Albert S. Ruddy, the prolific sole producer of The Godfather, passed away last Saturday at 94 after a brief illness.
Al Ruddy won two Best Picture Oscars for producing the 1972 classic The Godfather and 2004’s Million Dollar Baby. As reported by Deadline, he is among just nine producers to have earned two or more Academy Awards for Best Picture. Notably, he holds the record for the longest interval between wins, with 32 years separating his awards.
Ruddy’s career began with Wild Seed, directed by his friend Brian G. Hutton. He then produced Little Fauss and Big Halsy, securing Robert Redford for the lead role. This success paved the way for his defining project: The Godfather.
Ruddy, the only producer of the 1972 acclaimed film, received the Oscar for Best Picture at the 45th Academy Awards, presented by Clint Eastwood. Jumping ahead 32 years, Ruddy and Eastwood reunited to win Best Picture once more for their work on Million Dollar Baby, the 2004 film that also garnered acting Oscars for Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman, along with a directing accolade for Eastwood.
Hollywood Pays Tribute to Al Ruddy
Ruddy’s last producing credit for was Clint Eastwood’s 2021 western drama, Cry Macho. “He was a great friend of mine and I will deeply miss him,” Eastwood said in a statement Tuesday.
Arnold Schwarzenegger paid tribute to Ruddy, calling him a “dear friend and a mentor” on Instagram.
The action icon credited the producer for helping him shape his prolific career in Hollywood.
“People like Al are why I refuse to be called a self-made man,” Schwarzenegger wrote alongside candid snapshots of him with Ruddy. “Where would I be without him? My life wouldn’t be what it is without fantastic people like him who have been there every step of the way.”
Schwarzenegger went on to praise Al Ruddy’s dedication to both his work and family, calling him an inspiration and one of the world’s greatest storytellers.
Over his nearly 60-year career in the film industry, Ruddy produced more than 40 projects and co-created the television series Hogan’s Heroes. In the 2022 Paramount+ series The Offer, which chronicled the development and production of The Godfather, Miles Teller portrayed Al Ruddy.
“It was an honor and a privilege to portray Al in The Offer,” Teller said in a statement. “Al lived a life most could only dream of and all would envy.”
The producer is survived by his wife, Wanda McDaniel, his children, John and Alexandra, and his son-in-law, screenwriter Abdullah Saeed.
According to multiple reports, Ruddy’s family shared some of his final words: “The game is over, but we won the game.”