US film actor. He is best known for playing powerful, introverted but violent roles, such as the head of a mob family in Francis Ford
Coppola's
The Godfather (1972), and a drug gangster in Brian
de Palma's
Scarface (1983). He won an Academy Award for his role as an ill-tempered retired army officer in
Scent of a Woman (1992).
Born in New York City, Pacino began his career in theatre before breaking into films. He played police officers in the critically acclaimed films
Serpico (1973) and
Sea of Love (1989).
Dick Tracy (1990) added comedy to his range.
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