Albert S. Ruddy, who earned two Best Picture Oscars for producing The Godfather and Million Dollar Baby, died May 25 at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center after a brief illness, a family spokesman said. He was 94.
Ruddy is one of nine producers ever to earn two or more Best Picture Oscars, and has the distinction of winning them with the largest interval in between — 32 years.
He recently was portrayed by Miles Teller in the Paramount+ miniseries The Offer, which chronicles Ruddy’s experience making the 1972 film that Coppola directed and adapted with Mario Puzo from the latter’s bestselling novel.
“Al was truly one of the great Hollywood mavericks,” The Offer director Dexter Fletcher said in a statement. “One of the last Mohicans who created great movies which still influence and inspire to this day. From humble beginnings to the highest of Hollywood accolades. His was an incredible journey. Achieved through the sheer power of his determination, strong will, irrepressible energy and charm and a rarely matched love for the art of film.”
Before his big-screen success, Ruddy co-created with Bernie Fein Hogan’s Heroes, the decidedly iconoclastic sitcom about life for Allied prisoners in a Nazi PW camp. Starring Bob Crane and a memorable supporting cast, it ran for six seasons and remained popular in syndication.
Ruddy’s first feature, Wild Seed, was directed by lifelong friend Brian G. Hutton. He then produced Little Fauss and Big Halsy, for which he showed up unannounced on the set of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and convinced rising star Robert Redford to play the lead in his film. After successfully bringing in several projects under budget, Ruddy caught the attention of Paramount Pictures head Charles Bludhorn, who gave Ruddy the project that would change his career: The Godfather.
As the sole producer of The Godfather, Ruddy took home the Oscar for Best Picture at the 45th Academy Awards. Clint Eastwood presented Ruddy with the prize. Thirty two years later, Ruddy and Eastwood won Best Picture together for producing Million Dollar Baby, a film that also garnered acting Oscars for Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman, as well as a directing Oscar for Eastwood. Regarding Ruddy’s passing, Eastwood said: “He was a great friend of mine and I will deeply miss him.” Added Swank: “It was the best of times working with [Al]. He will always be a legend in my and everyone’s book.”
Al Pacino reflected “Al Ruddy was absolutely beautiful to me the whole time on The Godfather; even when they didn’t want me, he wanted me. He gave me the gift of encouragement when I needed it most and I’ll never forget it.” Ruddy’s experience of producing Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather is chronicled in the Paramount+ limited series The Offer, in which Miles Teller portrays Ruddy. “It was an honor and a privilege to portray Al in The Offer. Al lived a life most could only dream of and all would envy,” said Teller.
Ruddy enjoyed a close personal and professional friendship with Burt Reynolds, with whom he made the Golden Globe Best Comedy winning film The Longest Yard, as well as The Cannonball Run films, the latter of which were directed by fellow dear friend Hal Needham.
Ruddy was born in Montreal and raised in New York City with his siblings Selma and Gerald by his mother Ruth Ruddy Hertz, a luxury fur designer. Until his final days, Ruddy fondly recalled a teacher at his elementary school who helped him overcome a chronic stutter. Upon gaining full and unhindered command of his speaking faculty, he spent the rest of his life using it to a fantastic effect. At six-feet four inches, he so excelled at swimming that he was a near miss for the Olympics swim team for the butterfly.
Ruddy attended Brooklyn Technical High School, one of New York City’s acclaimed schools for the gifted. After graduating in 1948, he enrolled at the City College of New York and soon transferred to USC School of Architecture. Upon this cross-country move, Los Angeles would become Ruddy’s beloved home for the rest of his life. Prior to his decorated writing and producing career, Ruddy worked as a programmer at Rand Corporation in Santa Monica, California, the renowned technology think tank.
Among his other career accolades are two French César Awards, two Italian David di Donatello Awards, and the USC Scripter Award. He received the lifetime achievement award from the Shanghai Film Festival and was president of the jury at the Zurich Film Festival in 2007. His passions included cars, current events and USC football.
Ruddy was married for 43 years to his beloved wife, newspaper journalist turned Giorgio Armani fashion executive Wanda McDaniel, who is credited with pioneering the modern red carpet. Starting with The Offer, Ruddy began a collaboration with his cherished daughter and producing partner Alexandra Ruddy, who is the principal of Albert S. Ruddy Productions along with writing and acting.
Albert S. Ruddy is survived by his wife Wanda, son John, daughter Alexandra, and son-in-law screenwriter Abdullah Saeed.
To his contemporaries in the business, Ruddy is best remembered for his easy-going nature, his undeniable comedic sense, and his undying interest in people and the stories we tell. Amongst his last words: “The game is over, but we won the game.”
Respecting the wishes of the deceased, no public funeral service will take place. Memorial services are pending.
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