Al Pacino Donated His Paycheck from 1980'sCruisingBecause He Felt Movie Was 'Exploitative' of Gay Community

Mar. 15, 2025

Al Pacino filming ‘Cruising,’ circa 1980.Photo:PL Gould/IMAGES/Getty

PL Gould/IMAGES/Getty

Al Pacinorevealed in his new memoir that he donated his paycheck from the 1980 movieCruisingbecause he felt the film proved to be “exploitative” of the LGBTQ+ community.InSonny Boy, which is out now, the actor, 84, recalled that he was interested in “pushing the envelope” when he agreed to makeCruisingwith the late directorWilliam Friedkin. The crime thriller starred Pacino as a New York City police officer who goes undercover at gay bars throughout the city in the hopes of tracking down a serial killer suspected of killing gay men.Pacino, who was 39 at the time, wrote that the movie “became very controversial during its production,” recalling seeing protestors at shooting locations “almost every day” who believed the movie would not portray the LGBTQ+ community in a positive light. While theAcademy Awardwinner said he did not viewCruisingas exploitative while he was making the movie, he realized that it had problems after seeing the film when it released and “remained quiet” after its release in 1980 rather than promote the movie.Al Pacino’s memoir ‘Sonny Boy’.Penguin Press"I took the money, and it was a lot, and I put it in an irrevocable trust fund," Pacino wrote in his memoir. “I gave it to charities, and with the interest, it was able to last a couple of decades. I don’t know if it eased my conscience, but at least the money did some good.“Pacino clarified that he always donated the money anonymously because he did not want charitable efforts to come across as a publicity stunt. “I just wanted one positive thing to come out of that whole experience,” he wrote.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Cruisingwas loosely adapted from author Gerald Walker’s 1970novel of the same name. Pacino costarred in the film with Paul Sorvino, Karen Allen, Richard Cox, Don Scardino, Ed O’Neill and Joe Spinell, among others.Al Pacino on the set of 1980’s Cruising.United Artists/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via GettyFriedkin, who died in 2023 at 87, admitted toThe Wrapin a 2013 interview that the movie “was not the best foot forward for the gay rights movement, but I never intended the film to be critical” of the LGTBQ+ community. He also claimed that Pacino “gave me a rough time” while making the movie “for reasons other than the normal actor-director relationship.““He wasn’t on time and often didn’t know what we were doing on a particular day,” he told the outlet, claiming he originally wantedRichard Gereto star in the movie.Sonny Boyis available wherever books are sold.

Al Pacinorevealed in his new memoir that he donated his paycheck from the 1980 movieCruisingbecause he felt the film proved to be “exploitative” of the LGBTQ+ community.

InSonny Boy, which is out now, the actor, 84, recalled that he was interested in “pushing the envelope” when he agreed to makeCruisingwith the late directorWilliam Friedkin. The crime thriller starred Pacino as a New York City police officer who goes undercover at gay bars throughout the city in the hopes of tracking down a serial killer suspected of killing gay men.

Pacino, who was 39 at the time, wrote that the movie “became very controversial during its production,” recalling seeing protestors at shooting locations “almost every day” who believed the movie would not portray the LGBTQ+ community in a positive light. While theAcademy Awardwinner said he did not viewCruisingas exploitative while he was making the movie, he realized that it had problems after seeing the film when it released and “remained quiet” after its release in 1980 rather than promote the movie.

Al Pacino’s memoir ‘Sonny Boy’.Penguin Press

Penguin Press

“I took the money, and it was a lot, and I put it in an irrevocable trust fund,” Pacino wrote in his memoir. “I gave it to charities, and with the interest, it was able to last a couple of decades. I don’t know if it eased my conscience, but at least the money did some good.”

Pacino clarified that he always donated the money anonymously because he did not want charitable efforts to come across as a publicity stunt. “I just wanted one positive thing to come out of that whole experience,” he wrote.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Cruisingwas loosely adapted from author Gerald Walker’s 1970novel of the same name. Pacino costarred in the film with Paul Sorvino, Karen Allen, Richard Cox, Don Scardino, Ed O’Neill and Joe Spinell, among others.

Al Pacino on the set of 1980’s Cruising.United Artists/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty

United Artists/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty

Friedkin, who died in 2023 at 87, admitted toThe Wrapin a 2013 interview that the movie “was not the best foot forward for the gay rights movement, but I never intended the film to be critical” of the LGTBQ+ community. He also claimed that Pacino “gave me a rough time” while making the movie “for reasons other than the normal actor-director relationship.”

“He wasn’t on time and often didn’t know what we were doing on a particular day,” he told the outlet, claiming he originally wantedRichard Gereto star in the movie.

Sonny Boyis available wherever books are sold.

source: people.com