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Al Pacino

ACTOR · BORN 1940

Al Pacino

Born
25 April 1940, New York City, New York, USA
Known for
The Godfather (1972), The Godfather Part II (1974), Scarface (1983), Heat (1995)

51 archived facts 7 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026

Al Pacino (born 25 April 1940) is an actor best known for The Godfather, The Godfather Part II and Scarface.

Al Pacino over the years

Al Pacino in 1999 (age 59)
1999 · age 59Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryla…
Al Pacino in 2016 (age 76)
2016 · age 76Embajada de EEUU en la Argentina, CC BY 2.0

51 Interesting Facts About Al Pacino

Interesting Facts (6)

  1. #001

    Although he played Morgana King and Marlon Brando's son in The Godfather (1972), he is only 10 and 16 years their junior respectively.

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  2. #002

    Alec Baldwin, who co-starred with Al Pacino in Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) and Looking for Richard (1996), wrote a 65-page final thesis on Al Pacino and method acting for his degree at New York University.

    Al Pacino — James Laughlin, at an evening event
    Al Pacino: James Laughlin, at an evening eventImage: Wikimedia Commons · Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer, Public domain

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  3. #003

    Despite the fact that he starred in "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" for Off-Broadway scale pay (the minimum salary allowed by Actor's Equity), the production had the highest ticket price in Off-Broadway history at $100 per ticket.

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  4. #004

    Is a huge fan of Dick Van Dyke.

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  5. #005

    Turned down the lead role of Roy Neary in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), which went to Richard Dreyfuss.

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  6. #006

    During the early 80s, Al Pacino tried unsuccessfully to develop a biographical film on Amedeo Modigliani.

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Production Story (13)

  1. #007

    Francis Ford Coppola asked Al Pacino to play Captain Willard in his film Apocalypse Now (1979). Al Pacino politely turned down the offer, saying he would "do anything" for Francis but he "wouldn't go to war with him!"

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  2. #008

    After completing The Godfather (1972), Al Pacino was so broke that he actually owed a studio $15,000, so he never saw a paycheck for his work on that film.

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  3. #009

    He stated in an interview that the movie he most wanted to be in but could not get the role was Slap Shot (1977). Director George Roy Hill opted not to go with Pacino because he could not ice skate.

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  4. #010

    He originally asked for $7 million for The Godfather Part III (1990), a figure that so enraged director Francis Ford Coppola that he threatened to write a new script that opened with Michael Corleone's funeral. Al Pacino settled for $5 million.

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  5. #011

    He was director John Schlessinger's first choice for the role of Babe Levy in Marathon Man, but producers pushed for Dustin Hoffman.

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  6. #012

    At one point, David Cronenberg was in line to direct the film The Singing Detective (2003), with Al Pacino in the lead.

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  7. #013

    He got his co-star Kevin Spacey his first major film role. Al Pacino saw Spacey performing on Broadway and suggested him to the director of Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) for the role of John Williamson.

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  8. #014

    Al Pacino was rejected repeatedly by studio heads and frequently referred to as "that midget Pacino" by producers of The Godfather (1972) who did not want him for the role of Michael Corleone, but Francis Ford Coppola fought for him. The film was shot briskly because both the director and the leading actor were in constant fear of being fired. Ironically, this turned out to be a breakthrough for both.

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  9. #015

    He was director Bryan Singer's first choice for the role of Dave Kujan in The Usual Suspects (1995). Al Pacino passed on the role and has since stated that it is the role he regrets passing on the most.

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  10. #016

    He turned down the role of Han Solo in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977), which went to Harrison Ford.

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  11. #017

    While Paramount executives hesitated over whether to cast him as Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972), the role that would make him a star, a frustrated Al Pacino signed up for the role of Mario Trantino in MGM's The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971). When Paramount finally decided to offer him the role in The Godfather, his binding contract with MGM had to be bought out.

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  12. #018

    Turned down the role of Ted Kramer in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), which went to Dustin Hoffman.

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  13. #019

    Turned down the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather videogame.

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Behind the Scenes (4)

  1. #020

    For Bobby Deerfield, he watched racing documentaries and newsreels, spoke to drivers, observed a strict fitness regime and took racing lessons, despite the fact that he would not have to drive in the film, as Brazilian driver Carlos Pace was doubling for him.

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  2. #021

    He and Chris Sarandon improvised their scene on the phone in the film Dog Day Afternoon (1975).

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  3. #022

    Al Pacino was so much into character (playing a plain-clothes New York City policeman) while filming Serpico (1973) that he actually pulled over and threatened to arrest a truck driver for exhaust pollution.

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  4. #023

    When cast in the lead for Infamous (2006), Albert Finney was coached by Al Pacino in creating a Bronx accent for his role.

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Characters & Cast (1)

  1. #024

    He claims to have learned more about acting from his friend John Cazale than from anyone else.

