Oscar-winning The Godfather producer Al Ruddy has died at the age of 94 after a short illness, it was shared on Tuesday.
His work had recently come to light in the smash hit series The Offer, in which Miles Teller played Ruddy as he put together the epic 1972 gangster film Francis Ford Coppola.
Ruddy also worked on the Clint Eastwood Million Dollar Baby starring Hilary Swank.
And long before his success in films, Al created the TV classic Hogan’s Heroes, which ran for six seasons.
Ruddy died May 25 at the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center after a brief illness, a family spokesperson said.
Clint Eastwood, Al Pacino and Hilary Swank have shared their tributes.
Oscar-winning The Godfather producer Al Ruddy has died at the age of 94 after a short illness, it was shared on Tuesday. Seen in 1979
Ruddy (left) and actor Marlon Brando on the set of The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, in Little Italy, New York City, 1972
From left to right: James Caan, Brando, Francis Ford Coppola, Al Pacino and John Cazale in The Godfather
“He was a dear friend of mine and I will miss him dearly,” Eastwood said in a statement Tuesday.
Swank added: ‘It was the best time to work with [Al]. He will always be a legend in my book and everyone else’s book.”
Al Pacino reflected, “Al Ruddy was absolutely beautiful to me all the time in 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 will never forget it.”
He earned two Oscars for Best Picture for producing The Godfather and Million Dollar Baby.
Ruddy’s life story was explored in The Offer.
“Al was truly one of the great Hollywood mavericks,” The Offer director Dexter Fletcher said in a statement.
‘One of the last Mohicans who made great films that continue to influence and inspire today. From humble beginnings to Hollywood’s highest honors. It was an incredible journey for him. Achieved through the sheer force of his determination, strong will, irrepressible energy and charm and a rarely matched love for the art of cinema.’
Teller said in a statement: “It was an honor and privilege to play Al in The Offer. Al lived a life that most could only dream of and that everyone would envy.’
“He was a dear friend of mine and I will miss him dearly,” Eastwood said in a statement Tuesday. Seen in 2005
Clint, far left, is held by Barbra Streisand after winning with his producer Al for Million Dollar Baby, far right
Eastwood, Morgan Freeman and Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby in 2004
Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “Al Ruddy was a Hollywood legend. He was an absolute icon and a visionary who made some of the best films of all time. That’s the Al Ruddy everyone knows. I want to talk about the Al Ruddy I know. I met him over forty years ago, when he was already an icon and I was just starting my film career. He became a good friend and mentor.
“He was always there to give me advice and guide me in the right direction. People like Al are the reason I refuse to be called a self-made man. Where would I be without him? My life wouldn’t be what it is without amazing people like him, who have been there every step of the way. I was inspired by the way he worked his butt off while always being there for his family. Al showed that you really can have it all.
“He loved his family, and they loved him. He may also have been one of the world’s greatest storytellers. Whether he was talking about being threatened by real mob hits while making The Godfather or telling a story about his children, it didn’t matter. When Al talked, everyone listened.”
As the sole producer of The Godfather, Ruddy took home the Oscar for Best Picture at the 45th Academy Awards.
Clint Eastwood presented him with the award.
Three decades later, Ruddy and Eastwood won Best Picture together for the production of Million Dollar Baby.
Ruddy was good friends with Burt Reynolds. Together they made the films The Longest Yard and The Cannonball Run.
Ruddy was married to Giorgio Armani, fashion director Wanda McDaniel, for 43 years. Along with his wife, Al Ruddy is survived by his son John; daughter, Alexandra; and son-in-law Abdullah Saeed, a screenwriter.
With respect to Ruddy’s wishes, there will be no public funeral service. Memorial services are in preparation.
Miles Teller, who played Al in the series The Offer, said in a statement: “It was an honor and privilege to play Al in The Offer. Al lived a life that most could only dream of and that everyone would envy
Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “Al Ruddy was a Hollywood legend. He was an absolute icon and a visionary who made some of the greatest films of all time.”
The producer appeared with Adam Sandler at the 2005 premiere of the film The Longest Yard in Los Angeles
And here Ruddy put his arm around Terry Crewes at the premiere of The Longest Yard
Ruddy was married to Giorgio Armani, fashion director Wanda McDaniel, for 43 years. Along with his wife, Al Ruddy is survived by his son John; daughter, Alexandra; and son-in-law Abdullah Saeed, a screenwriter
This comes after Oscar-winning producer and casting director Fred Roos passed away at the age of 89, just four days before his 90th birthday.
Francis Ford Coppola, who worked with Roos on The Godfather films, led tributes, as did actress Aubrey Plaza, who stars in Coppola’s latest film Megalopolis.
“Fred Roos possessed a casting instinct that was virtually infallible: so beautifully demonstrated in AMERICAN GRAFFITTI and THE OUTSIDERS,” Coppola, 85, wrote in his tribute, alongside a photo of the pair together.
He added: “He was a wonderful lifelong friend and collaborator, with, above all, a true love of films.
“I remember once telling him that we needed to find more female directors, but we needed to look for them among kids who played with 8mm film equipment instead of dolls—and he came up with kids named Martha Coolidge and Susan Seidelman.
Oscar-winning producer Fred Roos has died at the age of 89, just four days before his 90th birthday
Francis Ford Coppola, who worked with Fred Roos (right) on The Godfather Part II, led tributes to the producer on Tuesday
“He was a unique talent and will certainly be missed,” Coppola said.
Plaza, 39, shared a photo of Roos on her Instagram Story. “Thank you Fred,” she wrote. “It was an honor to know you…”
Shia LaBeouf, who also stars in Megalopolis, wrote further X (formerly Twitter: ‘The nights flame with fire. As you ride through life to a perfect smile. Fred Roos – I loved you very much.’
Author SE Hinton paid tribute to Roos after he and Coppola worked on the film adaptation of her 1983 book The Outsiders.
“Just lost a good friend and supporter of mine, Fred Roos, the legendary casting director,” she wrote in an after. ‘Would have been 90 today. Work to the end. I’ll miss him.’
Rob Lowe, who played Sodapop Curtis in The Outsiders, also thanked Roos for giving the actor his big break.
‘Saddened about the death of Fred Roos. Every movie lover should know his name,” he further wrote X.
‘He was a casting genius responsible for the careers of: Harrison Ford, Al Pacino, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall, Laurence Fishburne, Tom Cruise and the rest of the cast of The Outsiders (including myself), and many others,” Lowe, 60, added. “Thanks, Fred and godspeed.”
Roos was born on May 22, 1934 in Santa Monica, California, where he majored in theater arts and films at UCLA.