Al Pacino

Introduction:

Alfred James Pacino known as Pacino was born on April 25, 1940 in New York City. Al paicno is an American Actor, director, screenwriter, producer. Al pacino is famous for his role as Michael Corleone in The Godfather as Tony Montana in Scarface and of course His role as a Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade in Scent of a Woman is unforgetale. He is considered one of the greatest Actors of all time and known for his forceful dramatic expression. Al Pacino Start his career in 70’s which is considered as a golden era of cinematic history and He established himself as a most successful and great actor.

Early Life:

Al pacino nick name is Sonny. Pacino used to be a very shy in his early age. He belongs to an Italian American family child of Salvatore Pacino and Rose; His parents were separate when he was just two years old. His schooling is from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School New York. Pacino moved to Greenwich Village at the age of 19 to pursue acting. There Pacino joined Herbert Berghof Studio. Pacino always tried to copy the voices of actors he had seen in the movies. At studio he start his career as an stage actor but finally after four years he joined actors studio where he learned acting under the supervision of famous coach Lee Stransberg, pacino used to spend a long time with Lee. Later both of them share screen together couple of times in ‘The Godfather’ and ‘Justice for All’. Al Pacino praised Lee stransberg and claimed that Lee didn’t got what he deserves he was the one who forced me to leave everything and focus on acting.

Acting Career:

Pacino performed in the Broadway play ‘Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?’ His performance earned him Tony Award. After Success on stage Pacino debut as a film actor of 1969 film ‘Me, Natalie’ that was the time when pacinio earned some fame and it was 1971 when he got a role of junkie in ‘The Panic in Needle Park’ What came next would change his life forever that was the role which brought the attention of Francis Ford Coppola who cast him in American Gangster ‘The Godfather’ trilogy for a role of Michael Corleone. Many established actors tried to get that part but Francis Ford Coppola made his mind and cast unknown Al Pacino but the role did wonders for him and for the whole cast of film. The film received wide critical acclaim and huge hit at that time also earned Academy Award nomination for him though Pacino boycotted Academy Award ceremony because he think he was insulted by the award jury, he is the one who appeared more on screen then Marlon Brando in the film.

 In very next year 1973 he once again nominated for Academy Award for his role as Frank Serpico based on a true story of New York City policeman who was betrayed by his fellow officers when he uncovered illegally activity within the department.

 In 1974 Pacino once again played a role of Micahel Corleone in The Godfather Part II first ever sequel ever to win the best picture Oscar and also third Academy Award nomination for Al Pacino.

 In 1975 he enjoyed more success with the release of ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ Pacino played a role of bank robber based on a true story. So far Al Pacino is nominated for four times for Academy Award in the 70’s.

 In 1977 Pacino starred in Bobby Deerfield directed by Sydney Pollack, and received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture Actor. After the rest of one year he once again appeared in a courtroom drama ‘...And Justice for All’, once again nominated for Oscar. By now Al Pacino proved himself as one of the best actors of 70’s Critics praised him because of his brilliant and versatile acting abilities.

 In 1983 He took on another vicious gangster role of Tony Montana and cemented his legendary status in the ultra-violent cult hit ‘Scarface’ directed by Brian de Palma. later on in 80’s Pacino once again decided to go back to stage because of his film ‘Revolution’ first time in his career he got awful reviews by the critics.

The films he has turned down include 'Batman', 'Kramer vs. Kramer', 'Born on the 4th of July', 'and Pretty Woman', and the role of Han Solo in 'Star Wars'.

 In 1990, Pacino came back for the third and final Godfather series film, The Godfather, Part III. That same year, he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, for his role in Dick Tracy. The '90s proved to be a strong decade for Pacino.

90s proved to be a strong decade for Pacino. Finally in 1992 the biggest year of his life came and he starred in ‘Scent of a Woman’ a picture of Martin Brest. Pacino played a role of depressed, bad-tempered and blind Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade his amazing performance in the film earned him Academy Award for the Best Actor in leading role. The same year, he was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'Glengarry Glen Ross'. This astonishing achievement made him the first male actor ever to receive two such nominations for two different films in the same year. His next films in the nineties were Frankie and Johnny (1991), Carlito's Way (1993), Heat (1995), Donnie Brasco (1997), ‘The Devil's Advocate’ (1997), and Any Given Sunday (1999).Pacino also costar with Russel Crowe in multi Oscar nominated film The Insider (1999).

As time goes by and pacino entered to his sixties he proved himself with his acting and he worked continuously on more big films including Insomnia (2002), 88 Minutes (2007), You Don't Know Jack (2010).

Personal Life:

In his private life, Pacino has remained a lifelong bachelor, and is noted for his various high-profile love affairs. He had a long relationship with actress Diane Keaton with whom he starred in The Godfather, a brief liaison with Australian actress Linda Hobbs, and an even briefer one with Penelope Anne Miller, with whom he starred in 'Carlito’s Way'. Then he appeared to settle down for a while with fellow actress Beverly D’Angelo. The couple conceived twins a son and a daughter, called Anton and Olivia, in the year 2001. But the next year, the relationship broke down, however Pacino is one of those very few actors who have never been married. Despite the fact that his personal life have ups and downs but his career never been effected by it.

Awards and Nominations:

Pacino has been nominated and has won many awards during his acting career, including eight Oscar nominations (winning one), 15 Golden Globe nominations (winning four), five BAFTA nominations (winning two), two Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on television, and two Tony Awards for his work on the stage. In 2007, the American Film Institute awarded Pacino with a lifetime achievement award. In 2003 Pacino is voted as the greatest film star of all time.

List of Al Pacino Movies:

1969 Me, Natalie

 1971 The Panic in Needle Park

 1972 The Godfather

 1973 Scarecrow

 1973 Serpico

 1974 The Godfather Part II

 1975 Dog Day Afternoon

 1977 Bobby Deerfield

 1979 ...And Justice for All

 1980 Cruising

 1982 Author! Author!

 1983 Scarface

 1985 Revolution

 1989 Sea Of Love

 1990 The Local Stigmatic

 1990 Dick Tracy

 1990 The Godfather Part III

 1991 Frankie and Johnny

 1992 Glengarry Glen Ross

 1992 Scent of a Woman

 1993 Carlito's Way

 1995 Two Bits

 1995 Heat

1996 Looking for Richard

 1996 City Hall

 1997 Donnie Brasco

 1997 The Devil's Advocate

 1999 The Insider

 1999 Any Given Sunday

 2000 Chinese Coffee

 2002 Insomnia

 2002 S1m0ne

 2002 People I Know

 2003 The Recruit

 2003 Gigli

 2003 Angels in America

 2004 The Merchant of Venice

 2005 Two for the Money

 2007 Ocean's Thirteen

 2007 88 Minutes

 2008 Righteous Kill

2010 You don’t know Jack

2011 The Son of No One

2012 Wild Salome

2013 Stand up Guys

2013 Despicable Me 2

By: Haroon Anwar