Al Pacino, widely regarded as one of the greatest living actors, is known for his legendary roles in films such as “The Godfather” trilogy, “Scarface”, and “Dog Day Afternoon”. At 84, he remains active in the industry, still taking on movie roles and recently welcoming a new child.
However, the Oscar-winning actor recently shared that he had a near-death encounter after battling Covid-19, which led him to reflect on the afterlife.
In a recent interview with “The New York Times”, Pacino discussed his experience with Covid in 2020. He recalled feeling unusually unwell at home, suffering from dehydration and a fever.
Pacino revealed that after calling for a nurse, his condition took a sudden turn. “I was sitting there in my house, and I was gone. Just like that. I didn’t have a pulse,” he recalled, describing the moment he lost his vital signs.
Pacino recounted that minutes later, he regained consciousness, surrounded by doctors and paramedics dressed in protective gear. “It was like they were from outer space or something,” he said.
Reflecting on the moment, he told The New York Times, “It was kind of shocking to open your eyes and see that. Everybody was around me, and they said: ‘He’s back. He’s here.’”
In a separate interview with People Magazine, Pacino shared, “Everybody thought I was dead. The nurse that was taking care of me said, ‘I don’t feel a pulse on this guy.’”
He added, “I thought I experienced death. I might not have. I don’t think I have, really. I know I made it.”
Many individuals who have had near-death experiences describe encounters with visions of deceased loved ones or feelings of being drawn toward a light, suggesting an afterlife.
However, Pacino explained that he experienced none of these sensations during his ordeal. Instead, his near-death encounter reaffirmed his belief that death marks the absolute end.
“I didn’t see the white light or anything. There’s nothing there,” he shared with The New York Times.
Quoting Hamlet, Pacino reflected on the finality of death: “‘To be or not to be’; ‘The undiscovered country from whose bourn, no traveler returns.’ And he says two words: ‘no more.’ It was no more. You’re gone. I’d never thought about it in my life. But you know actors: It sounds good to say I died once. What is it when there’s no more?’”
While some may find the finality of death unsettling, Pacino says he finds comfort in both his children and the legacy of work he will leave behind.
Despite his near-death experience, Pacino remains largely unaffected by it. When asked by People if it changed his outlook on life, he responded simply, “not at all.”
Even in his later years, Pacino continues to be a prolific actor. He recently starred in films such as Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman—earning his ninth Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Jimmy Hoffa—and Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci.
Additionally, at 83, Pacino became a father again, welcoming his fourth child with his then 29-year-old girlfriend, Noor Alfallah, last summer.
