Book Discussion- Sonny Boy: A Memoir

Join us to get a deep, intimate look into legendary actor Al Pacino’s life, career, personal stories, and reflections as we discuss Sonny Boy: A Memoir by Al Pacino. 

To the wider world, Al Pacino exploded onto the scene like a supernova. He landed his first leading role, in The Panic in Needle Park in 1971, and by 1975, he had starred in four movies- The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, Serpico, and Dog Day Afternoon- that were not just successes but landmarks in the history of film. Those performances became Legendary and changed his life forever.

 A fixture of avant-garde theater in New York, he had led a bohemian existence, working odd jobs to support his craft. He was raised by a fiercely loving but mentally unwell mother and her parents after his father left them when he was young, but in a real sense he was raised by the streets of the South Bronx, and by the troop of buccaneering young friends he ran with, whose spirits never left him. After a teacher recognized his acting promise and pushed him toward New York’s fabled High School of Performing Arts, the die was cast.

 In good times and bad, in poverty and in wealth and in poverty again, through pain and joy, acting was his lifeline, its community his tribe. The book’s golden thread, however, is the spirit of love and purpose. Love can fail you, and you can be defeated in your ambitions- the same lights that shine bright can also dim. But Al Pacino was lucky enough to fall deeply in love with a craft before he had the foggiest idea of any of its earthly rewards, and he never fell out of love. That has made all the difference. Copies of the book will be available for pick up at our Main Building starting Thursday, May 22nd.