo's unless Monroe was standing in her bare feet. The 5'5/5'6 height for Monroe seems to be well documented.
As to Alan's army papers. We've already seen on the Elvis page that measurements are sometimes taken in boots, so he could have measured in at 5'8 (in boots)and 'asked' whoever was measuring him to give him the 5'9, or alternatively he was
indeed 5'7, 5'8 and 1/2 in boots and the army rounded up........we'll never know. sf says on 19/Mar/06
Well, Parker, I may be willing to concede 5'6" cause I do believe that Frank2 has been around and has real, first-hand experience with these people. That's the only reason I ask about lifts - just to clarify. And, knowing how prevalent and important they seem to be in Hollywood, I wouldn't doubt he wore lifts. No, can't buy the army papers. Kind of like the James Dean argument. Citing Ladd's army height of 5'9" might shed some light into the James Dean argument that he was shorter than his army listed height of 5'8". NOBODY thinks Alan Ladd was 5'9", so I don't think it's very hard to admit that the army DID fudge his height, for whatever reason. If they can fudge Dean's, they can fudge Ladd's.
I personally believe that, back in the day, Hollywood held huge sway in many ways, and, personally, I CAN see the army purposely fudging on these stars heights since they were such a big deal at the time. I think the world's a different place today, and, while celebrities are still very big deals, I am inclined to think that we are so much more used to celebrities, and not as innocent, etc. and that fudging someone's height today might not be acceptable. Does any of that make sense?
Anyway, with Frank2's input - Ladd, may, indeed, have been taller than 5'4" and 1/2... Parker says on 18/Mar/06
Sue - Alan had 3 children. A son by his first wife, and a son and daughter with his second. I've no Idea of their heights. Alan served in the armed forces and his army papers listed him at 5'9. Make of that what you will. When his second wife was ever asked about Alan's height, she always referred to his army papers. Sue says on 18/Mar/06
Okay guys, get back to your corners and take a break until the next round. It's interesting reading your comments. My mum used to have a crush on Alan Ladd. I have no idea if he's 5'2" or 5'6" but in that picture of him with his bare chest on show, he looks so delicate and small boned. Usually people are in proportion...small hands mean short stature etc but how short, that's the question. Maybe we're all looking in the wrong places. I wonder if any of his old movie clothes still exist. Their sizes might hold some clues to his height, especially a pair of trousers. What a weird and morbid idea? Did Ladd have any children? If so, how tall are they? These things can skip a generation but again, the height of his offspring could only ever offer up an approximation of how tall he might have been. I'm intrigued now so I might just go away and try to find some of his movies and do a bit of studying. The answer is out there. My mum really did love him though and sometimes that's all it boils down to really. If the girlies love you it doesn't matter what height you are, right? Oh, ok, sorry, wrong...round 84... back in the ring lads. Parker says on 18/Mar/06
sf - check out Marilyn Monroe's page. There's people on there trying to get Alan to 5'7! I think he could have ben 5'7 straight out of bed, but I'm still going with Virginia Mayo's description of 5'6 and 1/2. That's exactly the height of my 18 year old son, and I can tell you an ordinary pair of Gap boots gets him past 5'8! Are you convinced yet? sf says on 15/Mar/06
Well, this is interesting. Parker and I have had our debate about Ladd's height. This might help to make the matter, clearer. I've read so much that puts Ladd shorter, again, as short as 5'2" to 5'4". But, of course, there's others that say he's taller. And, they do such a great job in Ladd's movies of making him look taller, it's hard to tell.
