Al Pacino: Touching the Stars

Celebrating the Legendary American Actor’s 80th Birthday

Dubbed an actor in his childhood, Al Pacino was a small, incredibly lively, brown-eyed boy with an explosive character and a knack for mimicking various screen heroes. No one ever called him by his full birth name, Alfredo, given to him by his Italian immigrant parents. Instead, he was raised primarily by his maternal grandparents.

The Journey to Stardom

Pacino was never known for his meekness. Despite the strict Catholic traditions instilled in him at home, he often found himself in noisy brawls and was eventually expelled from school for poor performance. It was his artistic talent that saved him, channeling his passionate and unyielding character into a successful acting career, earning him fame and respect.

Even after becoming a laureate of the most prestigious world awards, Pacino never grew accustomed to his star status. In fact, he never aspired to it. His only dream was to experience the miracle of acting transformation time and time again. Perhaps, it is this very attitude that brought him success.

A Passion for the Stage

Despite gaining worldwide fame through cinema, Al Pacino’s true passion remains the theater stage.

“Theater is more like real life: you bring your achievements on stage and perform for two or three hours. And it will never happen again. I would compare it to walking on a tightrope a hundred feet above the ground without any safety net. In movies, the rope lies on the floor…”

Iconic Roles and Characters

Throughout his over half-century-long acting career, Pacino has portrayed numerous bright and unforgettable characters. None of them could boast an angelic character. His Tony Montana from “Scarface” became a cult gangster after hitting the world’s movie screens. The blind lieutenant colonel from “Scent of a Woman,” for which Pacino finally won the prestigious Oscar, is far from pious. Not to mention his portrayal of Satan in “The Devil’s Advocate,” created according to all the canons of a Shakespearean tragedy.

The Godfather and Beyond

Even if Pacino had played no one other than Michael Corleone in “The Godfather,” he would still have forever entered the history of world cinema as a master who created one of the brightest images on the screen. It is hard to imagine now that the film’s director, Francis Ford Coppola, had to fight hard with the studio management to approve the young, unknown actor for the lead role.

It was after playing this role that Pacino, as they say, “woke up famous.” Hollywood catapulted the talented actor to heights he, by his own admission, was not ready for. It is no wonder that Lee Strasberg, who taught him acting in his youth, gave him simple advice that Pacino still often likes to recall: “Al, you just have to adapt.”

Family Life and Fatherhood

Having dedicated his life to art, Pacino never created a family, although he never lacked romantic relationships. However, the absence of marital ties did not prevent him from becoming the father of three children. He has never regretted this and has acknowledged that the birth of his children is the best thing that has happened in his life.

To be close to his children and participate directly in their upbringing, the actor sacrificed his attachment to his beloved New York and moved to Los Angeles. Even now, when his eldest daughter Julia Maria is already 30 years old, and the twins Anton James and Olivia Rose are 19, Pacino cannot imagine life away from them.

A Meeting with the Legend

We were fortunate to meet the actor before the coronavirus pandemic drastically changed the conditions for meeting stars. Moreover, it is still unknown when the actor, who has just turned 80, will be able to afford not only live communication with journalists but also work on the set without fear for his health.

Who knows how work in Hollywood will change in the near future?! And will the audience have the opportunity to see Al Pacino in new images in such large-scale films as “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” or “The Irishman,” which involved numerous acting ensembles?

In any case, it is already clear that our meeting with the legendary actor at the Four Seasons hotel in Los Angeles became significant not only because it preceded his 80th anniversary but also because it marked the end of an era of the possibility of direct contact with a first-magnitude star.

Now, even a series of photographs of Pacino with a Belarusian magazine in his hands is viewed as some kind of miracle. And the very conversation with the famous actor is perceived as a real gift of fate!

Al Pacino with “City of Women” Magazine

Despite admitting to his own inarticulateness, Pacino communicates brilliantly with his interlocutor on some completely magical level. His piercing gaze alone is worth mentioning. At the same time, he does not give an intimidating impression. On the contrary, his hoarse voice has a soothing effect. It may seem strange, but if it were necessary to describe Pacino with just one word, the epithet “kind” would be appropriate. It seems that, being a talented actor, kind Pacino is still adapting to correspond to his star status, occasionally assuming an air of mystery.

An Insight into Pacino’s Artistic Process

— During your acting career, you have created many unforgettable characters both on screen and on stage. How do you manage to find so many different images within yourself, and how different are they from yourself?

— I am interested in this myself. In fact, I do not know. Maybe it’s because we actors consist of many people? Will I be the same person I am now when I leave here? Who knows?.

Of course, when an actor creates an artistic image, he necessarily puts a part of himself into it. Or rather, his own interpretation of this image. It does not matter if it happens consciously or at a subconscious level. It is almost like painting pictures. After all, each picture is painted in a certain style chosen by the artist. And its content is also the artist’s personal choice.

I really like one comparison with Picasso. But let’s agree right away: in no case do I compare myself with the great Picasso (slightly rises from the chair and makes “big eyes”). I love Picasso, but I am not Picasso! (Spreads his hands.) Although he inspires me.

Once I saw a documentary about his life. It was very interesting; the film almost entirely consisted of documentary footage with the artist himself and his paintings. At some point, the camera shows the viewers Picasso painting something on the canvas. And what exactly is not visible. And when Picasso finishes, he suddenly brings the picture right up to his own face.

Here I suddenly noticed how different they are from each other: the picture and its creator. And I thought that this is very similar to acting. That’s how we are connected and different from each other: the character and the actor. Although I created him, it’s still not me. Do you understand? I do not know if I explained it clearly. But that’s how it is! (Smiles widely.)

For more information about Al Pacino’s life and career, visit his IMDb page.