How Al Pacino overcame tragedy and addiction to become our greatest living actor

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In Al Pacino's latest memoir, "Sonny Boy," the 84-year-old actor shares some deeply personal insights, especially about his mother, Rose Gerardi Pacino, who worked in a factory. He recalls how she started bringing him to the movies when he was just a young child, around three or four years old.

Al Pacino, the Oscar-winning actor known for his roles in the Godfather trilogy, Serpico, Scarface, and Scent of a Woman, reflects on his mother's emotional fragility and shares a particularly traumatic event from his childhood in the South Bronx of New York. In his book, co-written with Dave Itzkoff, he recounts, “After being outside for about an hour, we noticed a disturbance on the street. People were rushing towards my grandparents’ apartment building. Someone told me, ‘I think that’s your mother.’ I didn’t want to believe it, but I joined the crowd. In front of the building, there was an ambulance, and as I watched, they brought my mother out on a stretcher. She had tried to take her own life.”

Rose affectionately called Pacino "Sonny Boy," inspired by the popular Al Jolson song that she frequently sang to him. Pacino reflects that the films served as a refuge for his mother, allowing her to escape the realities of her life without having to share her beloved son with anyone. When Alfredo James Pacino, known as Al, was only two years old, his father, Salvatore Pacino, had left the family.

Pacino referred to his father's abandonment as "the missing piece" of his life, and it had serious repercussions. Financial struggles plagued Rose, who battled chronic depression. Prior to her suicide attempt, which Pacino later disclosed, she even underwent electric-shock therapy and ultimately became dependent on barbiturates. She passed away at just 43 years old in 1962. “Poverty took her down,” Pacino remarked. A year later, his cherished maternal grandfather, Vincenzo, also died. Pacino reflected on this time as his “darkest period,” sharing, “I went through some tough times. I attended therapy five days a week for 25 years,” in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2019.

In Sonny Boy, Pacino shares how he gained valuable insights into life's principles from Vincenzo, an immigrant from a Sicilian town that, as Pacino later discovered, was named Corleone. He refers to Vincenzo as a “father figure” and vividly remembers an incident from when he was six years old, coming home from school.

"Grandpa, there was a kid at school who did something really wrong. I told the teacher, and she punished him," he remembers in the book. "Without skipping a beat, my grandfather replied, 'Oh, so you're a snitch, huh?' It was such a relaxed comment, almost like he was saying, 'You enjoy playing the piano? I had no idea.' His words struck me deep. From that moment on, I never informed on anyone again. (Although as I write this, I suppose I'm kind of snitching on myself.)"

It's evident that the memories of his childhood in the South Bronx and the unique individuals who influenced him remain vivid in Pacino's thoughts. He reflects on the struggles of growing up in poverty and believes that Italian-Americans faced social stigma during the postwar period. Pacino started smoking at the age of nine and was drinking hard liquor by thirteen. He was involved with a local street gang known as The Red Wings. In "Sonny Boy," he describes his group of friends as “a wild bunch of teenagers with clever grins,” and shares the tragic fate of his three closest friends—Cliffy, Bruce, and Petey—who all died from heroin overdoses. Pacino questions, “How come I didn’t end up like that? Why am I still alive? Was it just chance? Was it like Chekhov? Or maybe Shakespeare?” It seems he perhaps always recognized that acting was his means of expression and escape, and his mother, Rose, consistently supported his dreams in pursuing a career in acting.

In 1967, when he was 27 years old, Pacino encountered Charles Laughton in a bar located in Greenwich Village, a meeting that would significantly alter the course of his life. Laughton, who served as an acting instructor at the Herbert Berghof Studio, encouraged Pacino to sign up for classes there. He went on to become a guiding figure for Pacino, exposing him to the works of important authors like Joyce and Rimbaud. Pacino reflected on that time, saying, “During those formative years, I was rarely seen without a book in my hand.”

Although he spent his nights in bars, Pacino dedicated his days to honing his skills at the Actors Studio. His initial opportunity arose when he performed in regional theater in Boston. He made his Broadway debut in 1969, which was also the year he appeared on film for the first time in "Me, Natalie." Above all, he discovered his calling. "Acting is my true path," Pacino shared with The New Yorker. "Through it, everything falls into place, and I gain insight into who I am."

