Fun Facts About Kentucky

This state is just south of Ohio. In fact, all you have to do is cross the Ohio River and you're in Kentucky. This state is known as the Bluegrass State. It's because of the specific species of grass that grows here that has a bluish-green tinge to it. But there are quirky, interesting and unique facts about this state that even born and raised Kentuckians may not even know

https://www.google.com/search?q=fun+facts+about+kentucky&sca_esv=e3144f6254eef5eb&source=hp&ei=HZe9Z8ajA56XwbkPwO6VqQk&iflsig=ACkRmUkAAAAAZ72lLZL_9B9MzrzdmWUkI8FwKtXBqgwY&oq=fun+facts+about+&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IhBmdW4gZmFjdHMgYWJvdXQgKgIIBDIIEAAYgAQYsQMyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgARI9-AGUIO-Bliu0AZwAXgAkAEAmAFooAGBCaoBBDE1LjG4AQPIAQD4AQGYAhGgApAKqAIKwgIKEAAYAxjqAhiPAcICChAuGAMY6gIYjwHCAhEQLhiABBixAxjRAxiDARjHAcICCxAAGIAEGLEDGIMBwgILEC4YgAQY0QMYxwHCAg4QLhiABBixAxjRAxjHAcICERAuGIAEGNQCGMcBGI4FGK8BwgILEAAYgAQYkgMYigXCAggQLhiABBjUAsICCBAuGIAEGLEDwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYigXCAg4QLhiABBjHARiOBRivAcICCBAAGIAEGMkDwgIOEAAYgAQYsQMYgwEYyQPCAggQABiABBiSA8ICDhAAGIAEGLEDGMkDGIoFmAMY8QWkcdWvQFdgvZIHBDE2LjGgB5Rt&sclient=gws-wiz

-The world's largest Toyota plant outside of Japan resides in Georgetown, Kentucky

-Kentucky was the first place that Thomas Alva Edison introduced the lightbulb to

-In Henderson, Kentucky, in 1887, the first Mother's Day was held

-In the Appalachian Region of Kentucky, bluegrass music got its start

-Bardstown, Kentucky is called the Bourbon Capital of the World for the massive number of bourbon distilleries, from Jim Beam in Clermont, Kentucky to Four Roses, Buffalo Trace, Maker's Mark, Wild Turkey and more

-The massively successful Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) got its start in Corbin, Kentucky. It started out being sold out of a gas station, but when Harlan Sanders realized he was selling more chicken than gas, he decided to make a restaurant to sell his chicken. And the rest is history

-Kentucky is known as the "horse capital of the world"

-Cumberland Falls is one of the very few places in the US where you can witness a "moonbow"

https://library.louisville.edu/ekstrom/gov_states/kyfacts

Chewing gum was invented in Louisville, Kentucky in 1873 by a pharmacist named John Colgan

Cave City, Kentucky features a hotel whose rooms are shaped like Native American teepees. This Wigwam Village was built in 1937 by Frank A. Redford

Kentucky is home to more resort and state parks than any other state

https://www.movoto.com/guide/ky/kentucky-facts/

Duncan Hines, the creator of the famous cake mix named after himself, was born and raised in Bowling Green, Kentucky

There is a continuously burning underground coal fire in Breathitt County, Kentucky called the Lost Mountain Coal Mine. It's been abandoned for over 40 years and it's burning for nearly that long, if not longer

-

https://www.visitlex.com/guides/post/14-fun-facts-about-central-kentucky/

Quite a few famous names come from Kentucky. Actors George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Josh Hutcherson, actress Jennifer Lawrence, boxer Muhammad Ali, bluegrass musician Ricky Skaggs, country musician Chris Stapleton, Loretta Lynn, Naomi Judd

Multiple big names in bourbon production are located in Kentucky. Woodford Reserve, Jim Beam, Four Roses, Buffalo Trace, Maker's Mark, Wild Turkey. They are part of the iconic "Bourbon Trail"

https://funworldfacts.com/kentucky-america/

Originally, the only inhabitants of Kentucky were the Cherokee, Chickasaw and Shawnee people. Now people in those tribes only make up 0.2% of Kentucky's population

Kentucky is the second largest producer of tobacco after North Carolina

Kentucky also holds the record for highest percentage of cigarette smokers, with 28.8% being men and 27.8% being women

