Al Pacino Opens Up About His ‘Shocking’ Near-Death Experience After Battling COVID-19
"Reflecting on Life, Mortality, and the Unforgettable Lessons Learned from His Battle with COVID-19"
In a candid revelation, the legendary actor reflects on his health scare, life perspectives, and the profound lessons learned from a near-fatal encounter with the virus.
Al Pacino is sharing a deeply personal account of his near-death experience after contracting COVID-19 in 2020, a moment that profoundly altered his outlook on life. The 84-year-old actor, known for his iconic roles in films such as The Godfather and Scarface, recounted his harrowing ordeal ahead of the release of his upcoming memoir, Sonny Boy.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Pacino described how his illness began with a persistent feeling of unease, followed by a fever and dehydration. “I felt not good — unusually not good. Then I had a fever,” he explained. Concerned for his health, he enlisted the help of a nurse to hydrate him, but things took a drastic turn.
“I was sitting in my house one moment, and the next I was ‘gone,’” Pacino recalled. “I didn’t have a pulse.” Within minutes, an ambulance arrived at his home, with six paramedics and two doctors rushing to his aid. “It was kind of shocking to open your eyes and see that,” he shared, reflecting on the surreal nature of the moment.
The actor noted the disorienting experience of being on the brink of death. “It was so — you’re here, you’re not. I thought: ‘Wow, you don’t even have your memories. You have nothing. Strange porridge,’” he said, emphasizing the weight of that realization.
Pacino’s assistant, Michael Quinn, was instrumental in calling for help when he noticed something was wrong. Despite the severity of the situation, Pacino is clear in his conviction: “I don’t think I died. Everybody thought I was dead. How could I be dead?”
When asked if the experience has shifted his perspective on life, Pacino expressed a sense of continuity rather than change. “Not at all,” he stated, but went on to elaborate on the philosophical implications of his brush with death. “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.’ It was no more. You’re gone.”
Despite the somber reflections, Pacino finds solace in his illustrious career and family life. He acknowledges the comfort that his legacy and children bring him. “Yes, and having children is a consolation,” he affirmed, noting the natural shift in perspective about mortality as one ages. “It’s just the way it is. I didn’t ask for it. Just comes, like a lot of things just come.”
In 2023, Pacino welcomed his fourth child, Roman, with his 30-year-old girlfriend, producer Noor Alfallah. He also has three other children: a 34-year-old daughter with acting coach Jan Tarrant, and 23-year-old twins Anton and Olivia with actress Beverly D’Angelo.
As he prepares to share more of his journey in Sonny Boy, Al Pacino’s candidness about his health scare serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring strength found in family and creativity.
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