Al Pacino, who’s a legend of an actor most popular for his role in The Godfather Part II (1974) as Michael Corleone, was once left stranded at a restaurant by one of the most famous talk show hosts – Conan O’Brien.
In a May 16 episode of O’Brien’s podcast, Team Coco, the host was joined by actor Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men) and they talked about the actor’s encounters with other actors after finding his stride in Hollywood.
Surprisingly, O’Brien and Bardem picked Al Pacino and mentioned their own encounters with the veteran actor. Bardem’s version was much more memorable for him as he got a congratulatory call from Pacino about his performance in a film.
O’Brien, on the other hand, was visibly tensed talking about his encounter as he explained that he left him stranded because he was afraid of him; this happened during his second encounter. But what exactly got him so scared that he ran away?
Conan O’Brien Ran Away From The Godfather Star Al Pacino
O’Brien revealed that he went to a restaurant in New York and ran into Al Pacino. Mimicking Pacino’s husky voice, he said that Pacino acknowledged his presence and called out to him. After eating together for a while, O’Brien said that he tried to find an opportunity to escape, but he awkwardly rushed it.
“Every now and then I’ll be in New York in a restaurant and it just happened recently where I hear, ‘Conan,’” said O’Brien. “And he’s there in the corner… I get to have these little conversations with him. What I found is, in the last one, I’m so self-conscious about taking up his time, and then I’ll say, ‘Well, have a great meal and it’s nice to see you, and I run away.’”
He added that there had been a woman at the restaurant and he ran into her after a couple of days who briefed him about Pacino’s reaction. Pacino said, “Why did he run away?”
Conan O’Brien Explained Why Al Pacino Scared Him
O’Brien detailed the initial encounter with Pacino. It was a surprise encounter, he noted, and said that he was stuck with the actor in an incredibly small room. Although he tried to keep it cool in the room, he said that Pacino intimidated him in a usual fashion.
“I go backstage, and suddenly they’re bringing all these scenery and they say, ‘Clear the way.’ I get pushed into this little side room, and I look around in this tiny room, the size of a phone booth, and it’s me and Al Pacino. He said, ‘You, a tightrope every night, a new script… madness.’”
Pacino may have startled him during these encounters, but Conan O’Brien mentioned that he grew up watching his films like Serpico (1973) and Dog Day Afternoon (1975), and said that he was “above a star” to him.
Al Pacino was last seen in Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci in 2021. The film is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Source: Team Coco
