Hollywood legend Al Pacino has opened up about his views on life after death, following after a frightening experience with Covid. The actor, known for his iconic roles in Scarface and The Godfather, said it all started four years ago when he felt ‘unusually not good’.
Dehydration and a high fever were among the typical Covid symptoms he experienced moments before he was completely ‘gone’ and his pulse had reportedly stopped. An emergency medical team, including six paramedics and two doctors, were then quickly rushed into this living room in a desperate attempt to bring him back.
During which, Al Pacino didn’t see a ‘white light’ or life flashing before his eyes, as you might expect on the brink of death. But the nightmarish experience has certainly clarified his view on what comes after. “There’s nothing there,” he said in an interview with The New York Times.
“You’re gone. I’d never thought about it in my life. But you know actors: It sounds good to say I died once.” Although Al Pacino didn’t see anything beyond the grave, this certainly isn’t the case for everyone.
The University of Virginia explains that some near-death experiences – or NDEs – are ‘intensely vivid’ and even ‘life-transforming’ to those who experience them. Some people have reported a sensation of leaving the body or being drawn into a tunnel, while others claim to have seen a bright light or ‘life review’ of important events from the past.
Its Division of Perceptual Studies explains: “Near-death experiences (NDEs) are intensely vivid and often life-transforming experiences, many of which occur under extreme physiological conditions such as trauma, ceasing of brain activity, deep general anaesthesia or cardiac arrest in which no awareness or sensory experiences should be possible according to the prevailing views in neuroscience.”
While Al Pacino’s take may seem dark, he stressed that he doesn’t find discussions on his brief death too ‘morbid’. The actor’s view on this has certainly evolved over the years, with his family and an extensive body of work among the big factors that bring him comfort.
And the movie star’s work hasn’t slowed down either. Despite being 84 years old, Al Pacino is still acting and his latest film Modi, Three Days On The Wing Of Madness, premiered at the San Sebastian Film Festival, last week, according to The Mirror.
His memoir ‘Sonny Boy’ is also due for release later this month. The book, detailing his upbringing in New York City’s South Bronx and journey into acting, has already been described as ‘magical’ by American filmmaker Martin Scorsese.
Robert De Niro, who starred alongside Al Pacino in The Godfather Part II, also described it as ‘So unique and special’.
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