“Top” Ten Losses of 2024: Albert S. Ruddy (#7)

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As with yesterday’s featured person from the losses of last year, today we focus on a man who gave us a movie for the ages. Actually, he gave us two Oscar-winners, as well as three classic TV series. With one of the movies and one of the shows on my favorites lists, how can I ignore him. #7: Albert S. Ruddy Albert S. Ruddy was from Canada originally, but he sure lived the American dream. After graduating from USC he went to work in the TV and motion picture industries. As with everyone, his films weren’t all massive successes. After all, Ruddy was responsible for The Cannonball Run. But when you consider his successes, such as The Longest Yard, you can forgive him. Oh, yeah, he did do a couple of movies that barely scraped by: Million Dollar Baby in 2004, and some movie about an horse’s head in 1972. Yes, Albert S. Ruddy was the producer of The Godfather. Those two films, 32 years apart, were his two “Best Picture” Academy Awards. On the TV side, he also developed and produced three classics in three different decades. In the 90s he was the man behind Walker, Texas Ranger (which gave rise to all the Chuck Norris jokes [one of my favorites: “when Chuck Norris tells a joke about Will Smith’s wife, Will Smith slaps himself” ]). In the 70s, the classic miniseries How the West Was Won. And back in the 60s, he was the co-creator of Hogan’s Heroes. So he did all right for himself, and he certainly provided the entertainment for us throughout the years. Albert S. Ruddy Born Albert Stotland Ruddy, March 28, 1930, Montreal, Quebec Died May 25, 2024, Los Angeles, California (brief illness) (age 94) Ruddy’s speech after The Godfather won the Best Picture Oscar: