Awarded the prestigious Ordem de Sant'iago e Espada, Portuguese highest honor, by President Jorge Sampaio in 1998.

Awarded the prestigious Ordem do Infante D. Henrique (Grau Comendador), one of Portuguese highest honors, by President Mário Soares in 1994.

Father of actor João de Carvalho

Ruy and his wife Ruth have been together for 62 years now (2007).

Father of Paula de Carvalho.

Grandfather of three boys named Ricardo, Diogo (João's sons with Helena) and Henrique de Carvalho (Paula's son).

Has a brother named João Rebelo Pires de Carvalho.

Commander of the Order of Prince Henry (9 June 1993), Commander of the Ancient, Most Noble and Enlightened Military Order of Saint James of the Sword, of the Scientific, Literary and Artistic Merit (27 February 1998), Grand-Officer of the Ancient, Most Noble and Enlightened Military Order of Saint James of the Sword, of the Scientific, Literary and Artistic Merit (26 March 2010), Grand-Cross of the Order of Prince Henry (30 October 2012), Grand-Cross of the Order of Merit (1 March 2017).