Frank - since you seem to know so much, what do you know about Ladd wearing lifts, etc? Frank2 says on 3/Mar/06
Ladd was five-six. My mom worked with him in radio. Parker says on 26/Jan/06
I can tell you that 'Boy On A Dolphin' was the movie that propogated the myth of Alan Ladd being very short, as in 5'3/5'4 - Sophia Loren was listed at 5'8.5, and of course the 'hero' had to be significantly taller, so of course she played most of her scenes in ditches. As SF points out earlier, we can never be sure of his height with lifts etc. but I personally doubt he was shorter than 5'6 CelebHeights Editor says on 5/Aug/05
Parker showed me the photo of alan ladd and Elisha Cook Jr. Now, I do think Elisha at his peak may be a solid 5ft 5. Whilst the pic isn't conclusive I'd say maybe Ladd got short shrift by being described as 5ft 4 and 5 back in the golden era. 5ft 6, and possible a tad more is very realistic for this guy. sf says on 2/Aug/05
Parker - I'm not here to argue with you over Alan Ladd's height. The fact of the matter is, I'll never really know what his real height is, you'll never know - none of us will ever really know. We can only speculate. Yes, I have watched Shane pretty intently, looking at Ladd's height. And, I admit, they do a really good job of disguising his height. To me, he doesn't look short at all, the way the movie is filmed. But, again, I know the tricks that Hollywood can do. In the latest picture you present, you can see Alan's wife clearly hunching forward, and you can see the heels on ladd's shoes. In that picture, to me, they look more like the heels you'd find on a woman's pumps. Plus, you don't know what's inside them. I have also read an article where a director fires Alan ladd from a movie, and also says that Ladd was only 5'2"! I'm sure an exagerration out of spite, maybe, but people say different things. Anyway, I'm going to stick with what most of Hollywood has said for over 60 years, and just believe he is probably as short as usually referenced...but, he IS a tough one to figure out.... TJ says on 30/Jul/05
I think that Mayo's comments are interesting about Cagney and Robinson. I've seen both credited as 5'6 and she says that both were shorter than her height of 5'5.5. To me that's very obvious when you see them on screen. I'd put them in the 5'3 to 5'4 range max. sf says on 26/Jul/05
Parker - you make good points, and sorry if my first e-mail came off kind of harsh. I guess when I say "well known", is that I'm referring to 60 plus years of known general consensus about Ladd's height. I don't agree with the Rod Stewart example. I don't think it's well known that he's only 5'5". Yes, there have been some sites that list this, but generally, Rod Stewart is not referred to as short. And, even Virginia Mayo might not have known what Ladd had in his shows and she may have been referring to her own height in shoes or exaggerating it. Just about all stars seem to exaggerate their height. Especially starts as big As Ladd and Mayo in their day. Unlike you, I can't be 100 percent certain of his height, not matter what I've read. If he was only 5'4" and such a huge star, good for him. Why does he have to be taller?
Needless to say, I still like the movie, "Shane". Hey, maybe it's because that's my name! Parker says on 26/Jul/05
sf - I don't disagree with your comments about the pics, but surely they are as good as your throw away comment of 'It is well known that Ladd was 5'4 or 5'5' Well known by who? The press/media? I saw a similar comment just recently...it is well known that Rod Stewart is 5'5 - Not when I saw him he wasn't.!
The myth of Alan Ladd being very short was propogated by the media - I would point you at Alan's biography written by Beverley Linet 'Ladd, the life, the legend, the legacy'. In it there are many interesting full length photographs. Yes he did stand on boxes, and some of his leading ladies stood in trenches. The most famous example is 'Boy on A Dolphin' where the 5'8 Sophia Loren had to stand in a ditch for some of the scenes. You have to remember Ladd was the good looking 'hero' in the same era as Errol Flynn,John Wayne, Gary Cooper all 6 ft +
The 'hero' had to be significantly taller than the girl. The bad guys/comics such as Edward G Robinson,Peter Lorre, Mickey Rooney could get away with being short. It was no different to 5'8 Humphrey Bogart wearing 4" wooden blocks on his feet playing opposite Ingrid Bergmann in Casablanca.