This fact is not fun at all. It's actually scary and sad. It's known to locals as the Beverly Hills Fire. This nightclub, called The Beverly Hills Supper Club, burned to the ground on 5/28/1977, taking 165 lives with it, either directly at the club or as a result of their injuries. This club was located in the Kentucky city of Southgate, overlooking I-471. This fire was said to be one of the region's most devastating fires, thought to have been caused by faulty electrical wiring in a small room called the Zebra Room. Over 2000 people were crammed into the building that night, due to various events, such as musician Tommy Davidson performing in the Cabaret Room, the main large entertainment area. Or a local choral group holding a dinner there in one of the rooms on the second floor, along with several weddings and receptions taking place in the garden rooms outside. The building was well over safe capacity for people. And because of this fire, fire inspectors mandated that signs posting the capacity for rooms be posted in buildings along with updated fire safety

https://thefactfile.org/kentucky-facts/

Harrodsburg was the first permanent settlement in Kentucky. Established in 1774 as Fort Harrod, the settlement was named after the man who was supervising the construction, James Harrod

Kentucky is the second largest provider of hardwood after Florida. The reason being that 48% of Kentucky is covered with forests

Kentucky has a mountain. Called Black Mountain, it rises to a staggering height of 4,145 above sea level. To climb it, you must sign a waiver. It's located near Paducah, at the most southwestern tip of Kentucky

There are more than 11,000 elk roaming in Kentucky. This means Kentucky is home to the largest population of elk on the eastern coast of the United States

The best baseball museum outside of Cooperstown, New York is the Louisville Slugger Museum

Transylvania University in Lexington is extremely selective about the students they choose to admit. Chartered in 1780, it never grew into a massive university. It's considered to be the oldest university west of the Allegheny Mountains

1877 seen the highest railroad bridge over navigable water opening. The Nicholasville High Bridge in Jessamine County is 1,125 long and 275 feet

While Kentucky features many lakes, only three are natural. The rest are man made

Post-It Notes were invented in Kentucky by complete mistake. Spencer Silver, an employee at 3M, was trying to create an adhesive for use in aerospace technology in 1968. While his invention failed, it resulted in a new creation. The new result was that his adhesive didn't leave sticky residue on anything. Post-It Notes originated in Cynthiana, Kentucky

Kentucky bourbon was invented by Elijah Craig, a Baptist minister. He created the drink in 1785

https://lextoday.6amcity.com/city-guide/live/interesting-facts-lexington-kentucky

Clark County, Kentucky, the the neighbor to the east of Lexington, Kentucky, is said to be home of the popular snack Beer Cheese

In Lexington, Belle's Cocktail House is named after local madam Belle Brezing. She ran a high class brothel in the Victorian days, using the Mary Todd Lincoln home as her brothel. It's said she was the inspiration for Gone with the Wind character Belle Watling

Belle Brezing

The first African American congregation in Kentucky was established in 1790. It was the First African Baptist Church. It's also the third largest African American congregation in the US

-Lexington has a yearly tradition of reenacting the Michael Jackson video "Thriller." Around Halloween every year, people gather in the downtown area to recreate the famous dance scenes

https://www.factretriever.com/kentucky-facts

Louisville is home to the Kentucky Derby, one of the largest and most popular horse racing events in America. It's also one of the oldest continuously running events in America

Mammoth Cave is the longest running cave system in the world. It runs for 400 miles underneath Kentucky

The Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial features a sundial that, in shadow, touches the name of each person on the date they died

All Chevrolet Corvettes since 1981 were manufactured in Kentucky

Because of climate change, Kentucky and neighboring states have seen an increase in tornadoes

Insomnia (2002)

I forgot how much I liked this movie. It's been so long since I first saw it. I just watched it the other night and forgot how good of a movie it is. It's eerie, but good

Summary

-An LA police detective and his partner go to Alaska to investigate the murder of a local teenaged girl. While chasing the suspect through fog, he accidentally shoots his partner. Between the guilt and the incessant daylight, he loses sleep and becomes delusional. Meanwhile officer Ellie Burr begins her own investigation into the shooting

Cast

-Al Pacino: Will Dormer

-Robin Williams: Walter Finch

-Hilary Swank: Ellie Burr

-Martin Donovan: Hap Eckhart

-Paul Dooley: Chief Nyback

-Nicky Katt: Fred Duggar

-Larry Holden: Farrell

-Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe: Kay Connell

-Maura Tierney: Rachel Clement

Did You Know?

