Hollywood Legend Al Pacino Donated His Entire “Cruising” Salary To Support Social Causes
In his fresh-off-the-press memoir Sonny Boy: A Memoir, Al Pacino, our favorite 84-year-old acting powerhouse, spills the tea about what he did with his fat paycheck from the 1980 gay-themed film Cruising.
The film, directed by William Friedkin (the genius behind The Exorcist and The French Connection), follows Officer Steve Burns, played by Pacino, who goes undercover in New York’s leather scene to catch a serial killer.
The production wasn’t all smooth sailing. Daily protests popped up during filming, with community members worried about how the movie might affect social progress.
“I took the money, and it was a lot,” Pacino writes in his memoir. He set up an irrevocable trust fund and sent the cash to various charities. The interest kept the donations flowing for nearly 20 years.
Pacino stayed quiet about his donation to avoid any hint of publicity stunts. “I just wanted one positive thing to come out of that whole experience,” he explains in his memoir. The film faced daily protests during production, with many worried about its impact on social progress.
In 2013, Friedkin shared his side: “I just thought it would make a good backdrop for a murder mystery.”
This wasn’t Pacino’s only boundary-pushing role. His nine Oscar nominations include parts like Michael Corleone in The Godfather and a desperate bank robber in Dog Day Afternoon. He won his Oscar for Scent Of A Woman in 1993.
The story shows a different side of Pacino – not just the intense actor we know from the screen, but someone who turned a controversial moment into decades of quiet support for others. No press releases, no public announcements – just action.
