History of Al Pacino in Timeline

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Al Pacino

Al Pacino is a highly acclaimed American actor celebrated for his powerful and intense performances across stage and screen. With a career spanning over five decades, he is considered one of the greatest actors of all time. Pacino has achieved the Triple Crown of Acting, winning an Academy Award, two Tony Awards, and two Primetime Emmy Awards. He has also garnered numerous other prestigious awards, including Golden Globe Awards, a BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. He has been honored with lifetime achievement awards such as the Cecil B. DeMille Award, the AFI Life Achievement Award, the National Medal of Arts, and the Kennedy Center Honors.

1977: Achieved Sobriety

In 1977, Al Pacino achieved sobriety after struggling with drug and alcohol abuse early in his career.

1983: Original Scarface Movie Release

In 1983, the movie Scarface was released. Al Pacino later allowed his likeness to appear in the video game adaptation of 1983's Scarface, the quasi-sequel Scarface: The World is Yours

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1987: Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune

In 1987, the off-Broadway play Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, written by Terrence McNally, featured Kenneth Welsh and Kathy Bates. It was later adapted into the 1991 film Frankie and Johnny starring Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer.

October 16, 1989: Birth of Julie Marie Pacino

On October 16, 1989, Al Pacino's eldest child, Julie Marie, was born to him and acting coach Jan Tarrant.

1991: Starred in Frankie and Johnny

In 1991, Al Pacino starred in Frankie and Johnny alongside Michelle Pfeiffer. Pacino played a recently paroled cook who begins a relationship with Pfeiffer's character, a waitress. The movie received mixed reviews.

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1992: Won Academy Award for Scent of a Woman

In 1992, Al Pacino played the irascible, blind U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade in Martin Brest's Scent of a Woman. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor the next year for his portrayal of the character. He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Glengarry Glen Ross, making Pacino the first male actor ever to receive two acting nominations for two movies in the same year, and to win for the lead role.

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1993: Starred in Carlito's Way

In 1993, Al Pacino starred alongside Sean Penn in the crime drama Carlito's Way, playing Carlito Brigante, a gangster released from prison.

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1995: Starred in Heat with Robert De Niro

In 1995, Al Pacino starred in Michael Mann's Heat, marking the first time he and Robert De Niro appeared on-screen together, even though they were both in The Godfather Part II but did not share scenes.

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1996: Starred in Looking for Richard

In 1996, Al Pacino starred in his theatrical docudrama Looking for Richard, which featured selected scenes of William Shakespeare's Richard III and explored Shakespeare's role in popular culture. Alec Baldwin, Kevin Spacey, and Winona Ryder were also in the cast.

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1997: Start of Relationship with Beverly D'Angelo

In 1997, Al Pacino began a relationship with actress Beverly D'Angelo, which lasted until 2003.

1997: Played Satan in The Devil's Advocate and Lefty in Donnie Brasco

In 1997, Al Pacino played Satan in The Devil's Advocate, a supernatural thriller with Keanu Reeves. Also in 1997, Pacino played gangster "Lefty" in Donnie Brasco, based on the true story of an undercover FBI agent infiltrating the Mafia.

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1999: Starred in The Insider and Any Given Sunday

In 1999, Al Pacino starred as Lowell Bergman in the multi-Oscar nominated The Insider, and also starred in Oliver Stone's Any Given Sunday.

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2000: Starred in Chinese Coffee

In 2000, Al Pacino starred alongside Jerry Orbach in Chinese Coffee, a low-budget film adaptation of Ira Lewis' play. He funded the project himself, and it took almost three years to complete.

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January 25, 2001: Birth of Twins Anton James and Olivia Rose

On January 25, 2001, Al Pacino and actress Beverly D'Angelo welcomed twins, a son named Anton James and a daughter named Olivia Rose.

2001: Received the Cecil B. DeMille Award

In 2001, Al Pacino received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in motion pictures at the Golden Globes.

October 2002: Starred in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui

In October 2002, Al Pacino starred in Bertolt Brecht's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui for the National Actor's Theater and Complicite. The production, directed by Simon McBurney, was a critical success.

2002: Starred in People I Know

In 2002, Al Pacino played a publicist in People I Know, a small film that received little attention. He also accepted a small part in the critical and box office flop Gigli as a favor to director Martin Brest.

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2003: Starred in Angels in America

In 2003, Al Pacino starred in Angels in America. In February 2020 he acted in Hunters, marking his first television series role since Angels in America.

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2003: Starred in The Recruit and Angels in America

In 2003, Al Pacino starred in The Recruit as a CIA recruiter. Also in 2003, he starred as lawyer Roy Cohn in the HBO miniseries Angels in America.

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2003: End of Relationship with Beverly D'Angelo

In 2003, Al Pacino's relationship with actress Beverly D'Angelo, which began in 1997, came to an end.

2003: Greatest Film Star of All Time

In 2003, British television viewers voted Al Pacino as the greatest film star of all time in a poll for Channel 4.

2004: Starred in The Merchant of Venice

In 2004, Al Pacino starred as Shylock in Michael Radford's film adaptation of The Merchant of Venice, receiving praise for his portrayal of the character.

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2004: Won Golden Globe for Angels in America

In 2004, Al Pacino won his third Golden Globe, for Best Performance by an Actor, for his performance in the 2003 HBO miniseries Angels in America.

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2004: I Heard You Paint Houses Book

In 2004, the book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt, which served as the basis for The Irishman was released

I Heard You Paint Houses
I Heard You Paint Houses

2004: Original Film of Modì

In 2004, the original film of Modì was released.

October 8, 2005: Two for the Money Released

On October 8, 2005, Two for the Money, starring Al Pacino as a sports gambling agent and mentor, was released to mixed reviews.