-This movie, and 1995's Heat, are two movies where Al Pacino's character, who is doing a stakeout, are ruined by incompetent officers. In 1995's Heat, he and his officers are in a box truck across the street from an area where a crew of bank robbers are attempting to break in. An incompetent officer with an assault rifle against his back goes to sit down, hitting the metal wall and making a loud clang. This tips off De Niro's character Neil McAuley that there is a suspicious presence in the area. In this movie, during a stakeout, an officer mistakenly hits the squawk option on a bullhorn, tipping off the suspect and giving them time to run away

-In the original script adaptation by Hilary Seitz, the script had Dormer as an Oregon police officer instead of a Los Angeles police officer. It was suggested that Pacino's character had planted evidence at a crime scene, thus convicting an innocent man and sending him to prison in Los Angeles. And that Internal Affairs Bureau, the ones responsible for arresting "dirty" cops, was running an investigation into Dormer and looking to bring him back to Los Angeles. And that it was the crimes in Alaska that were similar to the crimes he investigated in Los Angeles that brought him to Alaska, not so much to help his friend, Chief Dooley. These changes were so popular that Christopher Nolan added them to his director's pass on the script

-This movie is Christopher Nolan's first film to be fully done in color. One of his previous movies was 2000's Memento, which featured black and white and color scenes

-In the biography Robin by David Itzkoff, Robin Williams had been sober for years. While filming this movie, he took up drinking again. Because of the strong isolation of Alaska, he could only talk to people in bars

-To lift the somber tone of the movie, Robin Williams told jokes related to the filming, which made the cast and crew laugh

-Even though Al Pacino's character Will Dormer and Robin Williams' character Walter Finch were supposed to be competing with one another, they got along very well with one another when not filming. Williams would crack jokes and he even pranked Pacino during an interview by slumping behind him and quoting the 1979 film And Justice for All. He would imitate Pacino's voice and say "You're out of order!" before laughing out loud

-In the scene where Will Dormer and Walter Finch meet on the ferry was not rehearsed at all between Al Pacino and Robin Williams. This unfamiliarity would work out for both of them when their characters did finally meet face to face

-In the scene where Dormer sees Rachel sleeping on his bed, there were rumors they slept together. Christopher Nolan removes those rumors, saying they simply talked through the night

-The original script had Will Dormer with a hot temper, smashing the phone down whenever he talked with Walter Finch. Al Pacino modified his character to use less anger and be more cool and calm under pressure

-It has been proven possible to stay awake for six days straight. One person set a record for staying awake for 11 days straight under medical supervision

-When Dormer mentions child murderer Dobbs, this is based on an actual child murderer named Westley Allan Dodd

Richie Faulkner of Judas Priest States His Ability to Play Guitar is Affected by Recent Stroke

Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner states that a recent stroke he suffered has partially hampered his ability to play guitar.

In a recent interview Premier Guitar, Faulkner stated that he has had several open heart surgeries in addition to complications from an aortic aneurysm. He also stated some permanent brain damage seems to have set in. In 2021, while performing at the Louder Than Life music festival in Louisville, Kentucky, he collapsed onstage due to a ruptured aorta. He was rushed to the local hospital to undergo emergency surgery. In the years following, more heart surgeries have followed this event

In the interview, Faulkner stated he suffered a TIA (transient ischemic attack) a month after the initial operation on his heart. He stated this was a "mini-stroke" and that he does not remember all of the details that day, the doctors informed him that it could lead to full-blown strokes. A year later, he experienced another TIA and went in for another heart surgery. Judas Priest had resumed touring, with Faulkner after he had obtained medical clearance from the doctors. But he suspected something was not right. In an interview with Blabbermouth, "There was something in my right hand - I thought it was my rings; I wore these stupid rings for some reason. And I thought it was that. So I took the rings off. I thought it was impeding something. I was changing my picks. There was something different. I could get through it, but there was something different about my right hand. And again, I could get through it. I was brushing my teeth one morning and I thought 'Something's wrong with the right hand. Something's different'."

