L1(0)-FePt/Fe and L1(0)-FePt/Ru/Fe films with perpendicular orientations were fabricated by magnetron sputtering and post-annealing. In comparison to films with sharp interfaces, the graded L1(0)-FePt/Fe interface was more favorable for coercivity reduction. Inserting a ruthenium (Ru) interlayer between the hard L1(0)-FePt and the soft iron (Fe) layers yielded a continuous L1(0)-FePt/Fe graded film, which contributed to a large reduction in coercivity. The coercivity of L1(0)-FePt/Ru/Fe films can be manipulated via the Ru thickness when the soft Fe layer is thin and via the Fe thickness when the soft Fe layer is thick. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.