Robert De Niro and Al Pacino.
Al PacinoandRobert De Nirogo way back — to before they even knew one another.
The two movie legends are wellknown for working togetheronscreen several times, but in reality, the parallels between their lives go far beyond their filmographies.
For starters, both De Niro, 79, and Pacino, 83, are both from New York City — specifically Manhattan, with the former having grown up primarily in Greenwich Village and Little Italy. While Pacino grew up in the Bronx, he was born in Manhattan’s East Harlem neighborhood.
Both actors were also only children from parents who split when they were toddlers, and have Italian heritage on their fathers' sides.
The two men met in their 20s, more than 50 years ago, with Pacino tellingGQof De Niro during a joint interview in 2019, “I remember the meeting very clearly. Unbelievably, I saw this guy, I thought, Wow, he’s got such charisma. He wasn’t doing anything. He was just walking. Remember? You know, he wasBob.But you felt something from him.”
Robert De Niro and Al Pacino inRighteous Kill(2008).Overture Films/courtesy Everett Collection
Overture Films/courtesy Everett Collection
Pacino and De Niro both broke into the film industry in the late 1960s and early ’70s. The two famously costarred in 1974’s sequelThe Godfather Part IIthough they shared no screen time, as De Niro played a young version of Vito Corleone in flashbacks while Pacino reprised his role as Michael Corleone in the movie’s present-day storyline.
The duo reunited to play a police officer (Pacino) and a professional criminal (De Niro) hunting for each other in 1995’sHeat, which marked the first time the two actors actually appeared onscreen together more than 20 years afterThe Godfather Part II. Since then, Pacino and De Niro have also led movies like 2008’sRighteous Killand 2019’sThe Irishman.
De Niro and Pacino previously joined the movie’s directorFrancis Ford Coppolaonstage at the 94thAcademy Awards, where the latterreflected on his magnum opus' milestone anniversary.
“I feel moments like this should be sincere and brief,” said Coppola, 84, turning to De Niro and Pacino. “And I’m so grateful for my wonderful friends to come here to help me celebrate with you.”
Robert De Niro and Al Pacino at a 50th anniversary screening ofThe Godfatherin 2022.Roy Rochlin/Getty for Tribeca Festival
At the New York premiere of his most recent filmAbout My Fatherearlier this month, the two-timeOscarwinner toldExtra, “I’m okay with it. I’m good with it,” though he added it"never gets easier."
Alfallah, 29, has been linked to Pacino since April 2022. The pair first sparked romance rumors when they were pictured grabbing dinner together. Multiple sources toldPage Sixlast year that the couple had actually been quietly dating since the pandemic.
Pacino shares daughterJulie Marie, 33, with ex-girlfriend Jan Tarrant. He also shares 22-year-old twinsAnton and Oliviawith exBeverly D’Angelo, whom he dated from 1997 to 2003.
Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino in 1980.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty
In May, social-media users pitted the two movie legends against each other in a new way.
WriterAshley Reesewent viral on Twitter when she asked her followers (while at a wedding) to determine who was more attractive as a young man: De Niro or Pacino.
“This50/50 tie is incredible,” Reese wrote after the final tallies were counted. “You’re really a yung Pacino or a yung di Nero.”
“More people voted in this poll than some local elections,” sheadded in another postwithin the thread.
source: people.com
