At 86, Al Pacino is still adding to one of the greatest filmographies in cinema. In June 2026 he premiered Killing Castro at the Tribeca Festival and his memoir Sonny Boy arrived in paperback in May.
From Michael Corleone to Tony Montana, he has given us characters we still quote today. Here is his story - and find more screen legends in our Movie Stars collection.
Al Pacino Fact File
| Full name | Alfredo James Pacino |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 April 1940 (age 86) |
| Place of birth | East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City |
| Occupation | Actor, director |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | 1967-present |
| Known for | The Godfather, Scarface, Heat, Scent of a Woman |
| Training | HB Studio and the Actors Studio |
| Nickname | Sonny, his childhood nickname and the title of his memoir |
Career History
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | The Panic in Needle Park | Bobby |
| 1972 | The Godfather | Michael Corleone |
| 1973 | Serpico | Frank Serpico |
| 1975 | Dog Day Afternoon | Sonny Wortzik |
| 1983 | Scarface | Tony Montana |
| 1992 | Scent of a Woman | Frank Slade |
| 1993 | Carlito's Way | Carlito Brigante |
| 1995 | Heat | Vincent Hanna |
| 1997 | Donnie Brasco | Lefty Ruggiero |
| 2019 | The Irishman | Jimmy Hoffa |
| 2025 | Dead Man's Wire | M.L. Hall |
| 2026 | Killing Castro | Robert Maheu |
Years are first release or premiere dates. Dead Man's Wire premiered at Venice in 2025 and opened in US cinemas in January 2026; Killing Castro premiered at Tribeca in June 2026.
From the Bronx to the Stage
Born in East Harlem, Pacino grew up in the South Bronx and studied at New York's High School of Performing Arts. He trained at HB Studio under Charlie Laughton, who became his mentor, and later studied method acting under Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio. He won an Obie in 1968 for The Indian Wants the Bronx and a Tony a year later for his Broadway debut in Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?
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Michael Corleone and the 1970s
After The Panic in Needle Park (1971), Francis Ford Coppola cast him as Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972). It earned his first Oscar nomination and began one of cinema's great runs: Serpico, The Godfather Part II and Dog Day Afternoon, with an Oscar nomination for each. BAFTA named him Best Actor in 1976 for Part II and Dog Day Afternoon, and in 1977 he picked up a second Tony for The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel.
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Scarface, Heat and the Oscar at Last
Brian De Palma's Scarface (1983) gave the world Tony Montana. After Sea of Love (1989) and a nomination for Dick Tracy (1990), in 1992 he earned two nominations in the same year - Supporting Actor for Glengarry Glen Ross and Best Actor for Scent of a Woman, which finally won him the Oscar. Carlito's Way, Donnie Brasco and his legendary face-off with Robert De Niro in Michael Mann's Heat (1995) followed.
Later Career and Latest News
Television brought new acclaim, with Emmys for Angels in America (2004) and You Don't Know Jack (2010). Martin Scorsese's The Irishman (2019) earned him a ninth Oscar nomination, followed by House of Gucci and the series Hunters. In October 2024 he published Sonny Boy, a warmly received memoir. He played mortgage broker M.L. Hall in Dead Man's Wire, Robert Maheu in Killing Castro, and has filmed the title role in Bernard Rose's King Lear adaptation Lear Rex, still awaiting release.
Awards
Film
- Academy Award, Best Actor: Scent of a Woman (1992), from nine nominations
- BAFTA Best Actor: The Godfather Part II and Dog Day Afternoon (1976)
- Golden Globes: Serpico and Scent of a Woman, plus the Cecil B. DeMille Award (2001)
Stage and Television
- Tony Awards: 1969 and 1977
- Primetime Emmys: Angels in America (2004) and You Don't Know Jack (2010)
Lifetime Honours
- Venice Career Golden Lion (1994)
- AFI Life Achievement Award (2007)
- National Medal of Arts (2011)
- Kennedy Center Honors (2016)
Away From the Spotlight
Pacino has been co-president of the Actors Studio, the school that shaped him, since 1995. Theatre remains his first love, and his directing work includes Looking for Richard, Chinese Coffee and Wilde Salome.
FAQs
How old is Al Pacino?
Al Pacino was born on 25 April 1940, so he is 86 years old as of October 2026.
What is Al Pacino's real name?
His full name is Alfredo James Pacino. Growing up he was known as Sonny, which became the title of his 2024 memoir.
Where was Al Pacino born?
He was born in East Harlem, Manhattan, and grew up in the South Bronx in New York City.
How many Oscars has Al Pacino won?
One. He won Best Actor for Scent of a Woman at the 1993 ceremony, from nine career nominations.
What is Al Pacino's latest film?
Killing Castro, which premiered at the Tribeca Festival in June 2026. Lear Rex is still awaiting release.
Shop the Al Pacino Collection
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Explore more legends in our Hollywood Icons collection and Movie Stars collection, or make it personal with our Custom Name Men's Hoodie.
Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: The Godfather: The Trilogy, the Cast and the Oscars and Heat (1995) Film Story: Pacino, De Niro and the Road to Heat 2.
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