He was examined by doctors and informed it was not just mini-strokes he'd been having. "They said that the fact it hasn't gone away means that it's not a TIA; it's a stroke. TIA damage can go away. Stroke - that's it. It is damaged. You've got damage in your brain. Now I thought I had brain damage before, but this is real. It's a small thing on the left side." Faulkner feels guilty about letting down the fans of Judas Priest because his playing is not up to its usual standards. "I feel like I've got a lot of trust from the fanbase, from the guitar companies, the string companies. They back you. They put their bets on you and I don't want anyone to know, because as soon as they know, they're gonna lose faith, they're gonna bail out. And I felt that in a band like Priest, it's gotta be world-class stuff and I don't feel world class. I went out there every night. I feel like a fraud because people don't know - maybe. But one day they're gonna find out. Someone's gonna find out, someone's gonna say he's not playing that the same."

Despite all of this, Faulkner has tried to make the best of the situation. "I know there's a lot of people out there that play, they sing, whatever they do, and they feel like they're not good enough or that we don't have these issues as well, and it affects your mental health. And I want them to know that they're not alone. All of us, probably more people than we are all aware of, struggle with something somewhere."

15 Things Hotel Workers Notice About You at Check-In

When checking into a hotel, there are subtle hints that tell the employees what kind of traveler you are. According to MSN.com, here are 15 things hotel workers notice about you at check-in.

Also, you might see me put my two cents in because I have either done those things or witnessed those things

1. Attitude and demeanor

-If you come in hot, with a bad attitude and wanting things to be done ASAP, that is going to set a bad mood for both you and the hotel worker. The old saying "you don't get a second chance to make a good first impression" applies here. Your attitude and demeanor is the first thing hotel staff notices about you. If you come in with a warm smile and friendly attitude, along with politeness and kindness, that will lead to excellent service. Hotel staff will be far more likely to go the extra mile for those who treat them with kindness and respect

-My personal belief is that you should treat them the same way you would expect to be treated. If you come in with a raging temper and start treating the staff like yesterday's garbage, don't expect kindness in return

2. Luggage / personal belongings

-Your luggage can tell a lot about you. One single backpack might state that the person is either a minimalist traveler or not planning on staying long. Multiple suitcases can suggest a long stay or a family vacation, especially if you have kids with you. Expensive, designer-name luggage suggests that they should be handled with care. Well-worn, well-traveled looking bags indicates someone who might look like they are being budget-friendly, but this won't affect the type of services offered

-Anytime I've ever stayed in a hotel nearby, it's usually not long, so I'll take my backpack and put multiple days of clothing in it. For example, me and my sister stayed in the Hyatt Regency Columbus in October 2022 for two days because we were in town to see Iron Maiden at the Nationwide Arena, where the Columbus Blue Jackets NHL team plays. We only stayed two days, so we both had one backpack a piece. And the staff at the hotel pretty much figured why it was so crowded in the lobby-they seen Iron Maiden shirts everywhere and figured that band was in town

3. Dress and appearance

-How you dress tells the staff what you're there for. If you come in wearing a t-shirt for a musician, that tells staff you are in town for a concert by said musician. Casual beachwear suggests some time to relax at a local beach or pool. Sharp looking business suits suggest a business trip who places high premiums on efficiency

-True story. When I was in Columbus in October 2022, I wore all of my Iron Maiden gear because I was in town to see them on their Senjutsu tour. When and if I go to Orlando, Florida, when I check in, I'll probably be wearing jeans, a t-shirt and gymshoes because I just got out of the airport and am looking to check in. Then I change into shorts because of the warmer weather

4. Being prepared

-Hotel staff do enjoy when guests arriving have everything they need right there, such as ID, form of payment, whether it be payment card / cash and reservation details. It's why it's important to print off your reservation details and bring it with you. It makes the process of checking in far more efficient and far smoother, thus allowing them to complete your check-in process and move on to the next guest. More patience and assistance are given to the guests who have to root around in their bags or luggage for important documents and items, such as ID, cash / payment card, reservation details

-Being prepared makes everything easier and faster. The staff will appreciate it. If you have everything you need right there with you, this makes the process of checking in faster and more efficient, for both you and the staff member. They appreciate when people are prepared with everything they need. Don't be the person that fiddles around with looking for their itinerary, reservation details, or worse, form of payment for the room

5. Traveling alone or with people

-Hotel staff notice if you are traveling alone or with multiple people. Solo travelers will often prefer privacy and less interaction, while couples may appreciate things like upgraded amenities and romantic additions, such as champagne. Families arriving with kids in tow may need extra towels, cribs, kid-friendly activities to keep them occupied. Groups of friends may be gathering together to celebrate something, reminding the staff to give gentle reminders to that group about noise policies

