Albert S Ruddy, the Oscar-winning producer of The Godfather, has died aged 94. Ruddy died "peacefully" on Saturday at the UCLA Medical Centre in Los Angeles, according to a spokesperson, who added that among his final words were: "The game is over, but we won the game." He produced more than 30 films including The Godfather, Million Dollar Baby and The Longest Yard.
His television credits included Hogan's Heroes and Walker Texas Ranger. With a cast including Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and Robert Duvall, The Godfather was a critical and commercial sensation and remains among the most beloved and quoted movies in history. "Al Ruddy was absolutely beautiful to me the whole time on The Godfather; even when they didn't want me, he wanted me," Al Pacino said in a statement.
"He gave me the gift of encouragement when I needed it most and I'll never forget it." When Ruddy won the best picture Oscar in 1973, the presenter was Clint Eastwood, with whom he would produce Million Dollar Baby, his second best picture winner in 2005. Upon the 50th anniversary of The Godfather's release, in 2022, Ruddy himself became a character on screen.
Top Gun: Maverick and Whiplash star Miles Teller played him in The Offer, a Paramount+ miniseries about the making of the film, based on Ruddy's experiences. Born in Montreal in 1930, Ruddy moved to the US as a child and was raised in New York City. After graduating from the University of Southern California, he was working as an architect when he met actor .
