Nicolas Cage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nicolas Cage
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Cage in 2011
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Nicolas Kim Coppola
January 7, 1964 Long Beach, California, U.S.
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| Years active | 1981–present |
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Works
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Full list |
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| Children | 3 |
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| Family | Coppola family |
| Awards | Full list |
Nicolas Kim Coppola (born January 7, 1964), known to the world as Nicolas Cage, is a famous American actor and movie producer. He has won many major awards, including an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe Award. Cage is known for playing a wide variety of characters in different types of movies, which has made him very popular with fans.
Cage was born into the famous Coppola family, which includes many filmmakers and actors. He started his career with roles in movies like Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) and Valley Girl (1983). He also appeared in films made by his uncle, director Francis Ford Coppola.
He became a major star with roles in action movies like The Rock (1996), Con Air (1997), and Face/Off (1997). He is also famous for playing the lead in the National Treasure film series and the Ghost Rider film series.
Cage won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the drama Leaving Las Vegas (1995). He has also voiced characters in animated movies like The Croods and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018). In recent years, he has earned praise for his work in films like Pig (2021) and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022).
Besides acting, Cage owns a production company called Saturn Films. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1998 for his work in the movie industry.
Early Life and Family
Nicolas Cage was born in Long Beach, California. His father, August Coppola, was a literature professor, and his mother, Joy Vogelsang, was a dancer. His father's family is Italian, and his mother's family is mostly German and Polish.
Through his father, Cage is related to many famous people in Hollywood. His uncle is the director Francis Ford Coppola, and his aunt is actress Talia Shire. His cousins include directors Sofia Coppola and Roman Coppola.
Cage attended Beverly Hills High School, which many future entertainers have attended. He wanted to be an actor from a young age and was inspired by the actor James Dean.
To avoid looking like he was getting special treatment because of his famous uncle, he changed his last name from Coppola to Cage. He chose the name "Cage" because he was a fan of the comic book superhero Luke Cage and the composer John Cage.
Acting Career
1981–1988: Early Roles and Breakthrough
Cage's first movie role was a small part in the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. His first leading role was in the 1983 romantic comedy Valley Girl. In the movie, he played a punk who falls in love with a girl from the San Fernando Valley. The film became a cult classic.
In 1984, he appeared in his uncle's crime drama The Cotton Club. For the movie Birdy (1984), he had two of his teeth removed to make his character look more realistic. His performance was praised by critics.
His career took a big step forward in 1987. He starred in the comedy Raising Arizona and the romantic comedy Moonstruck with the singer Cher. Moonstruck was a huge success, and Cage was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
1989–1994: A Mix of Films
In 1989, Cage starred in the comedy Vampire's Kiss. The movie wasn't a box office hit at first, but it later became a cult favorite. Many people know the film today because of Cage's unique acting, which has been used in many internet memes.
He also starred in director David Lynch's film Wild at Heart (1990). In this movie, he got to sing like one of his heroes, Elvis Presley.
During the early 1990s, he starred in several comedies. These included Honeymoon in Vegas (1992), which earned him another Golden Globe nomination, and Guarding Tess (1994) with actress Shirley MacLaine.
1995–2003: Becoming an Action Star
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Cage's role as a self-destructive writer in Leaving Las Vegas (1995) won him an Academy Award for Best Actor. To prepare for the role, he studied videos of himself to act like someone who had a serious problem.
After this dramatic role, Cage became a major action star. He starred in The Rock (1996) with Sean Connery. The movie was a huge success and showed that Cage could be a big action hero.
He followed this with two more hit action movies in 1997: Con Air and Face/Off. In Face/Off, he and John Travolta played enemies who switch faces. Both actors had to learn to act like each other, and their performances were praised.
He also starred in other popular films like City of Angels (1998) and Gone in 60 Seconds (2000). In 2002, he was nominated for another Academy Award for playing twin brothers in the movie Adaptation.
2004–2011: Adventure and Fantasy Films
In 2004, Cage starred in National Treasure. He played a historian who searches for a hidden treasure left by the Founding Fathers of the United States. The movie was a huge box office success.
He also starred in the 2006 remake of The Wicker Man. In 2007, he played the Marvel Comics character Johnny Blaze in the movie Ghost Rider. The film was a box office hit, and he returned for the sequel, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, in 2011.
During this time, he also starred in the science fiction thriller Knowing (2009) and the fantasy film The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010).
2012–2017: Independent Films and Voice Acting
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In 2013, Cage voiced the caveman Grug in the animated movie The Croods. The movie was a big success with both critics and audiences.
He also starred in the independent drama film Joe (2013). In the movie, he played a man who protects a teenage boy from his difficult home life. Critics loved his performance in the film.
Cage continued to work on interesting projects. He starred in the horror comedy Mom and Dad (2017). The famous director John Waters called it one of the best movies of the year.
2018–present: A Return to Critical Acclaim
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In 2018, Cage starred in the action thriller Mandy. Critics praised his powerful performance in the movie. That same year, he voiced Superman in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies. He also voiced the 1930s version of Spider-Man, called Spider-Man Noir, in the Oscar-winning animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
In 2021, Cage received more praise for his role in the movie Pig. He played a truffle hunter searching for his stolen pig. His performance earned him a Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actor nomination.
He then starred as a fictional version of himself in the comedy The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022). In 2023, he played the famous character Dracula in the horror-comedy Renfield. He also made a cameo appearance as Superman in the movie The Flash.
Awards and Recognition
For his work in movies, Cage was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1998. In 2001, he received an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from California State University, Fullerton.
Cage has been nominated for an Academy Award twice. He won the Best Actor award for Leaving Las Vegas in 1995. He was nominated again for Adaptation in 2002. He has also won a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Personal Life
Cage has been married five times and has three children. His son Weston has appeared in some of his father's films.
Cage is a big fan of comic books. In 2002, he sold a collection of 400 vintage comics for over $1.6 million. He even co-created a comic book with his son Weston called Voodoo Child.
He has been called one of the most generous stars in Hollywood. He has donated millions of dollars to charities like Amnesty International and to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. The United Nations has honored him with a Humanitarian award for his charity work.
At one point, Cage owned many unique properties, including a medieval castle in Germany and an island in the Bahamas. He had some financial troubles and had to sell many of his properties. One of the most interesting items he owned was a dinosaur skull, which he later returned to the Mongolian government after learning it was stolen. By 2022, he had paid off his debts.
See also
In Spanish: Nicolas Cage para niños
- Coppola family tree
- List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees
