Al Pacino
(For optimum viewing, adjust the zoom level of your browser to 125%.)
Last Updated: 4/10/25
Real Name: Alfredo James Pacino
Born: April 25, 1940
Height: 5' 5"
Grade: A+
Actor/Movie Star: 70%-30%
Prime Years: 1971-75, 1979, 1983, 1989-90, 1992-93, and 1995-97
Most Famous Film: The Godfather Trilogy (1972, 1974, 1990)
Most Infamous Film: Cruising (1980)
Masterpiece: The Godfather (1972), Serpico (1973), Dog Day Afternoon (1975),
and ...And Justice for All (1979)
Outstanding: Scarecrow (1973) The Godfather Part II (1974), Scarface (1983),
Carlito's Way (1993), City Hall (1996), and Donnie Brasco (1997)
Honorable: The Panic in Needle Park (1971), Author! Author! (1982),
Sea of Love (1989), The Godfather Part III (1990), Glengarry Glen Ross (1992), and
Heat (1995)
Opinion:
Al Pacino is one of the greatest actors ever due to his amazing versatility and ability to evince naked human truth.
It's also the way he talks and how the lines roll off his tongue so effortlessly. Almost everything he did prior to
2000 are instantly watchable with some of them masterpieces. The 70's was owned by Al Pacino who had done a number
of important films. The bigger the stage is, the more suited he is in terms of casting, beginning with
The Godfather.
The Academy Awards made a serious mistake by giving Al Pacino an Oscar for Scent of a Woman, which is a
really bad movie, when they should've given him a special honorary award for his work in The Godfather
trilogy. I firmly believe he got it for his body of work because, truth be told, he encountered massive competition
annually for a long time. When Al Pacino did Scarface, he stretched himself
so far to the point of becoming a near caricature that he never returned to his original form.
Confirmed:
Born to Sicilian parents in East Harlem, New York City. His mother's parents actually immigrated from Corleone,
Italy, just like The Godfather Part II. A factory worker and a big fan of movies, she often took him to
the theatre, starting at a very young age, that supplied him with a profuse imagination. Father divorced her when
Al Pacino was almost 2, and he was sent overseas for WWII before returning to California as an insurance salesman.
Consequently, lived with his grandparents for less than a year and then back to his mother, and they moved around
a lot in New York City.
While in middle school, was selected by a teacher named Blanche Rothstein to read Biblical passages which led
to being cast in plays. Decided that he wanted to be an actor and applied for a seat at High School of Performing
Arts in Manhattan. After his acceptance there, dropped out at age 16 and worked in odd jobs for many years while
living in poverty. At 18, enrolled at the Herbert Berghof Studio and was taught by Charlie Laughton (not the
famous actor) who eventually guided his movie career for a long time. One of his fellow classmates
was Martin Sheen, and they became friends, rooming together. Did a lot of plays for little to no money and would
perform more of them throughout his career after becoming famous. Was eventually accepted at Actors Studio.
Mother killed herself when Al Pacino was 21, causing him to wander aimlessly.
Met John Cazale while working and was surprised to find out that he was also an aspiring actor.
Achieved a breakthrough in an off-Broadway play called
The Indian Wants the Bronx during 1968 when he was 27-28 years old, attracting the attention of agent Martin
Bregman at the advice of Faye Dunaway which was how his career began to take off in the professional sense.
Hooked up with Francis Ford Coppola who saw him act in a play and thought of casting him in a movie that would
never be made. Became his first choice for the role of Michael Corleone, having fought with Paramount execs about it
due to him being a total unknown. Al Pacino didn't believe it at first, considering himself strictly a theater
actor. After appearing in his first film, Me, Natalie for a throwaway part, made a screen debut in a
leading role in The Panic in Needle Park two years later which finally convinced everybody that he could do
The Godfather over the likes of Jack Nicholson, Robert Redford, Warren Beatty, and Ryan O'Neal, even
though he almost got fired during the early phase of shooting. This began his run of four straight Oscar nominations
with the others being Serpico, The Godfather Part II, and Dog Day Afternoon.
Was encouraged to star in Serpico but turned down the offer until he met Frank Serpico and then changed his
mind. After Bregman fired John G. Avildsen, producer Dino De Laurentiis forced Al Pacino to hire a director,
and he settled on Sidney Lumet. Refused to do The Godfather Part II until the script was a lot
better than the first time he read it which took a long time to fix. Wasn't interested in Dog Day Afternoon
until he read the script for the first time. Forced everybody to reshoot the film when he felt unsatisfied with
the direction of his character and wanted to redo it.
After picking up a hot machine gun during Scarface, his hand got stuck to it and was therefore
burned, sending him to the hospital. By the way, the idea of remaking the film was Al Pacino's. Had a string of
failures during the 80's, causing him to quit acting in movies for a while. Went broke and decided to make a
comeback by taking on Sea of Love. Won Best Actor Oscar for Scent of a Woman, the only one of his
career after eight tries. Directed his first film called Looking for Richard and had done three more in total.
Nicknamed "Sonny" which began with "Sonny Boy" as given by his mother because of an Al Jolson song.
Admired Paul Muni, Marlon Brando, Richard Burton, Montgomery Clift, and James Dean. Cited Dustin Hoffman as a
pioneer for actors during the 60's. Didn't obtain his driver's license until he was 34. Is an avid reader.
Has done drugs. Is an alcoholic which was ended by the time he did Bobby Deerfield.
Rumors: None.