Veteran actor Al Pacino has revealed he gave up booze and drugs after suffering "blackouts" which affected his memory and made him "nervous" about his health.
Al Pacino gave up booze and drugs after suffering terrifying "blackouts".
The 84-year-old actor turned to alcohol and substance abuse after struggling to cope with life in the spotlight but he's been sober for decades and he's now revealed he realised it was time for him to quit when his lifestyle choices started to affect his memory.
He told PEOPLE: "I started to forget things at a very young age - they called them blackouts, so I got nervous."
Pacino added that he initially tried enrolling in Alcoholics Anonymous, but didn't find the support system helpful so his pal Charlie Laughton acted in a sponsor role for him.
He added: "I went to AA for a while. It's a great place, but it was not for me ... [Being supported by Charlie] that helped me."
Pacino recounts stories from his life in Hollywood in his new memoir 'Sonny Boy' which is released this month, and 'The Godfather' star revealed he wrote the book partly as a record for his four children.
He told the publication: "It was due. I’m in my 85th year. When you get there and you start experiencing age, you understand why they do put things down."
Pacino is dad to Julie, 34, with Jan Tarrant, 23-year-old twins Anton and Olivia with actress Beverly D’Angelo and son Roman, 16 months with film producer Noor Alfallah.
It comes amid reports the actor recently split from girlfriend Alfallah a year after they welcomed their son.
The pair met in 2010 and their relationship deepened during the COVID-19 lockdowns – with Roman arriving in June 2023.
When asked about their relationship by PEOPLE, Pacino insisted he is currently unattached, saying: "No. I have friendship."
A representative for the actor clarified to the outlet that the pair are now platonic, adding: “Al and Noor are very good friends, have been for years, and are co-parents to their son Roman."
On the same day that Glastonbury welcomed back Margate's adopted sons, The Libertines, Margate itself put on it's very own Leisure Festival as it...
Oasis fans hoping to get tickets for the band's reunion shows are being asked a trivia question to secure access to a pre-sale ballot.
Sheffield's very own all girl group Pretty Fierce are still on a high after the recent release of their debut single - 'Ready For Me'.
Three nights before the end of his current tour Will Varley returned to his home town of Deal to delight a sold out crowd in The Astor Theatre.
With only a few days to go before Portsmouth based songstress and producer WYSE releases her new single, 'Belladonna', we caught up with her to find...
Colorado raised, Glasgow educated and Manchester based Bay Bryan is nothing if not a multi-talented, multi-faceted artist performing as both...
Former Marigolds band member Keelan Cunningham has rediscovered his love of music with his new solo project Keelan X.
Wiltshire singer-songwriter Luke De Sciscio, formally known as Folk Boy, is set to release is latest album - 'The Banquet' via AntiFragile Music on...
Ben Cahill is an ambitious lawyer with an overwhelming urge to see justice for those...
To most that see him, Manglehorn isn't exactly an enigma, he's a quiet man who...
1970s rocker Danny Collins (Al Pacino) has earned a reputation for himself as a sell-out....
"All the world's a stage, and the men and women merely players". Or so thinks...
Frankly, if you put Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin in your movie, you...
Having hatched an evil plot to steal the moon in the first movie, Gru appears...
Doc is lifelong criminal who goes to meet his best friend Val when he leaves...
Following the evil schemes of Gru in 'Despicable Me' involving the hijacking of the moon...
Jack Sadelstein loves his family. He loves his wife, Erin and he loves his two...
Jonathan is a young cop with a loving wife and small daughter. He enjoys his...
Watch the trailer for 88 Minutes.Any person who is tasked with giving crucial evidence in...
Robert De Niro and Al Pacino -- has there ever been a better acting team?...
Oceans Thirteen Trailer StreamWhat are the odds of getting even?Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and the...
To say that Al Pacino chews the scenery as Tony Montana, Cuban drug lord par...