Early Life and Career
Al Pacino was born to Sicilian-American parents and grew up in New York. What sparked his interest in the arts was theater. At 14 years old, Pacino watched the Chekhov play, “The Seagull.”
He was so impressed that he immediately bought a collection of Chekhov’s work. He went on to take part in theater, which he later explained gave him a strong foundation for his acting career.
The Godfather
Pacino’s career changed when he was cast in the role of Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather.” Studio executives did not want to cast the relatively unknown Pacino, but Coppola stood firmly in his corner. Pacino was ultimately nominated for the Best Supporting Actor category.
The actor was nominated for an Oscar a total of nine times but only won it once, in 1993, for his portrayal of a blind, cynical war veteran in ‘Scent of a Woman’.
An Unwavering Love for the Arts
Another interesting fact about the actor’s career is that he turned down offers to play the part in roles that went on to become iconic. Including “Star Wars,” “Die Hard,” “Pretty Woman,” “Kramer Vs. Kramer,” and “Taxi Driver.”
1996 marked his debut as a director, in the film “Looking for Richard,” based on the play “Richard III.” The main role was also played by Pacino. Pacino also loves reading literature and poetry, and has spoken about his love for the work of Oscar Wilde.