Al Pacino recently opened up about a harrowing experience during the pandemic, revealing that he had a near-death episode after contracting COVID-19 back in 2020.
The 84-year-old actor, known for his iconic roles in “Scarface” and “The Godfather”, shared his story during an interview with “People”, as he promoted his new memoir, “Sonny Boy”. While recounting the surreal episode, Pacino reflected on his brush with mortality in a way only he could.
“I thought I experienced death. I might not have. I don’t think I have, really. I know I made it,” Pacino told the outlet, capturing the uncertainty of the moment. He went on, describing a chaotic scene that unfolded in his living room. “Everybody thought I was dead. How could I be dead? If I was dead, I fainted,” he said. Pacino vividly remembered opening his eyes to find himself surrounded by six paramedics, an ambulance parked outside, and doctors decked out in full protective gear—like they were on Mars. “I looked around and I thought, ‘What happened to me?’”
It was a surreal scene, one that seemed straight out of a movie script. But it wasn’t a script—this was real life. Pacino’s assistant, Michael Quinn, had sprung into action after a nurse who was caring for the actor couldn’t detect a pulse. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Quinn quickly called for emergency help. “[Quinn] got the people coming, because the nurse that was taking care of me said, ‘I don’t feel a pulse on this guy,’” Pacino recounted.
Despite the terrifying ordeal, Pacino was remarkably unfazed about facing death. When asked if the experience changed his outlook on life, he simply replied, “No, not at all.” For him, it was more of a surreal episode than a life-altering revelation.
In a separate conversation with “The New York Times”, Pacino offered a more philosophical take. Referencing Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, he reflected, “I didn’t see the white light or anything. There’s nothing there.
As Hamlet says, ‘To be or not to be’; ‘The undiscovered country from whose bourn, no traveler returns.’ And he says two words: ‘No more.’ It was no more.” For the actor, it seems the encounter with mortality served as a moment of contemplation rather than a grand revelation. “You’re gone. I’d never thought about it in my life. But you know actors: It sounds good to say I died once. What is it when there’s no more?”
Beyond his reflections on life and death, Pacino has also stayed in the headlines for other reasons. In 2023, he welcomed a child with a 29-year-old woman, a relationship that led to a child support agreement of $30,000 per month.
Despite the buzz around his late-in-life fatherhood, Pacino has embraced this new chapter. “It’s very special. It always has been. I’ve got many kids. But this is really special coming at this time,” he shared about becoming a father again in his 80s.
Even at this stage of his life, Pacino remains as intriguing and complex as ever—a legendary actor who continues to captivate audiences, whether through his timeless performances or his candid reflections on the mysteries of life.
