Sonny Boy: A Memoir

As a little boy, Pacino loved going to the movies with his mother and would imitate the performances he saw with his own “acting” at home. Pacino’s parents were very young when he was born, and they soon divorced, leaving a toddler Pacino to move around with his single mother, who tried to support them both. As an adult, Pacino learned that when he was a baby he spent eight months living with his paternal grandmother, as the state temporarily removed him from his mother’s care.

Pacino spent most of his early childhood living with his mother and maternal grandparents in their rental apartment in the Bronx, which they often shared with other family members or boarders. It was crowded, with 6-7 people sometimes sharing a room. Pacino’s mother’s parents were from Sicily originally, making them the only Italians in their neighborhood. Due to World War II, there was some stigma around being Italian. Pacino’s mother experienced mental health problems, attempting death by suicide when Pacino was six and then spending some time in an institution. This was hard for him to understand.

From a young age Pacino spent most of his free time with his three best friends Cliffy, Bruce, and Petey.