6. When you arrive

-When you arrive can tell the staff a lot about you. People who check-in early may have taken an early redeye flight or a long flight or their flight just happened to get in early. This will have staff ensuring that the room is ready to be used. Guests coming in late at night might appreciate a quick, smooth check-in with no fuss. Those checking in at close to midnight might be offered snacks or extra amenities to help them settle in after a long day of trying to get to their destination

-Anytime I've ever checked into a hotel, it's never been at a specific time. I've checked into hotels at 11am, 5:00 pm, all sorts of crazy times

7. Requests / special accommodations

-Guests can come with all sorts of requests / accommodations. This can give insight to the hotel staff as to what that guest might need. From dietary restrictions to room preferences to specific types of bedding helps the staff member personalize the experience for the guest. People who travel on a regular basis might have more particular requests, such as extra pillows or blackout curtains. First time travelers would need more information about the amenities offered by the hotel, since they are curious and unfamiliar with traveling

8. Body language / eye contact

-These two can tell a lot about you to hotel staff. Nonverbal cues can speak loudly. I know it sounds strange, but it's true. Hotel staff are trained to read subtle nuances in body language and eye contact. This tells them the level of comfort and emotions. Avoiding direct eye contact and being fidgety indicates a nervous nature or frustration. A relaxed posture and smiles reveal ease and satisfaction, even curiosity at being in a new place.

-Sometimes, guests who come in might be visually / hearing impaired and would need extra assistance in getting checked in. Some hotel staff are trained in sign language and will assist the hearing impaired while those checking in who are visually impaired are able to check in and also be provided documents and signs for things in braille. Or if a guest checking in speaks a different language, hotel staff will get an iPad or tablet with a translator service on it to translate for that guest, to make things easier

-Anytime I check in, I make sure to have a relaxed demeanor and maintain eye contact, because it shows you are giving that person your full attention. But, unfortunately, sometimes hotel staff will treat you a certain way only because of your gender, race or something else. In those times, maintain a professional, respectful demeanor and get through the process of checking in. I've had hotel staff treat me with contempt only because I am a woman. In those times, I maintain a professional demeanor and do not treat them the same way they are treating me- I treat them with kindness and move on. The less you say, the better

9. How you pay

-How you pay says a lot about you. Using a corporate credit card indicates to hotel staff that this is a business trip. A personal credit card suggests leisurely travel. Some guests prefer the option of pre-paying for a trip, signaling to them a strong avoidance of surprise charges while others might want to split the costs amongst multiple payment cards

-I almost always pay with a payment card. I only carry cash if needed

10. Style of communication / accent

-This tells hotel staff a lot as well. The way a guest communicates or if they have an accent tells of their reason for travel and even their background. This helps hotel staff adjust how they communicate to ensure the maximum amount of excellent service offered. International guests might appreciate tips and hints about local interests and customs, local attractions, even local places to eat. Guests from different parts of the country may also have unique requirements. They may even ask the hotel staff where are some good restaurants or attractions

11. Membership / loyalty status

-Hotel staff are trained to pay attention to those using membership / loyalty points for traveling. Frequent guests will have specific requirements. Members of elite loyalty programs may receive upgrades, such as late check-outs, welcome amenities and other perks. When longtime guests are recognized, staff personalize their experience and ensure that the guest remain a long-term guest and maintain that long-term relationship

12. Reason for travel

-Everyone who travels has a reason behind it. Whether it be a business trip, trip to see family / friends, a concert out of town, sporting event, vacation to go relax / sightseeing, the list of reasons are endless. Each traveler has a specific reason why they are traveling. Hotel staff will pick up on the possible reason why the guest is checking in. Those in business suits might appreciate a quick and efficient check-in, with a reliable spot for Wi-Fi. Those on leisurely vacations might appreciate local spa services. Those attending an out of town wedding, conference for work or a family reunion might need amenities specific to their needs

-If hotel staff ask the reason I am checking in, I will gladly volunteer the information. I'm the kind of person who turns into an excited little kid saying they can't wait to do this or that and I tell them the reason I am checking in

13. First impression of the hotel

-Like the old saying goes "you don't get a second chance to make a good first impression." First impression is the most important thing when it comes to hotels. If the hotel looks dirty, rundown, with bad smells and an overall sense of unease or low safety, it's highly likely no one will want to stay there. But if a hotel is clean, tidy, smells nice, that sets a good mood of ease for both the staff and guests. When guests arrive, and they look around at the decor, this can tell you if the guest appreciates the hotel or not.