During challenging times, Pacino turned to alcohol to escape the weight of his personal struggles and painful childhood memories. Throughout much of the 1970s, he lived in a state of heavy drinking. It's remarkable that he has maintained sobriety for almost fifty years now, celebrating his 80th birthday in 2020 with just a non-alcoholic beverage. However, he has acknowledged that the excessive drinking of his youth left his mind feeling “scrambled.”

He would gulp down beers followed by martinis, using the alcohol to counteract his inherent shyness and deal with the heavy pressure of fame. He later described drinking as a common aspect of his profession during that era. He remembered that even legendary actors like Sir Laurence Olivier mentioned that having a drink after a performance was their favorite thing about acting.

By the time he turned 31, Pacino's rising career was starting to be jeopardized by his drinking. He had already appeared in Me, Natalie and had garnered attention for his leading role in The Panic in Needle Park when Francis Ford Coppola noticed him. Coppola was convinced that Pacino was the right fit for the lead role in The Godfather, which was set to be released in 1972. Despite Paramount Pictures pushing for stars like Robert Redford or Warren Beatty to portray Michael Corleone, Coppola remained firm in his choice. “I just couldn’t stop thinking about Al,” he stated. However, Pacino nearly sabotaged his chance. On the day of his first audition, he was dealing with a hangover and hadn’t learned his lines. He attempted to improvise during the audition, which frustrated Mario Puzo, the author of the novel the film was based on. It took considerable effort to convince everyone to cast Pacino.

Ultimately, he delivered an outstanding performance as the mafia leader, just falling short of winning an Oscar for Best Actor. That honor went to his co-star Marlon Brando, who portrayed his father, Vito Corleone. However, the unexpected rise to fame and recognition led Pacino to increase his alcohol consumption significantly.

A significant turning point occurred in London in 1974, after the success of Serpico, while Pacino was at The Dorchester hotel. He was worn out after six months of filming The Godfather Part II and had already committed to portraying Sonny Wortzik in Dog Day Afternoon, a film directed by Sidney Lumet. The movie depicted the tale of a clumsy bank robber in Brooklyn who attempts to steal money to finance his partner's gender confirmation surgery.

Pacino started to have doubts about taking the role. After a night of bar hopping in London's West End, he decided to pull out of the film, prompting a hesitant response from director Lumet, who then passed the script on to Dustin Hoffman. However, producer Martin Bregman kept urging Pacino to rethink his decision. “He asked me, ‘Could you take a break from drinking and read the script?’” Pacino reminisced. “So, I stopped drinking for a couple of days and went through the script. It became obvious to me. I thought, ‘Why am I not taking this role? I should definitely be doing this.’ I was really fortunate to have him in my corner.”

Dog Day Afternoon received widespread acclaim. The real-life Wortzik (John Wojtowicz), who was incarcerated at a federal prison in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, even sent a letter to The New York Times stating that Pacino should win an Oscar. Ultimately, he was nominated for Best Actor, one of eight nominations he received throughout his career, including for The Godfather, Serpico, The Godfather Part II, And Justice for All, Dick Tracy, Glengarry Glen Ross, and The Irishman. However, his only win came for Best Actor for his performance in 1993’s Scent of a Woman.

Pacino has used all the struggles and experiences throughout his life to become one of the most compassionate actors of our time. His unique flair has brought to life some of the most iconic characters in film history. However, he also passed on certain roles. In his memoir, he shares, “After The Godfather, I could have played any part. They offered me the role of Han Solo in Star Wars. I was reading the script for Star Wars, and I gave it to Charlie, saying, ‘Charlie, I can’t figure this out.’ He called me back and said, ‘Neither can I.’ So I decided not to take it.”

