Al Pacino 'didn't have a pulse' and nearly died after brush with COVID

Al Pacino has said his pulse stopped and he nearly died after contracting COVID-19 in 2020.

The 84-year-old, who has appeared in over 70 films and is considered to be one of the most influential actors of his generation, described his near-death experience as "strange porridge".

Speaking to The New York Times, he said he had felt "unusually not good", had a fever and was dehydrated before suddenly falling gravely ill.

"I was sitting there in my house, and I was gone. Like that. I didn't have a pulse," he said.

"In a matter of minutes they were there - the ambulance in front of my house. I had about six paramedics in that living room, and there were two doctors, and they had these outfits on that looked like they were from outer space or something.

"It was kind of shocking to open your eyes and see that. Everybody was around me, and they said: 'He's back. He's here'."

Confirming he almost died, he went on: "They said my pulse was gone. It was so - you're here, you're not. I thought: 'Wow, you don't even have your memories. You have nothing. Strange porridge'."

A father-of-four, Pacino welcomed his youngest son, Roman, just last year, who he shares with producer girlfriend, Noor Alfallah, 30.

Pacino said his new child has added to "a campaign for me to stick around a little longer, if it's possible".

Speaking about his mortality, Pacino called children "a consolation," going on, "It's natural, I guess, to have a different view of death as you get older. It's just the way it is. I didn't ask for it. Just comes, like a lot of things just come".

'If I was dead, I fainted'

Speaking to People magazine this weekend, Pacino questioned whether his earlier near-death experience was quite so near.

He said: "I thought I experienced death. I might not have. I don't think I have, really. I know I made it.

"I don't think I died. Everybody thought I was dead. How could I be dead? If I was dead, I fainted.

"So, I couldn't have died because how did all those people gather together, the ambulance in front of my house?"

An Oscar, Tony and Emmy winner, Pacino - who is a method actor - is perhaps best known for his celebrated role as Michael Corleone in 1972 movie The Godfather.

He famously presented the best actor Oscar at this year's awards, inadvertently creating one of the most controversial moments of the show after seemingly forgetting to announce the 10 nominees before the winner.

His latest film, Modi, Three Days On The Wing Of Madness, premiered at the San Sebastian film festival last week.

Pacino will be publishing his memoir, Sonny Boy, later this month.