-When I was in Columbus in 2015 for the annual Rock on the Range music festival, the only hotel me and my sister could find a room in was a Comfort Inn right off of the highway. The lobby was okay, but the hallways smelled strongly of mold and the rooms, unknown to us at the time, had bedbugs. We didn't find out about the insect problem until about a week later when we found these little parasites crawling all over our furniture and had to have our house heat treated. The hallways had carpeting coming up at the ends and the staff held a wedding there, and as such, guests took up all of the parking. There was even an attendant in the lot asking those pulling in were they there for the wedding or something else. My sister told him "we're here for a concert at MAPFRE Stadium."

14. Tone of voice / choice of words

-It's always important to treat the hotel staff the same exact way you would want to be treated. Unfortunately, not all hotel staff do this. Some hotels have staff members who will treat people certain ways because of one factor another. The way the guest speaks, in both their tone of voice and choice of words, tells of their mood and expectations. A friendly, upbeat vibe tells the staff to provide warm, friendly service while a reserved or formal approach tells the staff to maintain a professional demeanor

15. Level of experience

-Depending on how often you travel, this will tell hotel staff if you're a seasoned traveler or a first timer. Seasoned travelers know how the check-in process works. They will move through the process with flying colors, knowing what to expect, knowing what the hotels offer and even requesting particular amenities. First time travelers may be unsure about what the hotel offers. This is where the hotel staff can show they know their job by providing guidance on hotel facilities, local attractions, options for dining and more. When staff can recognize what a traveler's needs are, this will help them tailor their service provided and ensure a good stay for the guest. And ensure that the guest feels well informed, making them more likely to return in the future

-Most of the time, when I travel, it's with my mom, stepdad and sister. It's usually out of the country, to either Mexico or the Dominican Republic, where they have "all inclusives." The only thing required at check in / check out is passport. Me and my family make things a breeze for the hotel staff because we have what they need to make checking in easy!

Sonny Boy by Al Pacino

This book is written by himself. It's an autobiography about Al Pacino. I thought it was a very good book. He's always been one of my favorite actors. Because he can be funny one moment, intense the next

-Born Alfredo James Pacino on 4/25/1940, he was raised in the South Bronx by his mother Rose and father Sal. His father worked as a military police officer, but disappeared when Al was two, leaving his mother and her relatives and his father's relatives to raise him. He was given his Sicilian grandfather's first name. His mother would often take him to see plays and even films in the theatres, and this would interest the boy. As he got older, he found his mother started suffering from mental health issues and one day, one of his relatives told him to come to her apartment.  There, he found his mother deceased. She had ingested a large amount of pills and choked on her own vomit. He found school to be boring, so he left at 16 and found a calling in the theatre. As time went on, he got better and better at acting. Of course, having no job meant no money. He worked a series of odd jobs to keep the money coming in while he went to auditions

-Some of his earliest films would today be considered independent films or "indie" films. Such as The Panic in Needle Park, where he plays a drug addict looking for a fix. The film that really put his name on the map was the 1972 film The Godfather, where he played the youngest Corleone son Michael. Of course, Francis Ford Coppola, the director, wanted Pacino over the other actors auditioning for the role, which included Robert Redford, Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty and Ryan O'Neal. Despite his success, Al was constantly worrying about being fired

The Panic in Needle Park

The Godfather

-When he was not filming, he suffered with a bout of alcoholism, and would occasionally pop Valium pills to try and calm himself, since he made a habit of showing explosive bouts of energy. When it came time to film The Godfather Pt. II, he surprised Francis Ford Coppola by showing that he didn't know how to drive (because he grew up in New York, where you could hop in a cab or on a bus), didn't know how to dance the waltz and couldn't speak Italian (despite being of both Sicilian and Italian descent), three things required for the Italian wedding scene where he marries the woman Appollonia during Michael's exile to Sicily. During filming, he became good friends with Diane Keaton, who played Kay

The Godfather Pt. II

Italian wedding scene from The Godfather Pt. II

Al Pacino as Michael Corleone and Diane Keaton as Kay Adams

-After the filming of The Godfather films, he wanted to try something different. The "something different" became the film Serpico, a film based on the true story of an NYPD officer named Frank Serpico, who investigated and even tried to stop corruption in the NYPD. After that, he did more movies, such as Dog Day Afternoon, where he plays a bank robber looking to get money for his partner's gender reassignment surgery. He decided to do the play Richard III in the theaters, and it was around that time he had the realization that he needed help for his alcoholism. He asked for help and it was around the time he filmed the movie Bobby Deerfield that he started going to AA meetings and undergoing therapy to wean himself off of the alcohol, thus getting himself clean and sober

