The Godfather was released on March 14, 1972. The Academy-Awards winning film narrates the story of the Corleone family under patriarch Vito Corleone. It also revolves around the transformation of a very important character “Michael Corleone”.
Michael is the youngest son of Don Vito and least interested in taking over the Corleone Empire. However, circumstances lead to his transformation as he takes over to build a legitimate Corleone Empire. The role is played by Al Pacino. Let’s get to know him better.
About Al Pacino
Alfredo James Pacino was born in East Harlem to Italian-American parents. After their divorce, Pacino moved with his mother and her parents. Pacino went on attending the High School of Arts after gaining admission by an audition.
Pacino worked as a janitor, postal clerk, and busboy before becoming an Academy Award-winning star. Pacino’s friends called him “Sonny” as a teenager. He wanted to become a baseball player and was nicknamed “The Actor”.
Pacino suffered a breakdown when his mother died at the age of 43. The next year, his grandfather also died. In an interview, he revealed how he lost the two most influential people of his life.
Career
The 81-year old Oscar winner is a previous method actor and former student of HB Studios. Pacino made his film debut at 29, with a minor role in Me, Natalie (1969). He went on playing his first lead role as a heroin addict in The Panic in Needle Park (1971). This got him wide recognition.
Pacino finally got his breakthrough with the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972). Francis Coppola knew that Pacino can justify the versatile character of Michael Corleone. Rest is history. Check out his interview with Jimmy Kimmel.
Al Pacino made his filmmaking debut with Looking for Richard (1996). The film was about the real-life story of Richard III. Pacino directed and starred in this documentary. Then he starred in Scarface, another hit movie. He went on starring in Serpico got him another Academy Award. His other successful films include Justice for all and Dog Day Afternoon.
Stage Career
Pacino is known for his theatrical performances. He started with performing in Clifford Odets’ Awake and Sing! (1967) at $125 a week. Pacino starred in Jean Claude Van Itallie’s America Hurray in the same year and met actress Jill Clayburg. He was in a five-year romantic relationship with her.
Pacino’s other stage performances can be seen in acclaimed plays like The Indian Wants the Bronx (Astor Place Theatre, 1968), Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie? (1969), America’s Buffalo (1980), The Resistible Rise of Arturo (2002), The Merchant of Venice (2010), Glengarry Glen Ross (2012-2013), and China Doll (2015-2016).
Recent works
Pacino starred as Meyer Offerman, a fictional Nazi hunter in the Amazon Video series Hunters in Feb 2020. In 2021, he played Aldo Gucci in Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci. Al Pacino started in American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally in the same year. He also starred in the Irishman that got him a Golden Globe nomination. These are some badass roles for a then 79-year old actor.
Pacino’s love life
Pacino’s first famous relationship was with actress Jill Clayburg during Jean Claude Van Itallie’s America Hurray. They moved together to New York for five years. FYI, Pacino never got married. However, here are the details of his partners and children:
- One daughter Julie Marie (1989) with acting coach Jan Tarrant.
- Twins, son Anton James and daughter Olivia Rose (2001) with actress Beverly D’Angelo.
- A relationship with The Godfather Trilogy co-star Diane Keaton
- Tuesday Weld, Jill Clayburg, Marthe Keller, Kathleen Quinlan and Lyndall Hobbs
Pacino likes dating young women. He is known to have the longest relationship with Argentine actress Lucila Polak. Pacino was in a ten-year relationship with the star from 2008 to 2018.
Pacino’s Awards
The ardent Shakespeare fan has won several accolades for his impeccable acting career. He has nine Oscar nominations, one Oscar Award, DGA Award, Grammy and several other felicitations. Here is a list of some of his major achievements:
Oscars:
| Year | Work | Category | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | The Godfather | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | |
| 1974 | Serpico | Best Actor | Nominated | |
| 1975 | The Godfather Part II | Nominated | ||
| 1976 | Dog Day Afternoon | Nominated | ||
| 1980 | …And Justice for All. | Nominated | ||
| 1991 | Dick Tracy | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | |
| 1993 | Glengarry Glen Ross | Nominated | ||
| Scent of a Woman | Best Actor | Won | ||
| 2020 | The Irishman | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | |
BAFTA
| Year | Work | Category | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | The Godfather | Best Film Newcomer | Nominated | |
| 1975 | Serpico | Best Film Actor in a Leading Role | Nominated | |
| 1976 | Dog Day Afternoon & The Godfather Part II | Won | ||
| 1991 | Dick Tracy | Best Film Actor in a Supporting Role | Nominated | |
| 2020 | The Irishman | Nominated | ||
EMMY
| Year | Work | Category | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Angels in America | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Television Movie | Won | |
| 2010 | You Don’t Know Jack | Won | ||
| 2013 | Phil Spector | Nominated | ||
Golden Globe Awards
| Year | Work | Category | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | The Godfather | Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Nominated | |
| 1974 | Serpico | Won | ||
| 1975 | The Godfather Part II | Nominated | ||
| 1976 | Dog Day Afternoon | Nominated | ||
| 1978 | Bobby Deerfield | Nominated | ||
| 1980 | …And Justice for All | Nominated | ||
| 1983 | Author! Author! | Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Nominated | |
| 1984 | Scarface | Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Nominated | |
| 1990 | Sea of Love | Nominated | ||
| 1991 | Dick Tracy | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Nominated | |
| The Godfather Part III | Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Nominated | ||
| 1993 | Glengarry Glen Ross | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Nominated | |
| Scent of a Woman | Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Won | ||
| 2001 | – | Cecil B. DeMille Award | Recipient | |
| 2004 | Angels in America | Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture – Television | Won | |
| 2011 | You Don’t Know Jack | Won | ||
| 2014 | Phil Spector | Nominated | ||
| 2016 | Danny Collins | Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Nominated | |
| 2020 | The Irishman | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Nominated | |
| 2021 | Hunters | Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama | Nominated | |
Tony Awards
| Year | Work | Category | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie? | Best Featured Actor in a Play | Won | |
| 1977 | The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel | Best Leading Actor in a Play | Won | |
| 2011 | The Merchant of Venice | Nominated | ||
Al Pacino currently lives in New York and loves to drive a white Range Rover Sport. Pacino has an estimated net worth of $120 million (as of 2021). Pacino is also known for making huge investments and for his interest in politics.
The phenomenal actor loves to spend his money on luxury cars and vacations at opulent places. From private jets to designer clothes, he’s got it all! What do you think about the legendary actor?
