Al Pacino, 86, Will Receive SAG-AFTRA’s Highest Honor, and Says He Has “Wondered and Wandered Most of My Life”

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January Nelson

Updated

1 hour ago, October 17, 2026

Pop Culture

Al Pacino, 86, will receive SAG-AFTRA’s Life Achievement Award at the 2027 Actor Awards. The union’s highest honor recognizes more than 6 decades of acting and humanitarian work. He’ll become its 62nd recipient on February 28, 2027, in Los Angeles.

“I wondered and wandered most of my life but have always felt at home with a script and my fellow actors,” Pacino said in response to the announcement. “It’s the work and the actors along the way that have been among the greatest joys of my life. It’s an honour to be recognized by SAG-AFTRA in celebrating the journey.”

Pacino played Michael Corleone in The Godfather and its 2 sequels, Tony Montana in Scarface, the lead role in Serpico and a bank robber in Dog Day Afternoon. He’s earned 9 Oscar nominations and won best actor in 1993 for playing a blind former army officer in Scent of a Woman.

Al Pacino and Marthe Keller share a moment between takes while filming Bobby Deerfield under director Sydney Pollack. Photo by Sunset Boulevard / Corbis Historical via Getty Images.

He’s also won 2 Tony Awards, 2 Primetime Emmys and 2 Actor Awards. His Emmy wins were for Angels in America and You Don’t Know Jack. On stage, he’s appeared in The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel, The Merchant of Venice, Glengarry Glen Ross and China Doll.

Earlier in 2026, Shakespeare’s Globe honored him with the Sam Wanamaker Award for his work in theatre and film, especially his Shakespeare performances.

Pacino’s humanitarian work includes supporting the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, raising money after the September 11 attacks and helping with relief efforts after Hurricane Sandy. In 2009, he received the Jane Wyman Humanitarian Award from the Arthritis Foundation’s Southern California Chapter.

SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin said: “When you watch him perform, you are witnessing a student and a master. Al Pacino is an artist of extraordinary courage, intensity and heart whose work has always set an exceptional standard of skill and talent. All of that and he’s just plain fun to watch.”

Previous recipients include Jane Fonda, Barbra Streisand, Robert De Niro and Harrison Ford, who received the award at the 2026 ceremony.

The 33rd Actor Awards will stream live on Netflix from the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 28, 2027.