Al Pacino(I)

Alfredo James "Al" 'Pacino established himself as a film actor during one of cinema's most vibrant decades, the 1970s, and has become an enduring and iconic figure in the world of American movies.

He was born April 25, 1940 in Manhattan, New York City, to Italian-American parents, Rose (nee Gerardi) andSal Pacino.They divorced when he was young. His mother moved them into his grandparents' home in the South Bronx. Pacino found himself often repeating the plots and voices of characters he had seen in the movies. Bored and unmotivated in school, he found a haven in school plays, and his interest soon blossomed into a full-time career. Starting onstage, he went through a period of depression and poverty, sometimes having to borrow bus fare to succeed to auditions. He made it into the prestigious Actors Studio in 1966, studying underLee Strasberg,creator of the Method Approach that would become the trademark of many 1970s-era actors.

After appearing in a string of plays in supporting roles, Pacino finally attained success off-Broadway withIsrael Horovitz's "The Indian Wants the Bronx", winning an Obie Award for the 1966-67 season. That was followed by a Tony Award for "Does the Tiger Wear a Necktie?" His first feature films made little departure from the gritty realistic stage performances that earned him respect: he played a drug addict inThe Panic in Needle Park (1971)after his film debut inMe, Natalie (1969).The role of Michael Corleone inThe Godfather (1972)was one of the most sought-after of the time:Robert Redford,Warren Beatty,Jack Nicholson,Ryan O'Neal,Robert De Niroand a host of other actors either wanted it or were mentioned, but directorFrancis Ford Coppolawanted Pacino for the role.

Coppola was successful but Pacino was reportedly in constant fear of being fired during the very difficult shoot. The film was a monster hit that earned Pacino his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. However, instead of taking on easier projects for the big money he could now command, Pacino threw his support behind what he considered tough but important films, such as the true-life crime dramaSerpico (1973)and the tragic real-life bank robbery filmDog Day Afternoon (1975).He was nominated three consecutive years for the "Best Actor" Academy Award. He faltered slightly withBobby Deerfield (1977),but regained his stride with...And Justice for All (1979),for which he received another Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Unfortunately, this would signal the beginning of a decline in his career, which produced flops likeCruising (1980)andAuthor! Author! (1982).

Pacino took on another vicious gangster role and cemented his legendary status in the ultra-violent cult filmScarface (1983),but a monumental mistake was about to follow.Revolution (1985)endured an endless and seemingly cursed shoot in which equipment was destroyed, weather was terrible, and Pacino fell ill with pneumonia. Constant changes in the script further derailed the project. The Revolutionary War-themed film, considered among the worst films ever made, resulted in awful reviews and kept him off the screen for the next four years. Returning to the stage, Pacino did much to give back and contribute to the theatre, which he considers his first love. He directed a film,The Local Stigmatic (1990),but it remains unreleased. He lifted his self-imposed exile with the strikingSea of Love (1989)as a hard-drinking policeman. This marked the second phase of Pacino's career, being the first to feature his now famous dark, owl eyes and hoarse, gravelly voice.

Returning to the Corleones, Pacino madeThe Godfather: Part III (1990)and earned raves for his first comedic role in the colorful adaptationDick Tracy (1990).This earned him another Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and two years later he was nominated forGlengarry Glen Ross (1992).He went into romantic mode forFrankie and Johnny (1991).In 1992, he finally won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his amazing performance inScent of a Woman (1992).A mixture of technical perfection (he plays a blind man) and charisma, the role was tailor-made for him, and remains a classic.

The next few years would see Pacino becoming more comfortable with acting and movies as a business, turning out great roles in great films with more frequency and less of the demanding personal involvement of his wilder days.Carlito's Way (1993)proved another gangster classic, as did the epic crime dramaHeat (1995)directed byMichael Mannand co-starringRobert De Niro.He directed the film adaptation of Shakespeare'sLooking for Richard (1996).During this period,City Hall (1996),Donnie Brasco (1997)andThe Devil's Advocate (1997)all came out. Reteaming with Mann and thenOliver Stone,he gave commanding performances inThe Insider (1999)andAny Given Sunday (1999).

In the 2000s, Pacino starred in a number of theatrical blockbusters, includingOcean's Thirteen (2007),but his choice in television roles (the vicious, closeted Roy Cohn in the HBO miniseriesAngels in America (2003)and his sensitive portrayal of Jack Kevorkian, in the television movieYou Don't Know Jack (2010)) are reminiscent of the bolder choices of his early career. Each television project garnered him an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie.

Never wed, Pacino has a daughter, Julie Marie, with acting teacher Jan Tarrant, and a set of twins with former longtime girlfriendBeverly D'Angelo.His romantic history includesJill Clayburgh,Veruschka von Lehndorff,Carole Mallory,Debra Winger,Tuesday Weld,Marthe Keller,Carmen Cervera,Kathleen Quinlan,Lyndall Hobbs,Penelope Ann Miller,and a two-decade intermittent relationship with "Godfather" co-starDiane Keaton.He currently lives with Argentinian actressLucila Solá,who is 36 years his junior.

As of 2022, Pacino is 82-years-old. He has never retired from acting, and continues to appear regularly in film.