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Easter Eggs & References (3)

  1. #025

    His name is almost an anagram of Al Capone; he starred in Scarface (1983), an updated remake of Scarface (1932), a movie adapted from a novel that was based on Al Capone.

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  2. #026

    The voice of Moe the Bartender from The Simpsons (1989) was based on Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon (1975).

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  3. #027

    Over the ending credits of Tristram Shandy (2005), the two stars, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, compete at doing Al Pacino impressions.

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Career & Awards (13)

  1. #028

    Premiere magazine ranked him #37 on its list of the Greatest Movie Stars of All Time in its Stars in Our Constellation feature (2005).

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  2. #029

    He won two Tony Awards: as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Dramatic) for "Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?" (1969) and as Best Actor (Play) for "The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel" (1977).

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  3. #030

    His performance as Sonny Wortzik in Dog Day Afternoon (1975) is ranked #4 on Premiere magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).

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  4. #031

    In 2004, he became the 18th performer to win the Triple Crown of Acting. Oscar: Best Actor, Scent of a Woman (1992); Tony: Best Supporting Actor-Play "Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?" (1969) and Best Actor-Play "The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel" (1977); and Emmy: Best Actor-Miniseries/Movie, Angels in America (2003).

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  5. #032

    Early in his acting career, he considered changing his name to "Sonny Scott" to avoid being typecast by his Italian name. "Sonny" was his childhood nickname.

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  6. #033

    He has a production company called Chal Productions. The "Ch" is in tribute to his friend "Charlie Laughton" (not the actor Charles Laughton), while the "Al" is for himself.

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  7. #034

    He won his first Academy Award 21 years after his first nomination.

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  8. #035

    His performance as Tony Montana in Scarface (1983) is ranked #74 on Premiere magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.

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  9. #036

    He was ranked #4 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.

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  10. #037

    Stopped a two-pack-a-day smoking habit to protect his voice (1994). In the mid-1980s, he had been smoking four packs of cigarettes a day. He now only occasionally smokes herbal cigarettes.

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  11. #038

    Lifetime member of the prestigious Actors Studio. He was accepted into the studio in 1966, studying under legendary acting coach Lee Strasberg.

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  12. #039

    Starred as King Herod in Oscar Wilde's play "Salomé" on Broadway in 1992 opposite Sheryl Lee (directed by Robert Allan Ackerman), and in 2003 opposite Marisa Tomei (directed by Estelle Parsons). He reprised the role opposite Jessica Chastain in 2006 in Los Angeles, and in the documentary-drama film Wilde Salomé (2011) (which Al Pacino also wrote and directed).

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  13. #040

    Worked in the mail room of Commentary magazine.

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Life & Family (11)

  1. #041

    He studied at the Herbert Berghof (HB) Studio, where he met acting teacher Charlie Laughton (not to be confused with Charles Laughton), who became his mentor and best friend.

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  2. #042

    Became a father for the first time at age 49 when his [now ex] partner Jan Tarrant gave birth to their daughter Julie Marie Pacino, aka Julie Pacino, on October 16, 1989.

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  3. #043

    He fathered a son at age 83 with his Kuwaiti girlfriend Noor Alfallah (29).

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  4. #044

    He revealed to James Lipton on Inside the Actors Studio (1994) for the first time ever that his maternal grandfather was born in Corleone, Sicily.

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  5. #045

    Before becoming a professional actor, he held a number of jobs, including messenger, shoe salesman, supermarket checker, shoe shiner, furniture mover, office boy, fresh-fruit polisher, and newsboy. An avid opera fan, Al Pacino once worked as an usher at Carnegie Hall. In a Playboy magazine interview, he claimed that he was fired from his job as a movie theater usher while walking down the staircase and admiring himself in the mirrored wall.

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  6. #046

    He split with his girlfriend of 10 years, Lucila Solá, in 2018. This was the second time they had separated, following a brief breakup and reconciliation in 2015.

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  7. #047

    He is the son of Sal Pacino (insurance agent) and Rose (nee Gerardi) Pacino; his maternal grandparents originate from Corleone, Sicily. His paternal grandparents originate from San Fratello, Sicily. Aside from his grandparents being from Corleone in Sicily, his real name "Alfredo" and childhood nickname "Sonny" are also indirect references to the names of his siblings in his breakthrough movie The Godfather (Fredo and Sonny).

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  8. #048

    Is one of the few Hollywood stars who has never married.

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  9. #049

    When asked by the AFI, he named The Tree of Wooden Clogs (1978) and Singin' in the Rain (1952) as his favorite films.

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  10. #050

    Although he played Morgana King and Marlon Brando's son in The Godfather (1972), he is only 10 and 16 years their junior respectively.

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  11. #051

    As a young acting student, he shared a Bronx apartment with Martin Sheen.

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Sources & editorial notes

Reference databases

  • Wikipedia English Wikipedia article
  • IMDb IMDb name page (biography and trivia)

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