Legendary actor Al Pacino recently recalled his harrowing near-death experience while battling COVID-19, a story he shares in his upcoming memoir, Sonny Boy. In a candid interview, Pacino revealed shocking details about his illness, admitting that during his bout with the virus, he “didn’t have a pulse” and thought he had died, as reported by People.
Pacino vividly described the moment he believed his life was over. “I thought I was dead. Everyone thought I was dead. But then I opened my eyes and saw six paramedics in my living room, an ambulance outside, and doctors dressed like they were on Mars,” the Godfather star recounted. His assistant, Michael Quinn, realized something was terribly wrong and quickly called for medical assistance after Pacino’s nurse was unable to find his pulse.
Reflecting on the experience, Pacino quoted Shakespeare’s Hamlet, pondering life and mortality: “To be or not to be… And then he says, ‘No more.’ Well, it’s not. I don’t know, who knows?” The Oscar-winning actor added that despite going through such a life-altering event, he doesn’t feel fundamentally changed, saying, “Not at all.”
As the star of iconic films like The Godfather and House of Gucci, Pacino’s near-death encounter during the pandemic has left fans with a deeper appreciation for his resilience and upcoming memoir, which promises more revelations from his extraordinary life.