Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage is an American actor and film producer known for winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for Leaving Las Vegas and starring in films including Face/Off, National Treasure and Raising Arizona. His career spans acclaimed dramas, blockbuster action films, distinctive horror performances and voice roles in animated projects.
Personal life
Nicolas Cage has been married to Riko Shibata since 2021. His previous marriages were to Patricia Arquette from 1995 to 2001, Lisa Marie Presley from 2002 to 2004, Alice Kim from 2004 to 2016, and Erika Koike in 2019. Cage and Koike's marriage was annulled after four days.
Cage has three children. His son Weston Coppola Cage, born in 1990, is the child of Cage and Christina Fulton. He has a son, Kal-El, with Alice Kim and a daughter, August Francesca, with Riko Shibata.
Early work and breakthrough
Cage made his screen debut in the television pilot The Best of Times in 1981 and had a small role in Fast Times at Ridgemont High in 1982. His first starring role came in Valley Girl in 1983, which was released before his supporting performance in Francis Ford Coppola's Rumble Fish. He also appeared in Coppola's The Cotton Club and Peggy Sue Got Married.
Cage adopted the surname Cage to establish a professional identity separate from his uncle Francis Ford Coppola. His early breakthrough came with Moonstruck and Raising Arizona in 1987. For his role in Birdy, he lost weight and had two front teeth removed to create a disfigured appearance.
Oscar success and action films
Cage won the Academy Award for Best Actor for playing an alcoholic screenwriter in Leaving Las Vegas in 1995. He received a second Oscar nomination for portraying real-life screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and Kaufman's fictional twin Donald in Adaptation in 2002.
He became a major action star through The Rock, Con Air and Face/Off, released between 1996 and 1997. Other prominent action and adventure films included Gone in 60 Seconds, National Treasure, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Ghost Rider, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance and Kick-Ass. He also played dramatic roles in City of Angels, Bringing Out the Dead, The Family Man, Matchstick Men and Joe.
Directing, producing and voice roles
Cage made his directorial debut with Sonny in 2002, a drama starring James Franco and Brenda Blethyn. He founded the production company Saturn Films and produced projects including Shadow of the Vampire, The Life of David Gale, Pig and Longlegs.
His voice work includes Grug Crood in The Croods and The Croods: A New Age, Superman in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies, and Spider-Man Noir in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. He also played Dracula in Renfield and an alternate version of Superman in The Flash.
Nouveau Shamanic and critical resurgence
Cage has described his approach to acting as "Nouveau Shamanic", a style centered on expanding the imagination and avoiding restrained or overly conventional performance. His exaggerated work in films such as Vampire's Kiss, Raising Arizona and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance became closely associated with his public reputation as an unconventional performer.
His performances in Mandy, Pig, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Dream Scenario and Longlegs brought renewed critical recognition. Cage received the Critics' Choice Super Award for Best Actor in a Horror Movie for Longlegs and was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1998.
Quick facts
- Nicolas Cage adopted his stage surname from the Marvel Comics character Luke Cage and composer John Cage.
- His first starring film role was opposite Deborah Foreman in the 1983 romantic comedy Valley Girl.
- Cage removed two of his front teeth for his role in Birdy to appear disfigured.
- He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Leaving Las Vegas and received a second nomination for Adaptation.
- Cage learned to play the mandolin from scratch for Captain Corelli's Mandolin.
- He played both Charlie Kaufman and Kaufman's fictional twin Donald in Adaptation.
- Cage made his directorial debut with the 2002 drama Sonny.
- He founded the production company Saturn Films.
- Cage developed an acting approach that he calls "Nouveau Shamanic".
- He voiced Spider-Man Noir in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
- Cage received an honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from California State University, Fullerton, in 2001.
- He was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1998.
FAQs about Nicolas Cage
How many marriages has Nicholas Cage had?
Nicolas Cage has had five marriages. His wives were Patricia Arquette, Lisa Marie Presley, Alice Kim, Erika Koike and Riko Shibata.
How many children does Nicolas Cage have?
Nicolas Cage has three children: Weston Coppola Cage, Kal-El Cage and August Francesca Coppola Cage.
Why did Nicolas Cage change his last name?
Nicolas Cage changed his surname from Coppola to distinguish his acting career from the reputation of his uncle, director Francis Ford Coppola, and to avoid appearing to benefit from nepotism.
What movie did Nicolas Cage win an Academy Award for?
Nicolas Cage won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Leaving Las Vegas in 1995.
What animated movies has Nicolas Cage been in?
Nicolas Cage has provided voices for The Croods, The Croods: A New Age, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
What movies has Nicolas Cage directed?
Nicolas Cage directed Sonny, which was released in 2002 and also produced by Cage.
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