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 Ladd’s family continued their journey west, and in California Ladd was forced to find a job in order to help support his family. By the age of eight, he was picking fruit, delivering papers and sweeping floors simply to help his family make ends meet.
Fortunately, High school was a positive experience for Ladd who quickly got involved in sports and participated in theater. Despite his frail appearance, Ladd excelled in swimming and track, and in 1931, he decided to train for the 1932 Olympics. Training didn’t last long, however, as an injury would sideline him and keep him from participating in the Olympic trials.
Despite the stock market crash that affected the entire nation, the early to mid 1930’s were looking up for Ladd. Still a long way from entering the world of Hollywood, he worked a number of odd jobs including work as gas station attendant, hot dog vendor and a lifeguard.
When Ladd finally broke into the entertainment business he played small bit-parts in radio shows, local theatre productions and found himself working as a grip on the Warner Bros. Studio lot. Ladd’s streak of good luck continued and, in October of 1936, he married Marjorie Jane Harrold. A year later, in 1937, the couple gave birth to their first child, Alan Ladd, II.
Ladd’s early film work consisted of mostly minor parts, such as the role of a reporter in Orson Welles’ 1941 classic, “Citizen Kane.” Despite the initial hardships of getting noticed in the Hollywood community, the persistence of his agent, former screen actress Sue Carol, helped the actor land more important roles.
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