Al Pacino's near-death Covid battle: A personal revival

Al Pacino, the 84-year-old actor famed for his iconic role in "The Godfather," opened up about his dramatic struggle with COVID-19 when his pulse stopped and paramedics urgently worked to revive him. In an interview with "The New York Times Magazine," the actor recounted the moment he lost consciousness, stating, "I was sitting there in my house, and I was gone, like that."

Pacino described how his condition worsened rapidly after he began feeling "unusually bad." He suffered from a fever and dehydration and eventually fainted. One of his staff members called a nurse, but before help arrived, his life was hanging by a thread. "I didn’t have a pulse,," the actor revealed. "In a matter of minutes they were there — the ambulance in front of my house. I had about six paramedics in that living room, and there were two doctors, and they had these outfits on that looked like they were from outer space or something," he added.

Despite this traumatic event that might have scared many, Pacino claims he is not afraid of death. "It's natural, I guess, to have a different view of death as you get older," he explained. He also mentioned that having children provides him comfort, and he values the legacy of film roles he has achieved.

Contrary to the common belief about the complicated lives of movie stars, Pacino reveals that he is no different from ordinary people when it comes to spending time on a movie set. What does he do while waiting for the next scene? He confessed to watching YouTube and TikTok! He especially enjoys videos about rescue dogs and emotional stories, like the one about a deaf girl regaining her hearing.

He is preparing to play the title role in Shakespeare's King Lear. He was recently seen in royal attire on the streets of Los Angeles, and his fans eagerly await the premiere of this play.

In the latest interview, Pacino did not shy away from recalling the more challenging periods of his life, including financial troubles that forced him to accept a role in "Jack and Jill." As he revealed, it all started when he learned of fraud by his then-financial adviser, Kenneth Starr, who defrauded him and other clients of $33 million. Starr went to prison, and Pacino had to pay $188,000 back in taxes.

Despite these difficulties, Pacino can count on the support of his 30-year-old partner, Noor Alfallah, with whom he welcomed a son in 2023. The couple recently celebrated her birthday, and a video of the occasion appeared on Instagram. The actor has four children: daughter Julie Marie, twins Anton and Olivia, and his youngest, Roman.