Seasoned stage and film actor Al Pacino has lately been into apartment hunting in New York City, months before he goes back to Broadway for a role in David Mamet's "China Doll."
E.B. Solomont of The Real Deal reports that Pacino earlier checked, but eventually passed, a 2,200-square-foot, two-bedroom penthouse at 640 Broadway in Noho, which was listed at $35,000 per month. Pacino was said to channel a line from his "Donnie Brasco" film when he told the owner of this corner unit to "Forget about it."
According to the Academy and Tony award winner's representatives, a duplex at 64 Bank Street, pre-war brownstone in the West Village, was scoped by the actor instead. The unit has a floor size of 3,000 square feet and has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and three fireplaces. It was listed at StreetEasy for a monthly rental of $29,000 if furnished, or $28,500 if unfurnished.
This duplex recently underwent a renovation which lasted for two years. Its owner never lived in it. Two more apartments can be found on the first floor, and one apartment each on the fourth and fifth floors. A smaller unit, with a size of 1,200 square feet and three bedrooms, was being rented for $5,650 a month last year, according to StreetEasy.
Pacino's appearance in a Broadway production is not a first time for the movie star. He began appearing on stage plays in 1967, way ahead his movie debut in 1969. "China Doll" is a new play that deals with big money, fast planes, a beautiful young woman, and other objects of desire. It tells of the story of a man of means who was set to walk away from it all to begin a new life with his beautiful, young fiancée. One phone call suddenly changes everything, though. Mamet, its playwright, said he wrote the play for Pacino. "China Doll" will open on Nov. 19.
