Al Pacino recalls embarrassing injury that still haunts him: ‘Iron bar hit me directly between the legs’

American actor Al Pacino recently shared a strange, deeply personal and painful incident in his new memoir, Sonny Boy. Although the 84-year-old actor has faced numerous challenges throughout his life, this particular incident stands out as one of the most embarrassing and traumatic moments of his childhood. The misstep left a lasting emotional scar on him.

In his new book, Al Pacino reflects: “I seemed to cheat death regularly. I was like a cat with way more than nine lives. I’ve had more accidents and accidents than I can count.” Among the numerous incidents he has faced, one particularly traumatic experience still leaves him “afraid to tell now” – an incident that occurred when he was just 10 years old. The Oscar-winning actor said: “I was walking on a thin iron fence, doing my tightrope dance. It rained all morning, and sure enough I slipped and fell, and the iron bar hit me directly between the legs.”

The pain was unbearable, which made walking home difficult. Fortunately, an old man saw him groaning in the street. So he picked him up and carried him to his aunt’s apartment, where he and his parents waited for the doctor to arrive. What followed was perhaps even more embarrassing for young Pacino. “I was lying in bed with my pants around my ankles as the three most important women in my life – my mother, aunt and grandmother – frantically inspected my wound,” the actor mentioned.

He continued: “I remember thinking, ‘God, please take me now,’ as they whispered to each other, trying to assess the damage.” He also stated that, to this day, the memory of this incident bothers him. “To this day I’m haunted by the thought of it,” Pacino said.

Al Pacino’s memoir Sonny Boy was released worldwide on October 15 and chronicles his remarkable journey from humble beginnings to becoming an Oscar-winning icon. The book delves into family tragedies, great successes, and struggles with addiction, while sharing cherished childhood memories, including the rare moments when his divorced parents were reunited and his youthful adventures. In an interview with People, the 84-year-old actor expressed that it was time for the world to hear his story, stating: “It was due. I am in my 85th year. When you get there and start getting older, you understand why they let things go.”