Al Pacino has shared a glimpse into what he believes was the afterlife following a moment where his heart stopped beating for several minutes. The 84-year-old iconic actor, known for his roles in films like the Godfather trilogy, Scarface, and Heat, revealed that his pulse momentarily ceased after he fell ill with Covid-19 in 2020, but was fortunately revived by six paramedics and two doctors.
In his upcoming memoir, Sonny Boy, Pacino delved deeper into the experience during a recent interview. Describing how he felt “unusually not good” while battling fever and dehydration, he recounted the moment where he felt himself slipping away, stating, “I was sitting there in my house, and I was gone. Like that, I didn’t have a pulse.” According to The New York Times, Pacino reflected on the aftermath, sharing his thoughts on the ethereal state he found himself in, commenting, “It was so: you’re here, you’re not. I thought, ‘Wow, you don’t even have your memories. You have nothing. Strange porridge.”
While Pacino acknowledged not seeing the stereotypical ‘white light’ often associated with near-death experiences, he expressed uncertainty about whether he truly crossed over to the other side, despite a nurse’s assertion that he had indeed lost his pulse. Speaking to People, Pacino pondered, “I thought I experienced death. I might not have… I don’t think I died. Everybody thought I was dead. How could I be dead? If I was dead, I fainted.”
The actor went on to describe the surreal scene of being surrounded by paramedics donned in protective gear due to the ongoing pandemic, recalling the moment he regained consciousness and heard the words, “He’s back. He’s here.”
Earlier this year, Pacino found himself in the spotlight once again for his Oscars appearance where he announced the winner for Best Picture. Despite causing some confusion by immediately naming the winning film, Oppenheimer, without listing the other nominees beforehand, Pacino later clarified that it was a producer’s decision not to individually mention each film before the announcement.
Pacino’s memoir, Sonny Boy, which promises insights into his childhood and his time on film sets, is set for release in the UK on 15th October.