Excerpts from AL PACINO: In Conversation with Lawrence Grobel

FOREWORD

I met Larry Grobel in 1979. He came to interview me. I was of course mistrustful of him since he was a journalist interviewing me and at that time, I had never done an interview. I have since come to know him very well. We've shared many things over this period: successes, failures, encounters with situations both wonderful and unthinkable. Our friendship has survived it all. And, for that I am very grateful.

I had not yet said yes to our first interview but when I read his interview with Marlon Brando on Brando's island in Tahiti I was impressed. Knowing Marlon as I did, if he liked Larry, if he could speak to him so openly, I felt that I could. Larry walked into my apartment which was in shambles. I offered him my half eaten doughnut. He enjoyed it. We sat down to talk. And what was remarkable about Larry is, at the end of the interview I knew more about him than he did of me. I have learned to appreciate his manner, his style over the years. Some of which is shocking. But, you accept it because it's Larry. He persists but never with guile. He has a genuine interest in people which is why he's such a good writer. He has taken an interest in me for some reason.

Still, I'm trying to figure out why it's so easy to talk to him, to confide in him. That's his talent, I guess.

Larry and I know each other very well (as well as anyone knows anybody). We have forgiven each other many times. I have forgiven him for writing this book. I hope he forgives me for writing this foreword.

--Al Pacino