Captivating Close-Up: Al Pacino

Alfredo James "Al" Pacino (born April 25, 1940) is an American film and stage actor and director.

He is best known for his roles as Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Sonny Wortzik in Dog Day Afternoon, Tony Montana in Scarface, Carlito Brigante in the 1993 film Carlito's Way, Frank Serpico in Serpico, Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade in Scent of a Woman, and Roy Cohn in Angels in America.

Early on in his career, Pacino acted in basement plays in New York's theatrical underground, and then joined the Herbert Berghof Studio, where he met acting teacher Charlie Laughton, who became his mentor and best friend. During this period, he was frequently unemployed and homeless, and sometimes had to sleep on the street, in theaters or at friends' houses.

He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1992 for his role in Scent of a Woman after receiving seven previous nominations.