Al Pacino A Living Legend

When most people think of acting, what comes to mind is usually basic information that's not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there's a lot more to acting than just the basics, if you want to become a true
legend in your own time.

Once you begin to move beyond basic background information, you begin to realize that there's more to acting than you may have first thought.
The greatest and most accomplished actor of his generation, Al Pacino became a cultural icon thanks to revered performances in a wide range of classic films, including “The Godfather” (1972), “Scarface” (1983) and “Glengarry Glen Ross” (1992). Coming to prominence during the 1970s – a period commonly regarded as Hollywood’s last Golden Age.

His birth name is Alberto Pacino and he was born on April 25, 1940 in East Harlem, New York. He was educated in the high school for the performing arts, Hew York.He studied acting at the Actors Studio and the Herbert Berghof studios which is located in NYC.

Al's mother, Rose Gerard Pacino died when Al was only22. She used to take Al to the movies after work and she is credited with planting the seed for his future acting career. She died at the age of 43.

Al's father, Salvatore Pacino has owned a variety of business's and currently lives in California with his fifth wife. He divorced Al's mother when Al was 7 years old.

In 1966, Pacino studied under legendary acting coach Lee Strasberg (alongside whom he would l after feature in the 1974 film The Godfather Part II). However, it did put him in financial straits until the end of the decade when he had won an Obie Award for his work in The Indian Wants the Bronx and the Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Play for Does the Tiger Wear a Necktie?.

He made his first screen appearance in an episode of the television series N.Y.P.D. in 1968, and his largely unnoticed movie debut in Me, Natalie came the following year.

It was the 1971 film The Panic in Needle Park, in which he played a heroin addict, that would bring him to the attention of director Francis Ford Coppola. Pacino's rise to fame came after portraying Michael Corleone in Coppola's blockbuster 1972 Mafia film The Godfather

In 1973 Pacino starred in the very successful Serpico and the less popular Scarecrow alongside Gene Hackman. In 1974, Pacino repriced his role as Michael Corleone The Godfather Part II In 1975. He enjoyed further success with the release of Dog Day Afternoon, In 1977, Pacino starred as a race-car driver in Bobby Deerfield.

During the 1970s, Pacino had four Oscar nominations for Best Actor for his performances in Serpico, The Godfather Part II, Dog Day Afternoon, and Justice for All.Pacino also won a second Tony Award for The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel and performing the title role in Richard III for a record run on Broadway.

1983's Scarface, directed by Brian DePalma, proved to be a career highlight and a defining role. Upon its initial release, it did well at the box office, grossing over $45 million domestically.Pacino earned a GoldenGlobe nomination for his performance in Scarface as a Cuban drug gangster. He had stated that this movie was the best of his career.

In the 80's he went into a four year hiatus and returned to the stage.His greatest stage success of the decade was David Mamet's American Buffalo, for which Pacino was nominated for a Drama Desk Award.Pacino has since turned acclaimed performances in such crime dramas as Carlito's Way (1993), Donnie Brasco (1997), the multi-Oscar nominated The Insider (1999) and Insomnia (2002).

In 1995, Pacino starred in Michael Mann's Heat, in which he and fellow film icon Robert De Niro appeared on screen together for the first time. They were both together againin the Godfather Part 111. He then went back to the stage and did "Looking For Richard". {Pacino's greatest stage successes of the decade were in revivals of Eugene O'Neill's Hughie and Oscar Wilde's Salome.}

He then went on to make "The Devils Advocate" He has won two Golden Globes since 2000, the first being the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in motion pictures, and the second for his role in the highly praised HBO miniseries Angels in America.

On October 20, 2006, the American Film Institute named Pacino the recipient of the 35th AFI Life Achievement Award.[5] On November 22, 2006, the ]University Philosophical Society of Trinity College, Dublin awarded Pacino the Honorary Patronage of the Society.[6]

His latest film 88 minutes is due to be released in 2008 His next release is Righteous Kill where he will be teamed with his Heat co-star Robert De Niro. Pacino is set to play surrealist Salvador Dalí in the film Dali & I: The Surreal Story.

Although he has never been married, he has three children.He has been romantically involved with some of the top female stares in Hollywood and other less known beautiful women.

This is certainly not an all inclusive story of Al Pacino's life, but it will give you some of the highlights of one of the best, if not the best, actors in history.

It never hurts to be well-informed with the latest on actor. Compare what you've learned here to future articles so that you can stay alert to changes in the area of actors.