Serpico

Dog Day Afternoon

Bobby Deerfield

-In the early 1980s, came the film that would immediately connect his name to the film world: Scarface. The violent, 1983 film depicting a Cuban refugee turned drug lord directed by Brian DePalma and produced by Oliver Stone. He had to learn how to talk with a proper Cuban accent from both a dialect coach and his co-star, Cuban-born actor Steven Bauer. As a side note, people thought for the longest time that Al was a cocaine addict, because of his manic bouts of energy. He firmly states he has never touched that narcotic. He's never done drugs. He's just always had those manic fits of energy. Unfortunately, after Scarface, he decided to quit acting. He took some time off to simply relax from the stress of filming. Instead, he took to the theater, doing plays because that was what he started out doing and it was something he loved

Scarface

-It was not until he came out of his self-imposed break from acting that he starred in 1989's Sea of Love, where he played a police officer with a hard drinking habit investigating a series of murders. And the woman he's falling for might just be the prime suspect. It was here that he started developing the slightly gravelly voice he now has. This film has a long, drawn out lovemaking scene where Ellen Barkin's character initially gives Al Pacino's character a pat down, and then the two go straight into making love. He said he's normally not one to do love scenes, because he is uncomfortable doing them, especially if he is required to show certain parts of his body. After Sea of Love, he went into making The Godfather Pt. III, which is certainly not as popular with people as the first two installments. He firmly stated the only reason he did the third installment of the film was because he was in financial dire straits. He maintained his friendship with Diane Keaton, and it was actually her that helped him get a good agent to help him get back into good financial standing

Sea of Love

The Godfather Pt. III

-One of the movies he did that he enjoyed was the comic book-turned-movie for Dick Tracy. In the film, he played Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice. His character got the name "Big Boy" from the fact that he had elephantiasis in random parts of his body. He jokingly said he got to feel up Madonna in the film, but he said it was just "love taps" and nothing more. In October 1989, he became a first time father, to a daughter he named Julie Marie Pacino, with an acting teacher named Jan Tarrant that he was seeing. The 1990s proved to be a successful time for him. He starred in movies that proved to be successful, such as Scent of a Woman, Carlito's Way, Heat, The Devil's Advocate, Donnie Brasco, The Insider and Any Given Sunday.

Al Pacino and Jan Tarrant

"Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy

Scent of a Woman

Carlito's Way

Heat

The Devil's Advocate

The Insider

Any Given Sunday

-As the 1990s gave birth to the 2000s, the new decade would bring Al three new kids, two with wife Beverly D'Angelo, an actress. With her he had two children, a son he named Anton and a daughter they both named Olivia. They divorced in 2001. They simply couldn't make their marriage work only because they were both actors and based on opposite coasts. She was mostly based in Los Angeles, where she lived. And he was from New York, which he considered home. They still remain on good terms and remain good friends. Later on in life, he would have another child, a son he named Roman, with an actress from Argentina he was seeing named Lucila Sola.

Al Pacino and Beverly D'Angelo

Al Pacino and Lucila Sola

-He mentioned that he had strong financial troubles and was suffering from them, trying to get a good agent to help him out. As for films, he would continue to make films in the new decade. They would include 2002's Insomnia, 2003's The Recruit, 2005's Two for the Money, 2007's 88 Minutes, 2007's Ocean's Thirteen, 2008's Righteous Kill and more. As a side note, he still, to this day, maintains a good friendship with former The Godfather actress Diane Keaton. As time went on, he mentioned that he had started noticing his vision was not quite what it once was. He stated this issue started happening when he was 19 and it seemed to happen off and on over the years. He would wake up and his vision would be blurry, but would clear eventually. He said he was diagnosed with Fuch's dystrophy, which gets progressively worse as you age. When the COVID-19 crisis effectively shut down the world down for a time, he ended up getting stricken with the condition. Luckily, he was able to get through it

His family. Son Anton, daughters Olivia and Julie

Insomnia

The Recruit

Two for the Money

88 Minutes

Ocean's Thirteen

Righteous Kill

Filmography