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October 20, 2006: Received AFI Life Achievement Award

On October 20, 2006, Al Pacino was named the recipient of the 35th AFI Life Achievement Award by the American Film Institute.

November 22, 2006: Awarded Honorary Patronage by Trinity College Dublin

On November 22, 2006, Al Pacino was awarded the Honorary Patronage of the University Philosophical Society of Trinity College Dublin.

2006: Turned down The Godfather Game

In 2006, Al Pacino turned down an offer to reprise his role as Michael Corleone in the computer game version of The Godfather, leading Electronic Arts to not use his likeness or voice in the game. However, he allowed his likeness to be used in Scarface: The World is Yours.

2007: Starred in Ocean's Thirteen

In 2007, Al Pacino starred as the villain Willy Bank in Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's Thirteen.

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2007: AFI Lifetime Achievement Award

In 2007, Al Pacino was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the American Film Institute.

2007: Pacino: An Actor's Vision DVD box set released

In 2007, a special DVD box set titled Pacino: An Actor's Vision was released, including Chinese Coffee, The Local Stigmatic, and Looking for Richard, with prologues and epilogues produced by Pacino.

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April 18, 2008: 88 Minutes Released in the United States

On April 18, 2008, 88 Minutes, co-starring Al Pacino and Alicia Witt, was released in the United States to critical panning. It had been released in various other countries in 2007.

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September 12, 2008: Righteous Kill Released

On September 12, 2008, Righteous Kill, co-starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, was released to theaters. The film was not well received by critics.

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2008: Start of Relationship with Lucila Polak

In 2008, Al Pacino began a ten-year relationship with Argentine actress Lucila Polak.

April 2010: Starred in You Don't Know Jack

In April 2010, Al Pacino played Jack Kevorkian in the HBO Films biopic You Don't Know Jack, which premiered in April 2010. Later in 2010, Pacino returned to the stage in the summer of 2010, playing Shylock in the Shakespeare in the Park production, The Merchant of Venice.

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September 4, 2011: Presented with Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award

On September 4, 2011, Al Pacino was presented with the Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award prior to the premiere of Wilde Salomé.

2011: Co-starred in Jack and Jill

In 2011, Al Pacino co-starred as himself in the comedy film Jack and Jill, which was panned by critics, and for which Pacino "won" the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor.

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February 2012: Awarded National Medal of Arts

In February 2012, President Barack Obama awarded Al Pacino the National Medal of Arts.

March 21, 2012: US Premiere of Wilde Salomé

On the evening of March 21, 2012, Wilde Salomé, written, directed by and starring Pacino, had its US premiere at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco.

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September 2012: Announced to Play Joe Paterno in Television Film

In September 2012, it was announced that Al Pacino would play Joe Paterno in the television film Paterno.

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October 2012: Starred in Glengarry Glen Ross Revival

In October 2012, Al Pacino starred in the 30th-anniversary Broadway revival of David Mamet's play, Glengarry Glen Ross.

January 20, 2013: Glengarry Glen Ross Revival Ended

On January 20, 2013, Al Pacino's Broadway revival of David Mamet's play, Glengarry Glen Ross ended its run.

2013: Starred in Phil Spector

In 2013, Al Pacino starred in Phil Spector, an HBO biographical picture about record producer Phil Spector's murder trial.

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October 2015: Previews for China Doll

In October 2015, Al Pacino did previews for China Doll.

December 5, 2015: China Doll opened on Broadway

On December 5, 2015, China Doll, a play written for Al Pacino by David Mamet, opened on Broadway.

2015: Starred in Danny Collins

In 2015, Al Pacino starred in the comedy-drama Danny Collins, for which he garnered a Golden Globe nomination.

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January 21, 2016: China Doll closed on Broadway

On January 21, 2016, China Doll closed on Broadway after 97 performances.

2016: Received Kennedy Center Honor

In 2016, Al Pacino received the Kennedy Center Honor.

April 7, 2018: Paterno Premiered on HBO

On April 7, 2018, Paterno, starring Al Pacino, premiered on HBO.

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2018: End of Relationship with Lucila Polak

In 2018, Al Pacino's ten-year relationship with Argentine actress Lucila Polak came to an end.

July 26, 2019: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Released

On July 26, 2019, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, starring Al Pacino, Brad Pitt, and Leonardo DiCaprio, was released.

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February 2020: Starred in Amazon Prime Video's Hunters

In February 2020, Al Pacino starred as Meyer Offerman in the Amazon Prime Video series Hunters, marking his first television series role since Angels in America (2003).

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August 2020: Hunters Renewed for Second Season

In August 2020, the Amazon Prime Video series Hunters, starring Al Pacino, was renewed for a second season.

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2020: Near-Death Experience with COVID-19

In 2020, Al Pacino almost died due to complications from COVID-19, which profoundly impacted his views on the afterlife, as revealed in 2024.

2021: Starred in House of Gucci and American Traitor

In 2021, Al Pacino played Aldo Gucci in Ridley Scott's House of Gucci. That same year, he played the lead defense attorney in American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally.

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June 15, 2023: Birth of Son Roman

On June 15, 2023, Al Pacino, at the age of 83, became a father again with the birth of his son Roman with producer Noor Alfallah.

September 2023: Commencement of Principal Photography for Modì

In September 2023, principal photography commenced for Modì, a film about Amedeo Modigliani co-produced by Al Pacino.

March 10, 2024: Presented Academy Award for Best Picture

On March 10, 2024, Al Pacino presented the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 96th Academy Awards.

2024: Pacino Reveals Near-Death COVID-19 Experience

In 2024, Al Pacino revealed that he almost died of COVID-19 in 2020, leading him to question the existence of an afterlife.