Say Hello to Al Pacino's Little Shrek Phone Case

Al Pacino is one of Hollywood's most iconic actors, known for his legendary roles as Michael Corleone in The Godfather and Tony Montana in Scarface. These characters have cemented his reputation as the quintessential on-screen mob boss, embodying cold, calculated intensity. Yet, imagining Pacino as he is today, at 84 years old, feels like a departure from those roles. In recent times, he's been promoting his new memoir, Sonny Boy, and an interview with the BBC has gone viral—not just because of his reflections on his storied career, but due to an unexpected revelation: Al Pacino has a phone case covered with images of Shrek.

During the interview, the actor was asked about his career when the host was caught off guard by Pacino’s phone case. The sight of the Shrek-themed cover sparked a wave of intrigue. The interviewer’s surprise was palpable: “Of all the things in the world I’d have thought Al Pacino would have on his phone cover, I was not expecting…Shrek.” Pacino, with his signature gravelly chuckle, reveled in the moment, turning it into an impromptu scene. He raised the phone to the camera, showing off the green ogre, and whispered with a twinkle in his eye, “That’s mine.” It was as if Michael Corleone himself was delivering a monologue, but this time about an animated character. The surreal moment quickly spread online.

This quirky phone case is not new to public view. It made an appearance in 2022 when a photo from a dinner with Jason Momoa showed the Shrek case lying face-down on the table. Last fall, Pacino was again seen with the cover while leaving the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. Its latest sighting was earlier this year when he arrived for a meeting in Los Angeles.

But where did it come from? When the BBC interviewer asked Pacino why he was “Shreking” his phone, Pacino explained the story behind the case. His youngest daughter, Olivia Rose, who was born in 2001, is responsible for the accessory. One day, she borrowed his phone and returned it with the case, saying, “It’s Shrek, dad!” Pacino, amused, decided to keep it. It was a small gesture from his daughter that he’s carried ever since.

The Shrek case suits Pacino in an odd, charming way. At 84, with a new memoir and a long Hollywood career behind him, Pacino has entered the realm of “old-guy swag,” where garish, even bizarre, accessories somehow work. On most people, an outlandish phone cover might seem tacky. But on Pacino, it feels effortlessly cool. This transformation, where once-gaudy items become stylish for older men, fits his current persona perfectly.

Adding to his unique vibe is the fact that Pacino is a relatively new father once again. At 84, he has a 16-month-old son, Roman, giving him a “double license” to embrace quirky aesthetics without worrying about staying polished. The Shrek phone case, a whimsical gift from his daughter, blends perfectly with Pacino’s unexpected late-life fatherhood and his place as a Hollywood legend unafraid to embrace the unconventional.