Al Pacino is a screen legend who has portrayed a diverse array of characters in a career that has spanned decades. He is the son of Italian American parents who divorced when he was very young. He turned to acting as a way to ameliorate the sufferings of his youth.

After studying at the prestigious Lee Strasberg's Studio, Pacino eventually found his way into the graces of upcoming director Francis Ford Coppola. In the 1972 classic film, The Godfather, Pacino starred as Michael Corleone, the son of one of New York's most feared crime bosses. Throughout the rest of the 1970s, Pacino earned a number of Academy Awards.

His brusque, acerbic style vividly portrayed characters in films like Serpico and Glengarry Glen Ross. In 1983, Pacino starred in a very defining role as the Cuban gangster Scarface. This 'anti-hero' movie, which was a remake of a 1932 film of the same name, went on to profoundly influence urban gangster culture. During the 1980s, Pacino disappeared from the Hollywood film scene to return to his first love, stage plays. Towards the end of the decade, he reemerged as a screen presence.

In 1992, he starred as Lt. Colonel Slade in the touching movie, Scent of a Woman. This story follows the odessey of a young prep school teen's journey to adulthood. Throughout his career, Pacino has remained best known for intense, gritty performances.