High School for the Performing Arts, NYC (dropped out); HB Studio, NYC (studied with Charles Laughton); Actors Studio, NYC
Profession :
actor, director, writer, producer
Claim to fame :
as Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972)
He has had an interest in acting since he was very young, when he was 3 years old he would act out scenes to his grandfather that he had recently seen in movies.
Participated in school plays, and was voted most likely to succeed, by his peers for his acting abilities.
Struggled with academics though, he dropped out of the High School of Performing Arts in New York at age 17 to pursue an acting career.
He left home at age 17 to pursue his acting career, and struggled to stay out of poverty over the next ten years.
Had to pick up many different jobs when he was still 17 years old to make money, including theater usher and janitor.
Pacino was arrested in 1961 for carrying a concealed weapon.
Around 1961 he was also honing his acting skills by taking classes at Lee Strasberg's Actors Studio, he would later work with Strasberg in the GODFATHER films.
His mother died when he was 22 years old.
Said that he enjoys theater work more than acting in movies.
Francis Ford Coppola learned of Pacino through his role in THE PANIC IN NEEDLE PARK, and he was soon cast in THE GODFATHER and on his way to superstardom.
One of the more interesting movie mishaps occurred in THE GODFATHER, in the scene after Michael shoots McCluskey and Sollozzo Pacino jumps from the sidewalk into the getaway car, but he actually miscalculated the leap in real life, twisting his ankle and straining a ligament.
Was paid only $40,000 for his role in THE GODFATHER.
His youth nickname was Sonny, he later did DOG DAY AFTERNOON with the name Sonny.
His huge success in the mid-seventies went sour with a string of mostly commercial failures of 1977-1985 (with the possible exceptions of ...AND JUSTICE FOR ALL and SCARFACE).
Took four years away from movie acting after that before returning in 1989 with SEA OF LOVE.
He was actually nominated for two Oscars in the same year (1992), one for SCENT OF A WOMAN and the other for GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS.
SCENT OF A WOMAN director Martin Brest gave Pacino the name El Diablo (the devil in Spanish), just like with Sonny he later did THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE as The Devil.
Pacino was once wore a fake beard and sun glasses at a Yankees game with Beverly D'Angelo, it did not work though as Pacino was easily recognized.
Al Pacino was born April 25 1940 in East Harlem, New York, and was raised in the Bronx. It wasn't that long before Pacino discovered his acting ability. Pacino was rather poor, and he lived in a poor neigborhood with his Grandmother. Growing up Pacino acted in lots of stage performences. Before his first movie was ever made he won a "Tony" for a stage play he'd done.Pacino recieved his great acting ability from the HERBERT BERGHOF STUDIO and the ACTORS STUDIO, both in New York. Pacino starred in a couple of award winning plays. Then he won the lead in the film "The Panic in Needle Park," in which Pacino played a drug addicted crook. "The Panic in Needle Park" pasted his way to Francis Ford Coppola and the role of Michael Corleone in "The Godfather, ( 1972)." The Godfather gave him his first OSCAR nomination. The film is about the fictional mafia crime family known as the Corleone crime family. Than came an almost unforgettable role in Serpico, a film were Pacino plays a cop who fights against coruption. After Serpico Pacino took on the role of Micheal Corleone once again in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather Part II", Pacino is the don of the family, and we watch his rise as "don." "The Godfather Part II" earned Pacino another OSCAR nomination. Next Pacino stars as the homosexual bank robber Sunny in "Dog Day Afternoon" a film which co-starred John Cazel. Pacino did a few not to hot flicks, then came back with "Scarface." "Scarface" got some mixed reviews, but it brought Pacino back in a way. His next good movie was "Sea of Love." "Sea of Love" which got some good reviews, mostly about Pacino's great performence. Pacino was again nominated this time for his role in "Dick Tracy." Mostly because he did such a good job acting with all that make-up on. Once again Pacino returned to his role as Micheal Corleone in "The Godfather Part III." Pacino has now had a bit of a film streak. In 1992 and 1993, he gave his two great performances in "Scent of a Woman" and "Carlito's Way". He won his first OSCAR for his leading role in "Scent of a Woman". He's been starring in much more movies now. Like the obsessed cop in "Heat" trying to track down Robert De Niro. Playing the mayor in "City Hall." And writing and directing his own love letter to William Shakspere called "Looking for Richard". Pacino came out with some more movies in 1997. One starring Johnny Depp called "Donnie Brasco." his second in 1997 was "Devil's Advocate" with Keanu Reeves.
