Al Pacino ‘Didn't Have a Pulse’ After Contracting COVID-19 During the Pandemic: ‘Everybody Thought I Was Dead’ (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Al Pacino in 2023.Photo:Dominik Bindl/Getty

Dominik Bindl/Getty

Al Pacinohas experienced many things throughout his lifetime — including a brush with death.While speaking to PEOPLE about hisupcoming memoir,Sonny Boy, theScarfaceactor, 84, recalls how he technically died while ill with COVID-19 during the pandemic, which he writes about in the book.Revealing that he “didn’t have a pulse” at one point during his health emergency — which happened before a vaccine was available — Pacino, 84, says, “I thought I experienced death. I might not have. I don’t think I have, really. I know I made it.“Al Pacino in 2023.Dominik Bindl/Getty"I don’t think I died. Everybody thought I was dead. How could I be dead? If I was dead, I fainted,” he continues. “And when I opened my eyes, there were six paramedics in my living room. There was an ambulance outside the door, and two of my doctors in those space suits [like] on Mars. I looked around and I thought, ‘What happened to me?’ ““So I couldn’t have died, because how did all those people gather together, the ambulance in front of my house?” Pacino adds.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.TheGodfatherstar says that his “great assistant Michael Quinn” immediately contacted the paramedics when he noticed something was wrong. “He got the people coming, because the nurse that was taking care of me said, ‘I don’t feel a pulse on this guy,’ " Pacino remembers.Al Pacino in March 2024.Chelsea Lauren/BEI/ShutterstockTheHouse of Guccistar recalled later reflecting on his serious bout of COVID and thinking, “It was gone. As Shakespeare inHamletsays, ‘No more. To be, or not to be.’ And then he says, ‘No more.’ And it’s no more. Well, it’s not. I don’t know, who knows?“Despite the harrowing experience, when asked if his health scare changed the way he now lives his life, Pacino tells PEOPLE, “Not at all.“Sonny Boywill be available for purchase on Oct. 15 anywhere books are sold.

Al Pacinohas experienced many things throughout his lifetime — including a brush with death.

While speaking to PEOPLE about hisupcoming memoir,Sonny Boy, theScarfaceactor, 84, recalls how he technically died while ill with COVID-19 during the pandemic, which he writes about in the book.

Revealing that he “didn’t have a pulse” at one point during his health emergency — which happened before a vaccine was available — Pacino, 84, says, “I thought I experienced death. I might not have. I don’t think I have, really. I know I made it.”

Al Pacino in 2023.Dominik Bindl/Getty

“I don’t think I died. Everybody thought I was dead. How could I be dead? If I was dead, I fainted,” he continues. “And when I opened my eyes, there were six paramedics in my living room. There was an ambulance outside the door, and two of my doctors in those space suits [like] on Mars. I looked around and I thought, ‘What happened to me?’ "

“So I couldn’t have died, because how did all those people gather together, the ambulance in front of my house?” Pacino adds.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

TheGodfatherstar says that his “great assistant Michael Quinn” immediately contacted the paramedics when he noticed something was wrong. “He got the people coming, because the nurse that was taking care of me said, ‘I don’t feel a pulse on this guy,’ " Pacino remembers.

Al Pacino in March 2024.Chelsea Lauren/BEI/Shutterstock

Chelsea Lauren/BEI/Shutterstock

TheHouse of Guccistar recalled later reflecting on his serious bout of COVID and thinking, “It was gone. As Shakespeare inHamletsays, ‘No more. To be, or not to be.’ And then he says, ‘No more.’ And it’s no more. Well, it’s not. I don’t know, who knows?”

Despite the harrowing experience, when asked if his health scare changed the way he now lives his life, Pacino tells PEOPLE, “Not at all.”

Sonny Boywill be available for purchase on Oct. 15 anywhere books are sold.

source: people.com