Al Pacino Reflects On Addiction To Liquor & Drugs In New Book: ‘I Started To Forget Things — They Called Them Blackouts’

Al Pacino

Al Pacino Reflects On Addiction To Liquor & Drugs In New Book: ‘I Started To Forget Things — They Called Them Blackouts’

Al Pacino reflected on his long road to sobriety, recalling the “blackouts” that pushed him to change his life.

In his highly anticipated memoir Sonny Boy, set to be released on October 15, Al Pacino dove deep into his struggles with addiction to liquor and drugs, which stemmed from dealing with the harsh spotlight of fame, and the impact it had on his memory. He revealed, “I started to forget things at a very young age — they called them blackouts, so I got nervous.”

The Oscar-winning actor shared that while he attended Alcoholics Anonymous, it wasn’t the right fit for him, stating, “It’s a great place, but it was not for me.” Instead, he credited his late mentor Charlie Laughton as a significant source of support during his sobriety journey.

His memoir touches on other personal experiences, including a near-death encounter during the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted, “I fainted, and when I opened my eyes, there were six paramedics in my living room … I didn’t have a pulse. Everybody thought I was dead.”

In reflecting on his health struggles, Al Pacino also looked back on his upbringing and how fatherhood transformed his life, emphasizing the profound love he found in raising his children. He welcomed his fourth child at age 83 last year.

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