had supported against all odds. Star Wars was a massive and critically hailed hit upon release, becoming, up to that point, the highest-grossing film of all time, and spawned an extensive media franchise that includes many other films as well as television, radio, video game and print media. Star Wars and Alien were a few of the films produced during Ladd's tenure. However, he stepped down and left Fox in 1979 after falling out with Fox chairman Dennis Stanfill. Ladd founded his own production company, The Ladd Company, with Kanter and Gareth Wigan. The company produced Chariots of Fire, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1982. Other productions included Outland (1981), Night Shift, Blade Runner (both 1982), The Right Stuff (1983), Police Academy (1984), and Gone Baby Gone (2007). Ladd joined MGM/UA in 1985, eventually becoming Chairman and CEO of MGM-Pathé Communications. During his tenure, MGM/UA produced Moonstruck (1987), A Fish Called Wanda (1988), and Thelma & Louise (1991). After being unceremoniously dismissed by Credit Lyonnais (who administered MGM after a loan default), he proceeded to reform the Ladd Company with Paramount Pictures in 1993. He produced The Brady Bunch Movie and Braveheart, one of the two projects he was permitted to take with him after leaving MGM. The latter film won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1995, with Ladd receiving the award as one of the film's three producers. He later received the 2,348th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 28, 2007. Personal life and death Ladd married his first wife Patricia Ann Beazley in September 1959. They met while studying at the University of Southern California together. They had three children, Kelliann, Tracy and Amanda, but divorced in 1983. Ladd married his second wife Cindra Pincock in 1985. They had one child, Chelsea, who predeceased him in March 2021. Ladd and Pincock separated in March 2015 and later divorced. Ladd died of kidney failure at his home in Los Angeles on March 2, 2022, at the age of 84. Filmography Ladd was a producer of all films unless otherwise noted. References External links 1937 births 2022 deaths 20th-century American businesspeople 21st-century American businesspeople 20th Century Studios people American film studio executives Deaths from kidney failure Film directors from Los Angeles Film producers from California Ladd family (show business) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer executives Military personnel from California Producers who won the Best Picture