Henry Rollins, the legendary punk musician, recently took to The Guardian to answer his fans’ questions about his career and life. In this candid Q&A, Rollins provided a unique glimpse into his experiences working with the enigmatic Al Pacino on the film ‘Heat.’ The punk icon reminisced about the audition process, behind-the-scenes antics, and the unexpected humor that Pacino brought to the set.
In addition to his storied career as a musician, Rollins has also appeared in various film projects, one of which is the 1995 crime thriller ‘Heat,’ starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. In the film, he portrayed the tertiary antagonist, Hugh Benny, and shared some memorable scenes with Al Pacino. While answering questions from fans, the musician shed light on his time spent with the legendary actor on the movie set.
Rollins revealed that before landing the role, he had to pass an unusual test – getting Al Pacino’s approval during a lunch meeting at a high-class Italian restaurant. It turns out Pacino had a policy of refusing to work with people he didn’t like. Thankfully, the lunch went well, and Rollins received Pacino’s blessing. This led to some amusing and joyful moments on set with the legendary actor, who was known for his quirky and humorous personality.
He started recalling the memory as follows:
“The director, Michael Mann, said: ‘Your character has scenes with Al Pacino, but if Al doesn’t like you, you can’t be in the movie. So, we’re going to have lunch to see if he likes you.’ I’m like: ‘Uh? When?’ He goes: ‘We’re leaving now.’ We walked out with my jaw on the floor and went to some high-class Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills.”
He continued the story by saying:
“Al’s like: ‘Call me Al.’ At the end of the lunch, he goes: ‘Michael, I like him.’ Every day on set, I’d go: ‘How are you, sir?’ Al would put his hand on my shoulder, say: ‘Henry, not so good,’ and tell me in great detail about how he’d pulled a muscle in his arm. He was hilarious to be around. There’s one scene where I’m handcuffed, so Al would sit on a couch and keep me company while I was being unlocked: ‘Someone give me a magic marker. I’m gonna draw a mustache on Henry.’ When you’re getting razzed by Al Pacino, how bad is your day?”
Henry Rollins’ experience with Al Pacino on the’ Heat’ set highlights the esteemed actor’s down-to-earth and playful nature. The musician’s memory not only sheds light on his fun adventure but also goes to show that even the most iconic and serious actors have a lighter side behind the cameras, creating an unforgettable experience for their co-stars.
