Al Pacino has been honoured with the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award. The Scarface actor, who received the acting institution's highest honour at Los Angeles' Kodak Theatre, was left visibly moved as a series of Hollywood stars paid tribute to him.

Upon collecting his award, Pacino said, "I need a character. I don't think of myself as being able to do anything. Seeing my life in the movies, I have one question. And that is, 'Why aren't I in rehab?'

"By age 3, I was doing Al Jolson (legendary singer who starred in the first 'talking' film). I found, in the theatre, this place I could go to. I found this peace. It means so many things to be honoured like this. It feels great".

The three-hour gala featured clips from Pacino's biggest films including The Godfather, Scent of a Woman and Serpico. Director Oliver Stone, who wrote 'Scarface' in which Pacino starred as a violent drug dealer, paid tribute to one of Pacino's most famous lines. Stone said: "Al has a wicked sense of humour and a great, if misunderstood, heart. It is with great love and respect that I say goodnight to the bad guy."

Jamie Foxx, who starred alongside the 67-year-old in Any Given Sunday, hailed him as "the greatest actor in the world".