Al Pacino recalls how his mother ‘saved his life’ before her fatal overdose as he credits her with his Oscar-winning career

Al Pacino recalls how his mother 'saved his life' before her fatal overdose as he credits her with his Oscar-winning career

As a lifestyle expert with a deep appreciation for stories of resilience and personal growth, I find Al Pacino’s memoir, Sonny Boy, to be an inspiring testament to the power of love, determination, and the indomitable human spirit. Raised amidst adversity in The Bronx, Pacino’s journey from a baby left in his mother’s care by his father to an acclaimed actor is nothing short of extraordinary.


In his recently published memoir, Sonny Boy, Al Pacino shares insights about the impact his deceased mother had on his successful acting career that earned him an Oscar.

Born in The Bronx and brought up by his mother Rose, as well as his grandparents following his parents’ separation, the current 84-year-old Godfather actor attributes his passion for films to the influence that love had on shaping his professional destiny.

As a person who’s walked a challenging path marked by addiction struggles, I recall my dear Rose – who stood by me even during difficult times such as her attempts on her own life when I was six and the tragic overdose that occurred at age 22. It was while preparing an acceptance speech for my Oscar win in 1992 for Scent of a Woman that I truly understood the depth of my gratitude for having had her in my life.

In his writing titled Sonny Boy, he expressed in The New Yorker excerpt that at age 52, while gazing into the mirror, he pondered whom to thank during an acceptance speech. He then realized that it was his mother who kept him from a life of delinquency, violence, and heroin addiction, for whom he should express gratitude.

1. In that manner, I unfortunately lost three friends. My mother may not have been strictly monitoring me, but she kept track of my whereabouts, ultimately saving my life.

Al Pacino recalls how his mother 'saved his life' before her fatal overdose as he credits her with his Oscar-winning career

Al Pacino recalls how his mother 'saved his life' before her fatal overdose as he credits her with his Oscar-winning career

Additionally, he shared insights into Rose’s battles with mental health, disclosing that she would seek help from a psychiatrist whenever her grandfather was financially able.

“Let me share something personal, I hadn’t realized my mom was grappling with issues until a specific day when I was six, eagerly preparing for an afternoon of play.”

While my mom was tying my shoelaces and pulling a sweater over me in the kitchen, I observed her tears falling.

I found myself puzzled, unsure of what was going on, yet hesitant to ask. She kept showing affection towards me in various ways, and just as I was about to depart, she gave me a hearty hug. It felt strange, but I was eager to connect with the other children and so I didn’t give it much further consideration.

At that moment, he remembered being outdoors by his grandparents’ residence. Suddenly, he spotted a disturbance close by. Not long after, he discovered that his mother was right in the midst of it all.

Right outside the building, an ambulance was parked, and from the front entrance, my mother emerged, being carefully transported on a stretcher. It turned out she had tried to take her own life.

In the book, Pacino recalls that his mother sparked his love for cinema by taking him, a passion that blossomed into acting. However, their views on his chosen career path later differed, leading to disagreements and ultimately causing him to move out.

Even though he didn’t complete conventional schooling, he managed to gain admission into the High School of Performing Arts following a successful audition.

Al Pacino recalls how his mother 'saved his life' before her fatal overdose as he credits her with his Oscar-winning career
Al Pacino recalls how his mother 'saved his life' before her fatal overdose as he credits her with his Oscar-winning career

Following Rose’s drug overdose, Pacino found it hard to believe it was another suicide attempt because there was no suicide note left behind.

Some individuals speculated that her disappearance might be due to a past suicide attempt she made approximately fifteen years prior, yet there was no farewell message found. Her abrupt departure remains unexplained, thus, I’ve consistently marked her passing with a query symbol.

Previously, the actor who played Scarface attributed his turbulent teenage years to his father Sal leaving him at the tender age of two. He expressed this by stating: “My teachers concluded that what I really needed was a father figure.”

Sal left the Hollywood star and his mother after the couple split. 

After several attempts, Sal ended up getting married five times. In an interview with Esquire in 2003, Pacino noted: “What does this mean? He enjoyed married life, right? So, what does it indicate to me? We are creatures of habit.”

For three decades, Sal worked as an insurance salesman. Later on, he switched careers and took up being a restaurateur, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Al Pacino recalls how his mother 'saved his life' before her fatal overdose as he credits her with his Oscar-winning career
Al Pacino recalls how his mother 'saved his life' before her fatal overdose as he credits her with his Oscar-winning career

He owned Covina restaurant and bar Pacino’s Lounge, just outside of LA, until he retired in 1991. 

Sal’s fifth wife was actress Katherin Kovin-Pacino. he died of a heart attack in 2005.

The memoir came out at a time when Pacino was praised as an exceptional father by his partner, Noor Alfallah, aged 30, who welcomed his child last year.

In addition to AI, there are three other kids he takes care of – Olivia Pacino and Anton James Pacino who are twins aged 22, born from a relationship with Beverly D’Angelo, and Julie Pacino, aged 33, who was born to Jan Tarrant.

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2024-08-29 06:19

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