28 May 2024 , 17:52
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Al Ruddy, who was famed for producing The Godfather, has sadly died at the age of 94 after suffering a "brief illness", it has been reported.
The producer died on May 25 at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Centre after a brief illness, a family spokesperson has confirmed today.
The Canadian-American film and television producer is known for having produced the 1972 cult classic The Godfather, with him also remembered for his work on Million Dollar Baby in 2004. Both of these projects won him the Academy Award for Best Picture.
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Al Ruddy has died after a 'brief illness'The director of The Offer, Dexter Fletcher, released a statement about Al amid his passing. "Al was truly one of the great Hollywood mavericks," he said. Dexter went on: "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.
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"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."
Al Pacino, who played Michael Corleone in the iconic movie The Godfather, said in a statement today that the producer "was absolutely beautiful to me the whole time on The Godfather; even when they didn’t want me, he wanted me". He added: "He gave me the gift of encouragement when I needed it most, and I’ll never forget it."
Clint Eastwood is another Hollywood great to have paid tribute to the producer in the wake of his death. "He was a great friend of mine and I will deeply miss him," Clint said today.
Al was married to and divorced from Francoise Ruddy, with the couple together throughout the making of The Godfather. The producer then later married Wanda McDaniel, the mother of his two children, and an executive vice president for the Italian designer Giorgio Armani.
In the 2022, The Offer was released, which is a biographical drama miniseries. The show dramatises the making of The Godfather and is executive produced by Al himself. In the flick, he is played by Miles Teller.