Who

Widely considered one of the greatest actors of his generation, Pacino's got an Oscar sitting on his mantle to prove it.

Backstory

Raised by his grandparents in the South Bronx, Pacino acted in school plays before heading off to study under the legendary Lee Strasberg. He nabbed an Obie for his 1966 role in the off-Broadway show The Indian Wants the Bronx, and as a virtual unknown beat out Robert Redford, Warren Beatty, and Robert De Niro for the highly coveted role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather. It was Pacino's big break, and he followed up with the similarly-gritty Serpico in 1973 and Dog Day Afternoon in 1975, before appearing in what may be his most famous role: Tony Montana in Scarface.

Pacino's career faltered in the mid-'80s when he starred in the critically-detested historical epic Revolution. He dropped off the film radar for four years, during which he focused on off-Broadway productions. He finally returned to the big screen in 1989, playing opposite Ellen Barkin in the crime drama Sea of Love. The early '90s saw Pacino earn two Academy Award nominations—one for Dick Tracy and the other for David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross—and he went on to win an Oscar for 1992's Scent of a Woman. Now in his late 60s, Pacino has played the aging mentor in several of his more recent films, including Any Given Sunday, Insomnia with Hilary Swank, and The Recruit.

Of note

Despite having performed in more than 45 films, and starred in nine Broadway shows, it's still his roles as the gangsters Tony Montana (Scarface) and Michael Corleone (The Godfather) for which Pacino's best known. It's earned him idol status, at least in the hip hop community, where just about every rapper can recite the Oliver Stone script line for line. (Diddy says he's seen it 63 times.) Of course, the Godfather trilogy has also helped earn Pacino status as one of his generation's greatest talents—the endlessly imitated movies remain a staple on critics' lists of all-time faves. He has yet to deliver anything terribly epic in the last few years, but he'll be returning to his crime drama roots when he reunites with his Godfather II alum Robert De Niro to co-star in Righteous Kill.

In person

Pacino is shorter than most people expect—he's 5'6". In fact, Paramount executives reportedly didn't initially want to cast him in The Godfather on account of his size. He no longer smokes, having quit his two-pack-a-day habit in the '90s in an effort to save his already gruff voice.

Personal

Although he's never been married, Pacino has had long-term relationships with actresses Diane Keaton, Kathleen Quinlan, Debra Winger, and Beverly D'Angelo. He has three children: Julie Marie, whose mother is acting coach Jan Tarrant; and twins Anton and Olivia, whose mom is D'Angelo. Pacino lives in Palisades, New York, 15 miles north of Manhattan.

No joke

A 21 year-old Pacino was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon; he claimed he was carrying the gun to an acting gig for a skit. The charges were dropped.