From the Bronx slum to a cinema legend, Al Pacino celebrates his 85th birthday

One of the greatest actors in film history, Alfredo James Pacino, known to the world as Al Pacino, turned 85.

With a career spanning more than five decades, Pacino remains a symbol of the extraordinary acting talent and inimitable charisma that has marked not only American but also world cinema.

He was born on April 25, 1940, in New York City, to Salvatore Pacino, an Italian, and Rosa Gerard, an American. His parents divorced when he was two years old, after which Pacino moved with his mother to the poor neighborhood of the Bronx, to live with his grandparents, who were originally from Sicily.

His love for acting developed early, where he honed his skills at the famous Actors Studio under the direction of Lee Strasberg, who would later star with him in the cult film "The Godfather Part II."

His rise began in 1972 with the role of Michael Corleone in “The Godfather,” a masterful film adaptation of Mario Puzo’s novel, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The role earned him his first Oscar nomination and forever changed his life, as well as the history of cinema. In the following years, he starred in “Serpico” (1973), “The Godfather Part II” (1974), “Dog Day Afternoon” (1975) and “…And Justice for All” (1979), making him the face of a new generation of American cinema.

After a somewhat quieter period in the 1980s, Pacino made a triumphant return as Tony Montana in the film “Scarface” (1983), which became a cult classic and a favorite reference in pop culture. In 1992, he finally won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as the blind colonel in the film “Scent of a Woman.”

Pacino has excelled in a variety of genres throughout his career, from gangster epics to courtroom dramas and psychological thrillers. His roles in films such as “Carlito's Way,” “Heat” (in which he found himself for the first time side-by-side with Robert De Niro in the same scene), “Donnie Brasco,” “The Insider,” to “The Irishman” and “House of Gucci,” demonstrate his versatility and lifelong passion for acting.

In addition to film, Pacino had a distinguished career in theater, winning two Tony Awards. His respect for Shakespeare and classical literature is also evident through projects like “Looking for Richard.”

For generations of actors and film fans, Pacino remains a role model and inspiration.