Al Pacino Shines As A Dedicated Father Despite His Own Dad Abandoning Him

Aug 04, 2022 by apost team

Actor Al Pacino has enjoyed a decades-long career. The 83- year old now basks in the spotlight as one of Hollywood's mainstays, having forged a path from a humble beginning in 1940s New York. Pacino lived with his mother and his maternal grandparents in the Bronx after his parents divorced. His father, Sal Pacino, moved across the country to work in California. This relocation perhaps played a role in Pacino’s decisions in life, especially once he became a parent himself. 

But before he could find love, Pacino had to find fame, and that journey would take years. In love with the stage from a young age, Pacino began acting in basement plays in New York. His struggle was intense, and Pacino was at times unemployed and even homeless. Pacino’s effects paid off, and his stage career was, eventually, bountiful, but the money still wasn’t always there. 

The actor redirected his talent to the big screen, auditioning for roles in film and television. He landed a role in “The Panic in the Needle Park” in 1971, grabbing the attention of film director Francis Ford Coppola. This was a turning point in Pacino’s career, as it led him to play Michael Corleone in “The Godfather” the following year. The movie became a blockbuster success, leading to a handful of follow-up films and projects, with Pacino reprising his role in each. He made another career-defining moment with his performance in “Scarface” in 1983.

Now in his mid-80s, the seasoned actor is miraculously still working. In a 2013 National Post interview, Pacino said earnestly, “It's actually more fun now." 

He continued, touching upon the level of reflection and the depth of knowledge he enjoys now as a master of his craft. "I’ve learned more about film and theater, and so much variety has come into my life as I got older. I’ve had revelations and great insights that I didn't have back then.” Pacino also spoke on his motivation and his choice of roles, saying, "As long as I can find within myself to feel excited by something or challenged, that to me is all I need."

While Pacino has reached a point in his acting career where he can cherry-pick roles and go wherever "ice cream" is offered backstage, he has not seen this same success reflected in his personal life. 

With such a long-lasting career, it may have seemed impossible for Pacino to find time for romance, much less a family. However, despite the demands of a Hollywood schedule, Pacino learned to strike a work-life balance. While he never got married, Pacino has had a few serious relationships over the years and fathered three wonderful children. 

His first daughter, Julie Marie Pacino, was born in 1989 to Pacino and her mother, Jan Tarrant, an acting coach. Later in his life, Pacino was in a serious relationship with actress Beverly D’Angelo from 1997 until 2003. The couple welcomed twins Anton James and Olivia Rose on Jan. 25, 2001. D'Angelo is most famous for being an actress in both film and television series, with a handful of award nominations. She is also known for being a singer. Her big break came from a leading role in "National Lampoon's Vacation," starring alongside Chevy Chase.

apost.com

As with most Hollywood families, Pacino's children struggled at times with the amount of exposure that came with a famous father. When Anton James and Olivia Rose were younger, it was hard for them to adjust to their father's fame, Pacino explained in a 2015 interview with The Guardian. They could not go to certain places with their father without being recognized. 

Despite those difficulties, Pacino vowed to be a better father than his dad. "I guess I was a sort of lonely child," Pacino said of his rough childhood in a 1983 interview with ABC News. That's likely why he has made a stronger effort to be present in the lives of his three children. Since the twins, Pacino hasn't had a steady partner but has remained a dedicated father to his blended family. 

That is until Pacino met now-girlfriend, Noor Alfallah. Pacino and Alfallah have quite the age gap – the former is 83 years old while the latter is 28 years old. Despite this, the pair have continued to spend quality time together and develop their relationship.

According to Page Six, the couple has been together for a while. Alfallah comes from a wealthy family and was previously linked to Mick Jagger, Nicolas Berggruen and Clint Eastwood – although she said the latter was a family friend. In April 2022, Pacino and Alfallah were spotted together at a group dinner following an art exhibition. Fellow actor Jason Momoa uploaded photos of the occasion on his Instagram, showing the couple sitting next to each other.

According to the Daily Mail, Pacino and Alfallah celebrated the former’s birthday later that month at an Italian restaurant in West Hollywood. A source said that the age difference is not a “problem” for the couple, even though Pacino is older than Alfallah’s father. They have continued to lead a relatively private relationship. 

Privacy and family seem to continue to be a balancing act for the actor. His fame changes not only his but his family's ability to interact within and with the general public. On his own experience, Pacino said, "I haven't been in a grocery store or subway for years," which is a far cry for a boy who grew up in the Bronx. The actor continued, explaining how this separate existence affects his family, saying, "It's hard for my children to go out publicly with me."

To some extent, the internet age has driven this change. "Fame is different now than it was 20 years ago," Pacino asserted. "I don't know what the hell it is now! If I have a rare time of being somewhere and not being recognized, it's a luxury." However, despite continuously dodging paparazzi, Pacino has managed to shield his family from prying eyes and provide for them something of a normal life. 

Part of what makes the actor so serious about his responsibility as a dad is his lack of a relationship with his own father. On his dad's influence over his own parenting, Pacino said, "The conclusion of my teachers was that I needed a dad."

Pacino continued, touching on how his parent's split affected his rowdy upbringing, "I wasn't an out-of-control teenager, but I was close. My parents divorced when I was two and my father wasn't in my life from then. I wanted to be different with my children. I wanted to be responsible to them, so I divide my time between two coasts."

The actor also opened up about how his children have made him a more balanced individual. Speaking about the empathy and compassion he has learned as a parent, Pacino said, "Kids changed my perspective. Before I had my three, I'd walk around in my own head, not noticing anything. Acting used to be everything; now, because of them, it's just a small part."

The father of three even went as far as to say that he embraces the mistakes he has made with regard to his children. Pacino elaborated, saying, "I'll tell you why — out of mistakes, and I've made plenty, I've learned. Mistakes aren't quite mistakes, unless you slip off a roof. Then you can't come back." It is heartwarming to hear that Pacino is able to reflect, forgive, learn and move forward with building healthy relationships with his children.

Pacino's two daughters have since become incredibly involved online and in the public eye, while his son has opted for a different kind of lifestyle. Pacino's son Anton hasn’t completely stepped out into the spotlight and has become just as strikingly handsome as his father. Maybe the two will team up for one last film. 

What's your favorite Al Pacino movie? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family, and "Godfather" fans!