Best quote from the book comes from the actress Virginia Mayo - 'He (Ladd) was very sensitive about his height and a lot has been written by the media, but he was NOT that short - I've played alongside many men such as James Cagney and Edward G Robinson who were shorter than me - I'm 5'5.5 and Alan was about an inch taller than me - Not 5'9 as his army papers said, but about 5'6.5' - because of his (Ladd) embarassment about his height, I played my scene's with him barefoot - but neither he or the director ever asked me to'
Its all about opinions, but from what I've seen and read, quotes from people that knew him, I'm 100% certain he was not shorter than 5'6.
[Editor Rob: interestingly I asked my old Maw about Bogart once and she made the comment that he was 5ft 4, but I think she had heard this 'myth'. The rod stewart case is similar to elton john in a way...]
Parker says on 26/Jul/05
Rob - The picture of Murphy with Tony Curtis is from the 1950 film Texas Rangers - could Curtis have been 5'9? Also, on Audie's direct right looking at the photograph is Brian Donlevy, who I've seen listed at 5'8/5'9....could Audie have been 5'6 bearing in mind his feet are at a lower position than Donlevy's... sf says on 26/Jul/05
Yes, Rob, but look at the tricks used in both pictures. In the first picture, Ladd is standing well in front of Steiger. Because of the perspective, you really can't tell how far behind Ladd Steiger is. Obviously, the closer the object, the bigger it looks. Also, in the second picture, the perspective is, again, funny; Steiger is a little bit in front and Ladd's feet are hidden. Honestly, I don't think anything can be discerned from these pics expect that you can do amazing things with angles and perspective...
[Editor Rob: yes that's why I showed the two pictures...they are interesting because in the one where he's closer it looks as though the guy is 'looking up at Ladd' yet in the other one where they are beside the table Ladd is shorter. I honestly haven't seen a Ladd movie for a while so can't comment on any tricks they might have done...] Parker says on 26/Jul/05
Another one of Bogart and Ladd
http://www.poster.de/Bogart-Humphrey/Bogart-Humphrey-Photo-Humphrey-Bogart-and-Alan-Ladd-6206152.html sf says on 26/Jul/05
Okay - are you guys kidding me? It is well known that Ladd was only about 5'4" or 5'5". He used lifts, he stood on boxes, they dug trenches for his co-star to walk in as Ladd walked next to them. Knowing that we know this, what we know about lifts, etc. how could you possibly base ANY conclusions on the pictures you provided? In every shot, it's from the waste or a little lower up. Never showing the feet. I'd look 6'tall if I stood on a box and you photographed me. Lots of these shots are taken on purpose, staged to make the stars look taller. Parker, there is no "evidence" in these photographs, Unless you can see two stars, side by side or back to back really, standing on firm even ground, you can never make an accurate comparison...
[Editor Rob: the pics beside Steiger we can see feet though...but yes, the Marilyn Monroe event there are 3 pictures from it, but back then it was infinitely easier to 'manage' photos back then as compared to today...without full length shots beside Monroe there is still a question mark for me of course!] Parker says on 25/Jul/05
Rob - Great find. The first shot is Alan Ladd on the left, Audie Murphy in the middle (allegedly 5'5?) and Donna Reed in a clip from the film 'Beyond Glory' 1948- Looks to me that Donna is stood in a ditch? If Audie and Alan are on level ground, Alan doesn't look an inch taller than Audie does he?
In the Rod Steiger pics, in the left he is in the centre and on Alan Ladd's left in each picture as we look at it. Alan looks 5'7/5'8 in these - very confusing.
In Alan's biography 'The Life,The Legend,The Legacy' Alan's height from age 18 to his death at 50, was listed/quoted from 5'4 right up to 5'9! When his wife was questioned after his death, she always referred to his army papers which listed him as 5'9.....probably measured in boots if we take the info given on other areas of this site re army measurements?
I think your nearly there Rob - I'd put him 5'6/5'7 range.........
[Editor Rob: see the full length picture of Audie in close vicinity and similar distance from camera near Tony Curtis...I do think the 5ft 5 for murphy was correct...]
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