Pacino, Al

Pacino, Al (Alberto Pacino) (puchē'nō) [key], 1940–, American actor, b. New York City, studied at the Herbert Berghof Studio and the Actors Studio, New York City. Known for his intense, finely tuned performances, he achieved his first successes on the New York stage, winning an Obie for his work in the off-Broadway The Indian Wants the Bronx (1968) and a Tony for his Broadway debut in Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie? (1969). Moving to Hollywood, Pacino became a major star with his portrayal of Mafia heir Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972) and its 1974 and 1990 sequels. He returned to Broadway (1977) to star in The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel, for which he was awarded a second Tony. Dark, wiry, and high-strung, the actor has won acclaim and occasional criticism for the forceful expressiveness, sometimes bordering on flamboyance, of his many performances. Other significant films include The Panic in Needle Park (1971), Serpico (1973), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Cruising (1980), Scarface (1983), Sea of Love (1989), Scent of a Woman (1993; Academy Award), City Hall (1996), The Insider (1999), and Insomnia (2002).

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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