Undoubtedly, overcoming his struggle with alcohol stands out as one of the most significant accomplishments in an extraordinary life. Pacino acknowledges that Laughton played a crucial role in helping him “see” his addiction. He described it as a pivotal moment, saying, “I wouldn’t have succeeded without Charlie,” in an interview with Playboy. In his memoir, he humorously recalls times when he was “as drunk as a skunk” and mentions that he attempted to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, but he “just didn’t feel a connection to that scene.” Since then, he has maintained sobriety since 1977.

Pacino, who typically dons sunglasses while outside to avoid being recognized, has frequently expressed his frustration with the "public scrutiny" that comes with his profession. He has shared nostalgic feelings about missing out on everyday activities, such as taking the subway or enjoying time in public with his three kids. James Caan, who passed away in 2022 at 82, remarked that his co-star from The Godfather had always been somewhat "complicated." He noted that Hollywood recognized in 1972 that Pacino was a remarkable talent. “Even though he was the odd one out, I think everyone realized back then that the guy in the corner was blossoming into one of the greatest talents our industry has ever seen.”

In Sonny Boy, we gain deeper insight into the intricate personality of the character, particularly his mixed feelings about fame. He felt indifferent when he was recognized as the person most likely to succeed in junior high, remarking, “It just meant that many people knew you. Who really cares about that?” He also noted, “At some stage, managing fame becomes a self-focused issue, and it’s probably best to stay quiet about it. Yet here I am discussing it, so I’m beginning to think I should probably hold back too.”

His doubts intensified following the triumph of The Godfather. “I started to rethink the core of what I was doing and the reasons behind it.” He also shares his struggles with money, revealing that he went bankrupt in 1988 and again in 2011. He explained, “I had $50 million, and then I had nothing,” noting, “The way I was spending money and where it ended up was just a whirlwind of loss.”

In 1988, it was Diane Keaton, his then-girlfriend, who encouraged him to join the cast of the thriller Sea of Love "for the cash." This role helped him get back into the industry and make significant earnings again. In this film, he starred opposite Ellen Barkin, and in his autobiography, Pacino reflects on their intimate scene: “I don't typically engage in explicit love scenes, and I suspect most actors feel the same way. It can tread into almost pornographic territory.” More than 20 years later, finding himself in financial difficulty again, he admits that his money issues impacted his acting choices. He confesses, “I ended up taking on some truly terrible films that I won’t mention, just to keep cash flowing when my finances were tight.”

While Sonny Boy isn't a traditional memoir packed with personal revelations, the actor does address some Hollywood rumors. Regarding the speculation that he skipped the 1973 Oscars because he was upset about being nominated for Best Supporting Actor instead of Best Actor for The Godfather, he provides a more straightforward reason. He was just anxious. He reflects, “This sheds light on the disconnect I experienced during my time in Hollywood for visits and work.”

The book offers only a few insights into his extensive therapy journey, mentioning that individual sessions helped him overcome his drinking problem. It also touches on his romantic relationships in Hollywood, which involved figures like Diane Keaton, Jill Clayburgh, Tuesday Weld, Marthe Keller, and Kathleen Quinlan. He skillfully explores his reasons for pursuing these relationships and how he attempted to escape what he refers to as the "pain train." However, he acknowledges that he has not given enough attention to his twins, Anton and Olivia, who were born to his former partner Beverly D’Angelo in 2001, admitting they didn’t receive the care they needed or deserved. He reflects on this situation as a “broken family.” His latest child, a son named Roman, was born in June 2023. Recently, he parted ways with Roman’s mother, Noor Alfallah, who is over 50 years younger than him.

In his eighties now, Pacino has been dealing with vision issues related to Fuchs’ dystrophy, an affliction affecting the corneas, along with the lingering effects of a severe Covid infection. In his memoir, he describes coming close to death, which allowed him to sense the "nothingness" that lies beyond life. Despite these challenges, he is currently working on a new version of King Lear, taking on the role of one of literature’s most powerful portrayals of a troubled elderly man. He notes in his book, Sonny Boy, “I’m only human,” yet many in Hollywood see him as more than that, often referring to him as a superhuman performer. As fellow Oscar winner Javier Bardem once expressed, “I don't believe in God; I believe in Al Pacino.”

‘Sonny Boy: A Memoir’ by Al Pacino has been released by Century, priced at £25.