Al Ruddy, ‘The Godfather’ and ‘Million Dollar Baby’ producer, dead at 94
Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather faced an arduous road to the screen before being anointed as an instant classic and one of the greatest movies ever made, a feat that wouldn’t have happened without the film’s solitary producer Al Ruddy, who has passed away at the age of 94.
Ruddy was handpicked by Paramount for the job after impressing the boardroom with his interview. In his favour, the producer had a reputation for bringing his productions in on time and under budget, the sort of pedigree Coppola could have used more often in the years to come when his features regularly spiralled out of control.
During the development process, Ruddy even met with the Italian-American Civil Rights League to assuage any doubts the sprawling crime saga would be stereotypical or defamatory towards them. He reaped the richest reward in the industry when he collected his first Academy Award for ‘Best Picture’ after The Godfather took home top honours.
Ruddy found similar success when he partnered with Clint Eastwood on Million Dollar Baby, making him one of just nine producers to earn at least two Oscars for ‘Best Picture’, while the 32-year gap between them also gave Ruddy the unique record of having the longest gap between multiple wins.
His last producorial credit was with Eastwood again on 2021’s Cry Macho, with Ruddy eminently familiar with many of the biggest names of their respective eras. Ruddy produced Burt Reynolds’ The Longest Yard, Cannonball Run, its sequel, and Cloud 9, in addition to Ralph Bakshi’s Coonskin, John Milius’ Farewell to the King, and Rodney Dangerfield’s Ladybugs.
On television, Ruddy co-created Chuck Norris’ Walker, Texas Ranger and World War II sitcom Hogan’s Heroes, as well as executive producing The Offer. The series dramatised the making of The Godfather and cast Miles Teller as Ruddy, with the show’s director, Dexter Fletcher, sharing a statement on his passing.
“Al was truly one of the great Hollywood mavericks,” he said, per Deadline. “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.”
Ruddy passed away on May 25th at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Centre after a short illness, but The Godfather will ensure his cinematic legacy lives on for generations to come. He is also survived by his two children.
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