“You should have seen the hilarious toast he gave at my wedding,” wrote Schwarzenegger

Al Ruddy and Arnold Schwarzenegger. PHOTO: ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER/INSTAGRAM

Arnold Schwarzenegger is honoring Oscar-winning producer Al Ruddy after his death at 94.

After multiple outlets shared news that Ruddy died in Los Angeles on May 25, Schwarzenegger, 76, shared photos of himself and the producer on Instagram and reminisced about Ruddy’s impact on his own career.

“I met him more than 40 years ago, when he was already an icon and I was just starting my film career,” Schwarzenegger wrote.

“He became a dear friend and a mentor. He was always there to give me advice and lead me in the right direction.”

Schwarzenegger added, “People like Al are why I refuse to be called a self-made man. Where would I be without him? My life wouldn’t be what it is without fantastic people like him who have been there every step of the way.”

Ruddy’s two career Best Picture Oscars came for producing the 1972 classic The Godfather and 2004’s Million Dollar Baby; as Deadline noted, he is one of nine producers to ever win two or more Academy Awards for Best Picture and holds the largest interval between winning Best Picture at 32 years between awards.

“I was inspired by how he worked his ass off while always being there for his family. Al showed you really can have everything.

He loved his family, and they loved him,” Schwarzenegger continued in his caption, calling Ruddy “one of the world’s greatest storytellers.”

“When Al talked, everyone listened. Everyone was on the edge of their seat. And by the end, everyone was laughing, because he had the best sense of humor,” Schwarzenegger added.

“You should have seen the hilarious toast he gave at my wedding – people couldn’t breathe because they were laughing so hard.”

Al Ruddy on Nov. 10, 2019.JOHN WOLFSOHN/GETTY

Ruddy produced more than 40 projects over the course of his nearly 60-year career in the film industry and co-created the television series Hogan’s Heroes, among others projects.

 Miles Teller portrayed Ruddy in the 2022 Paramount+ series The Offer, which tracked the development and production of The Godfather.

The producer is survived by his wife Wanda McDaniel, children John and Alexandra, and his son-in-law, screenwriter Abdullah Saeed; as multiple outlets reported, Ruddy’s family said, “Among his last words [were], ‘The game is over, but we won the game.’ ”

“I know I will never forget him. I will miss him dearly, but Al will always be with me,” Schwarzenegger wrote in his Instagram caption.

“I am filled with gratitude that I had the opportunity to get to know such a great man with such a big heart. My thoughts are with his family.”