Al Pacino

Who Is Al Pacino?

Al Pacino, an acclaimed American actor, began his acting career in his teenage years, transitioning from stage performances to prominent roles on the big screen. Known for his intense and often explosive portrayals, Pacino is renowned for his iconic roles such as Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972) and Tony Montana in Scarface (1983).

Pacino’s career showcases his versatility, with a broad array of performances spanning numerous stage productions and several directorial ventures. His exceptional talent earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as a blind man in Scent of a Woman (1992). Additionally, he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute in 2007, recognizing his significant contributions to the film industry.

Early Life and Stage Work

Alfredo James Pacino, born on April 25, 1940, in New York City, was the only child of Italian immigrants from Sicily. His parents separated when he was a toddler, leading to his father relocating to California. Pacino was raised by his mother and grandparents in the Bronx. Despite his initial shyness, he developed a keen interest in acting during his teenage years and was accepted into the High School of Performing Arts. However, his academic performance was lackluster, resulting in his departure from the school at age 17.

Following his departure from school, Pacino held various jobs before relocating to Greenwich Village in 1959 to pursue an acting career. He began his formal theater education at the Herbert Berghof Studio and soon secured roles in off-Broadway productions, including a notable part in William Saroyan’s 1963 play, Hello, Out There. Pacino’s career advanced in 1966 when he was admitted to the Actors Studio, where he studied under the esteemed Lee Strasberg. His work at the studio facilitated his involvement in significant projects such as the 1969 Broadway production of Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?, which earned him a Tony Award, and a role in the coming-of-age film Me, Natalie.

Al Pacino’s Cinematic Journey

“The Godfather”

Al Pacino’s career trajectory was significantly shaped by his role in the 1971 film The Panic in Needle Park. His portrayal of a heroin addict garnered the attention of Francis Ford Coppola, who was in the process of casting for his forthcoming film, The Godfather, based on Mario Puzo’s novel. Despite considering prominent actors such as Robert Redford and Jack Nicholson, Coppola selected the relatively unknown Pacino for the role of Michael Corleone.

Released in 1972, The Godfather achieved monumental success and is celebrated as one of the greatest films of all time, alongside its first sequel. The film chronicles the Corleone crime family’s saga and Michael Corleone’s ascent to power. Pacino’s performance, along with those of his co-stars Marlon Brando, James Caan, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton, received widespread acclaim.

At the 1973 Academy Awards, The Godfather triumphed in several categories, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Brando, and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film also garnered nominations for Best Director, Best Sound, Best Costume Design, and Best Film Editing. Although Caan, Duvall, and Pacino received nominations for Best Supporting Actor, Pacino’s exclusion from the Best Actor category led him to boycott the event in protest.

Increased Acclaim with ‘Serpico’

Following the success of The Godfather, Al Pacino rapidly emerged as a highly sought-after leading man. After a notable co-starring role with Gene Hackman in Scarecrow (1973), Pacino headlined three consecutive hit films, each earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. In 1974, he starred in Serpico, which chronicles the true story of police officer Frank Serpico. Serpico’s undercover efforts in the 1960s were instrumental in exposing corruption within the NYPD. The film received both critical acclaim and commercial success.

‘The Godfather: Part II,’ ‘Dog Day Afternoon’

In 1974, Al Pacino reprised his iconic role as Michael Corleone in The Godfather: Part II, a film that, like its predecessor, garnered widespread acclaim. That same year, Pacino took on a markedly different role in Dog Day Afternoon, portraying John Wojtowicz, a real-life figure who, in 1972, attempted to rob a Brooklyn bank to fund his boyfriend’s gender reassignment surgery. Following this, Pacino starred in the box-office disappointment Bobby Deerfield but made a notable comeback with the legal drama …And Justice for All (1979), which earned him another Academy Award nomination.

