Al Pacino

Photo of Al Pacino

Born:

April 25, 1940

Born as:

Alfredo Pacino

Biography:

Alfredo was raised in New York (USA) by his mother and grandparents from age two. He dropped out of school at 17 and spent several years drifting from job to job1. In 1966 Al was admitted to Lee Strasberg's Actors Studio. Making appearances in various plays, Pacino finally won an Obie award for The Indian Wants the Bronx.

The part of Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972)2 changed his life. Instead of taking on easier projects for money, Pacino made films such as the true life crime drama Serpico (1973) and the tragic bank robbery film Dog Day Afternoon (1975).

Pacino's next few films did not fare as well. Bobby Deerfield (1977) was notable as his first box-office failure. In Brian De Palma's Scarface (1983), Pacino returned to the kind of high-intensity role that had made him famous.

In 1985 a monumental and expensive mistake, Revolution, kept him out of movies for the next four years. When his self-imposed exile lifted, he returned to form in Sea of Love (1989) as a hard-drinking cop. Al and Francis Coppola made a return to the Corleones when they made The Godfather Part 3 in 1990.

Pacino worked with Robert De Niro in Heat (1995). Fans of the two Italian-Americans all over the world rejoiced at the long overdue pairing.

In the new millenium Pacino would keep his profile high with Angels in America (2003), The Merchant of Venice (2004) and in 2007 by joining the all-star cast of Ocean's Thirteen. Al had a reunion in 2008 when he joined Robert De Niro in Righteous Kill.

Despite his success in films Pacino considers himself first and foremost a stage actor, he remains commited to the theatre.

In his personal life, Pacino is one of Hollywood's most enduring and notorious bachelors, having never been married.

Academy awards

1993 Won Oscar Best Actor for: Scent of a Woman (1992)
1993 Nominated Supporting Role for: Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
1991 Nominated Supporting Role for: Dick Tracy (1990)
1980 Nominated Leading Role for: ...And Justice for All (1979)
1976 Nominated Leading Role for: Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
1975 Nominated Leading Role for: The Godfather: Part II (1974)
1974 Nominated Leading Role for: Serpico (1973)
1973 Nominated Supporting Role for: The Godfather (1972)

Selected Movies

Bibliography » Books:

Bibliography » Web:

ABC News - No One gets Al Pacino
Al Pacino...and Me -
DVD Active -
DVD Times - Al and Bob in HD
DVD Times -
High-Def Digest - Carlito's way on Blu-ray
Hollywood reporter - Rome Film Festival
Ifilm - The most versatile word in English
Los Angeles Times - Al Pacino the worst actor of 2008?
New York daily news - De Niro and Pacino and a watch
New York Times - Pacino bought a book
PR Newswire - Another award for Al
Screen daily - Al and Napoleon
Seeing-stars.com - Pacino’s handprints
THR - A new Pacino film?
Variety - Pacino’s new film
Variety - Pacino and Shaespeare
Variety - Al Pacino and the New Testament