Alan Ladd Jr., the producer who greenlighted George Lucas‘ Star Wars while at 20th Century Fox in 1977, has died. Deadline reports he was 84.
On social media, Ladd’s daughter Amanda Ladd-Jones wrote, “With the heaviest of hearts, we announce that on March 2, 2022, Alan Ladd, Jr. died peacefully at home surrounded by his family,” adding, “Words cannot express how deeply he will be missed. His impact on films and filmmaking will live on in his absence.”
Ladd not only backed Star Wars when other studios passed on the American Graffiti director’s tale of a “galaxy far, far away,” but he put his job on the line to defend it while it was being made.
Studio executives were furious at budget overruns on Lucas’ “science movie” as Star Wars‘ production dragged on, amid shooting delays caused by weather and technical problems from the movie’s groundbreaking special effects.
In the documentary Empire of Dreams: The Story of Star Wars Trilogy, Ladd recalled being confronted by one executive, and telling him, “‘It’s the greatest picture ever made.’ That ended the conversation. They were afraid to tell me…’You’re wrong, we want you out of the building by 5 p.m.'”
He added with a smile, “There were some tense moments.”
A former agent, Ladd went on to have a hugely successful career as a producer that also saw him credited with films including Moonstruck, A Fish Called Wanda and Thelma & Louise, among others. In 1996, he won an Oscar for Mel Gibson‘s epic Braveheart.
Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Related Posts
Stay in the ‘X-Men’ mansion, Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ house and more with Airbnb’s new Icons listings
May 2, 2024
AirbnbAirbnb is already known for providing a home away from home for millions of travelers around…
A symptom of being spicy: Shinedown announces signature hot sauce line
May 2, 2024
Courtesy of ShinedownShinedown is launching their own line of hot sauces.Made in collaboration with…
Sweet 16: CBS breaks own decades-old record as the most-watched primetime network for 16 straight seasons
May 2, 2024
Justin Hartley in 'Tracker' - CBS/Sergei BachlakovThe Eye network is crying happy tears: CBS…
Nick Jonas to co-star with Paul Rudd in musical comedy ‘Power Ballad’
May 2, 2024
Mauricio Santana/Getty ImagesNick Jonas' movie The Good Half is being screened in over 900 theaters…
Disney+ reveals new Simpsons Mother’s Day short, ‘May the 12th Be with You’
May 2, 2024
Disney+Disney+ announced Thursday that it will be celebrating Mother's Day early — on Friday, May…
Maya Rudolph and Jake Gyllenhaal to finish out ‘Saturday Night Live”s 49th season in May
May 2, 2024
NBCUniversalSaturday Night Live announced Thursday that its final two shows of the 49th season will…
Drew Barrymore teams with Justin Bieber’s drew house for new capsule collection
May 2, 2024
CBS Media Ventures In 2019, Drew Barrymore teamed up with Justin Bieber's fashion line, drew house,…
Peabody Awards to honor Mel Brooks + Quinta Brunson
May 2, 2024
David Livingston/Getty Images -- ABCThe Peabody Awards announced Thursday, May 2, that it will be…