In his newly released memoir, “Sonny Boy,” Hollywood icon Al Pacino shares the ups and downs of his remarkable life with both enthusiasm and honesty. Here are some of the more surprising insights from the book.
When Penguin secured the rights to Pacino’s memoir for $5 million back in 2022, it sparked a discussion about the actual value of celebrity autobiographies, especially in an age where stars often share their personal stories on social media for free. However, it appears that narratives from actors who tend to maintain a level of privacy still hold significant allure. Pacino’s memoir, which hit the shelves last week, has already made a splash in the literary world, debuting at No. 9 on the Bookseller’s bestseller list and generating impressive sales across newspaper syndication.
The audiobook version is also thriving, thanks in large part to Pacino’s characteristic spirited narration. Spanning over 300 pages, it offers listeners a substantial experience at nearly 12.5 hours long (the French audiobook, narrated by someone else, runs about two hours shorter).
“Sonny Boy” is both candid and unfiltered, focusing less on his romantic escapades and more on his gritty upbringing in the Bronx during the 1940s. Here are some of the most intriguing revelations from the memoir:
Pacino reveals he’s “still haunted” by a childhood injury—a painful incident at age 10 when he slipped while tap-dancing along a fence and was struck by an iron bar. The pain was so intense that a passerby had to carry him to his aunt’s house, where female relatives anxiously examined the injury. Remarkably, he shares that the trauma has lingered even as he confirms, “It remained attached.” Four years later, he narrowly escaped a similar fate, trapped under thin ice during another whimsical adventure.
In discussing his drug use, Pacino surprises with his claim of having never tried cocaine, stating, “It may surprise you to know I’ve never touched the stuff.” While he acknowledges experimenting with Valium and other substances, he was deeply affected by the loss of close friends to heroin overdoses, including his mother, who died of an overdose when he was merely 22 years old.
Pacino has long been an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. He recalls being unwilling to film a scene in “Dog Day Afternoon” where his character’s transgender lover emerges dressed as Marilyn Monroe during a bank heist, calling it “absurd.” Additionally, he donated his earnings from “Cruising” to LGBTQ+ organizations because he felt the film exploited the community.
In a humorous twist, he shares a memory of inadvertently insulting Jacqueline Kennedy. After a performance of “Richard III,” he found himself meeting her unexpectedly and committed a social blunder that left him questioning his manners.
Another shocking story involves a near-kidnapping by a fan. After a night out, a woman offered him a ride but soon revealed her intentions: “I’m kidnapping you.” Thanks to his upbringing in the Bronx, he knew how to escape dangerous situations, and he cleverly managed to convince her to drive him back home.
Pacino reflects on financial missteps throughout his career, including a time when he was saved from bankruptcy by Diane Keaton. After earning just $35,000 for “The Godfather,” he found himself in debt and relying on her support. As their relationship deepened, she insisted on taking him to his lawyer, calling him out for his poor financial handling.
Years later, another financial crisis struck in the mid-2000s, leading to a moment where Adam Sandler helped revive Pacino’s career by offering him a role in “Jack and Jill,” a project he took on simply because he needed the work after a significant financial downturn.
Pacino credits the hip-hop generation for bringing his film “Scarface” back to life, noting how its popularity among rappers continues to provide him with financial support despite its initial underwhelming release.
Interestingly, he shares that Quentin Tarantino didn’t see his value in the “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” cutting his substantial dialogue down to just two minutes, and he notably passed on the role of Han Solo in “Star Wars,” finding the script hard to comprehend.
Despite being an octogenarian, Pacino finds joy in fatherhood with his 16-month-old son, Roman, saying it brings him laughter. In conversations about their relationship, he cheekily mentions their interactions are mostly digital: “He does text me from time to time.”
When reflecting on the nature of actors, he expresses a heartfelt appreciation, asserting, “I know they call ’em crazy, self-centered, all that stuff… How foul.”
As for selfie culture, he’s open to it but maintains a humorous stance on his appearance, stating that just because someone wants a photo doesn’t mean they see the aging process at play.
On a somber note, Pacino recounts a harrowing experience when he contracted COVID-19 early in the pandemic and was temporarily unresponsive. “I believe I experienced death that day,” he writes, sharing his belief that there’s nothing beyond this life. “You’re here, then you’re not.”
