Albert S. Ruddy, Oscar-winning producer of ‘The Godfather’ and ‘Million Dollar Baby,’ dies at 94

Producer Albert S. Ruddy accepts the best picture Oscar for “The Godfather” at the 45th Academy Awards in L.A. in March 1973. Albert S. Ruddy, a colorful Canadian-born producer and writer who won Oscars for “The Godfather” and “Million Dollar Baby,” developed the raucous prison-sports comedy “The Longest Yard” and helped create the hit sitcom “Hogan’s Heroes,” has died at age 94. Ruddy died “peacefully” Saturday at UCLA Medical Center, according to a spokesperson, who added that among Ruddy’s final words were, “The game is over, but we won the game.” Tall and muscular, with a raspy voice and a city kid’s swagger, Ruddy produced more than 30 movies and was on hand for the very top and very bottom, from “The Godfather” and “Million Dollar Baby” to “Cannonball Run II” and “Megaforce,” nominees for Golden Raspberry awards for worst film of the year. Otherwise, he had a mix of successes, including “The Longest Yard,” which he produced and created the story for, and flops such as the Arnold Schwarzenegger thriller “Sabotage.” Ruddy worked often with Burt Reynolds, starting with “The Longest Yard” and continuing with two “Cannonball Run” comedies and “Cloud Nine.” Besides “Hogan’s Heroes,” his television credits include the movies “Married to a Stranger” and “Running Mates.” Nothing looks better on your résumé than “The Godfather,” but producing it endangered Ruddy’s job, reputation and his very life. “Joe sits opposite me, one guy’s on the couch, and one guy’s sitting in the window,” Ruddy told Vanity Fair in 2009.