Scarface

Despite experiencing remarkable success throughout the 1970s, Al Pacino’s film career encountered a period of relative decline during the 1980s. Aside from his notable performance as the volatile drug dealer Tony Montana in Brian De Palma’s acclaimed film Scarface (1983), Pacino’s other films from this decade, including Cruising (1980), Author! Author! (1982), and Revolution (1985), were met with commercial and critical disappointment.

During this period, however, Pacino successfully revitalized his career on the stage. In 1983, he earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for his role in David Mamet’s play American Buffalo. His stage success continued with a highly praised portrayal of Marc Antony in the New York Shakespeare Festival’s production of Julius Caesar in 1988. Pacino’s return to the screen in the 1989 thriller Sea of Love marked a significant resurgence in his film career, reaffirming his status as a leading actor.

Dick Tracy, Scent of a Woman

In 1990, Al Pacino appeared in two significant films: The Godfather: Part III and Dick Tracy. His performance in Dick Tracy earned him his first Academy Award nomination in over a decade, marking the beginning of a series of notable roles in successful films. During the early 1990s, Pacino received acclaim for his roles in Frankie and Johnny (1991), where he starred alongside Michelle Pfeiffer, and Carlito’s Way (1993). In 1992, he won his first Academy Award for his portrayal of a blind man in Scent of a Woman. Additionally, Pacino was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Glengarry Glen Ross (1992).

‘Donnie Brasco,’ ‘Any Given Sunday’

In 1990, Al Pacino appeared in two significant films: The Godfather: Part III and Dick Tracy. His performance in Dick Tracy earned him his first Academy Award nomination in over a decade, marking the beginning of a series of notable roles in successful films. During the early 1990s, Pacino received acclaim for his roles in Frankie and Johnny (1991), where he starred alongside Michelle Pfeiffer, and Carlito’s Way (1993). In 1992, he won his first Academy Award for his portrayal of a blind man in Scent of a Woman. Additionally, Pacino was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Glengarry Glen Ross (1992).

‘Insomnia,’ ‘Angels in America’

In 2000, at the age of 60, Al Pacino’s career showed no signs of slowing down. In 2002, he starred in four films, including Christopher Nolan’s thriller Insomnia, as well as People I Know, S1m0ne, and The Recruit, which achieved only moderate success. The following year, Pacino earned an Emmy Award for his portrayal in the television adaptation of Tony Kushner’s acclaimed play Angels in America. In 2004, he further demonstrated his affinity for Shakespearean works by appearing in a film adaptation of The Merchant of Venice.

Ocean’s Thirteen

In 2007, the actor was part of the star-studded cast of the blockbuster film Ocean’s Thirteen and also released the DVD box set Pacino: An Actor’s Vision. In 2008, he co-starred with Robert De Niro in the police drama Righteous Kill. He portrayed Jack Kevorkian in the television movie You Don’t Know Jack (2010), earning his second Emmy Award for this performance. Additionally, he reprised his role in David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross in a 2012 Broadway production, which also featured Bobby Cannavale.

Phil Spector

Al Pacino worked with David Mamet on the 2013 television film Phil Spector, in which he portrayed the famously troubled music producer. Following this, he took on leading roles in independent films such as Manglehorn (2014) and Danny Collins (2015). In Danny Collins, which features Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner, and Christopher Plummer, Pacino plays a rock star who reconnects with his estranged son (played by Bobby Cannavale) after discovering an undelivered letter from John Lennon.

Awards and Honors

As of 2019, Al Pacino has garnered an impressive array of accolades, including one Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards. In recognition of his distinguished career, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute in 2007. Additionally, in December 2016, Pacino’s celebrated performances were acknowledged at the 39th Kennedy Center Honors.

Personal Life

Al Pacino has remained a lifelong bachelor, yet he is the father of three children. He has a daughter from his previous relationship with his former acting coach, Jan Tarrant, and a daughter and a son from his long-term relationship with actress Beverly D’Angelo. Additionally, Pacino has been romantically linked with notable figures such as Keaton, Penelope Ann Miller, Lucila Sola, and Meital Dohan over the years.