Braveheart producer Alan Lad Jr., who highlighted classics such as Star Wars and Alien, dies at 84

Alan Lad Jr., who won an Oscar as. the Braveheart producer died Wednesday at the age of 84.

His daughter Amanda Lad-Jones, who directed the documentary Laddie: The Man Behind The Movie, announced his death in his Los Angeles home of the movie Facebook page.

“It is with the hardest heart that we announce that on March 2, 2022, Alan Lad Jr. died peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family. Words cannot express how deeply he will miss her. His influence on films and filmmaking will continue in his absence.

There is no official information about the cause of death.

RIP: Longtime film producer Alan Lad Jr. dies at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday

RIP: Longtime film producer Alan Lad Jr. dies at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday

Lad Jr.’s brother, David Lad, shared a brief statement describing him as a loyal brother and sister when he posted the news of his death on Facebook.

“My brother, my friend, my hero, who has always stood by me. We will stand together again on the other side! I love you, Lady, “he wrote New York Post.

He is the son of actor Alan Ladd, who died at the age of 50 in 1964, and Marjorie Jane, Lad’s first wife, whom he met in high school.

His father was successful in the 1940s and early 1950s, especially in the Western genre, with films such as This Rental Gun (1942), The Glass Key (1942), The Blue Dahlia (1946) and Shane (1953).

In mourning: the daughter of Ladd Jr.  Amanda Lad-Jones, who directed the documentary Laddie: The Man Behind The Movie, announced his death on the film's Facebook page.

In mourning: the daughter of Ladd Jr. Amanda Lad-Jones, who directed the documentary Laddie: The Man Behind The Movie, announced his death on the film’s Facebook page.

Despite his father’s success in Hollywood, Lad Jr. will continue to have an even more successful career, which includes many honors.

He began his career in Hollywood as an agent in the early 1960s, representing Robert Redford and Judy Garland at the CMA at Freddie Fields.

But then, in 1969, he moved to London to produce nine films, including The Walking Stick (1970), Beheaded (1970) and Villain (1971).

He eventually returned to the United States in 1973 to become head of creative affairs at 20th Century Fox, and within three years, the Los Angeles-born California, was promoted from world production director to film president. Fox department.

The risk was well rewarded: it was Lad Jr. who would present George Lucas's Star Wars to Fox President Gordon Stullberg for consideration, although it was widely considered a risky venture;  He is pictured (left with Lucas (center) and directed by Ron Howard on the set of Willow (1988))

The risk was well rewarded: it was Lad Jr. who would present George Lucas’s Star Wars to Fox President Gordon Stullberg for consideration, although it was widely considered a risky venture; He is pictured (left with Lucas (center) and directed by Ron Howard on the set of Willow (1988))

It was Lad Jr. who would present George Lucas’ Star Wars to Fox President Gordon Stullberg for review. And while seen as a risky venture, Stullberg will approve the production, which has been plagued by location difficulties, history issues and budget disagreements.

Eventually, Star Wars (1977) would be a critical and commercial success, winning the title of the highest-grossing film of all time to date and producing a number of sequels, television, video games and franchises.

Lad Jr. will also help give the green light and produce Ridley Scott’s classic science fiction horror film Alien (1979), which also became a franchise, among several others during his tenure at 20th Century Fox.

Awards: Lad Jr. (producer), Bruce Davey (producer) and Mel Gibson (director and starring) won the Oscars for Best Braveheart (1995)

Awards: Lad Jr. (producer), Bruce Davey (producer) and Mel Gibson (director and starring) won the Oscars for Best Braveheart (1995)

By 1979, Lad Jr. decided to move on and start his own production company, The Ladd Company, a move that yielded rapid results with the success of films such as Outland (1981), Night Shift (1982), Blade Runner (1982) and Police Academy (1984).

Ladd has boosted its success with Oscar winners Chariots Of Fire (1981), The Right Stuff (1983), and more recently Gone Baby Gone (2007).

Lad Jr. received the 2348th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 28, 2007.

Lad survived her three remaining children: Lud-Jones and her sisters Kelian and Tracy Lad. Unfortunately, his daughter Chelsea died peacefully in her sleep on March 28, 2021 at the age of 34.

A career gets a cherry on top: a Los Angeles resident received the 2348th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 28, 200.

A career gets a cherry on top: a Los Angeles resident received the 2348th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 28, 200.