Nicolas Cage is an Italian-American actor known for his intense performances, stylistic range, and willingness to move fluidly between independent cinema and large-scale Hollywood productions.

Nicolas Cage, born Nicholas Kim Coppola on January 7, 1964, in Long Beach, California, is one of the most distinctive and versatile actors of his generation. Over a career spanning four decades, he has appeared in an extraordinary range of genres, including drama, romantic comedy, action, war films, and experimental independent cinema. He achieved international acclaim after winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Moonstruck, a role that firmly established his artistic independence and critical legitimacy.

Early Life and Family Background

Nicolas Cage was born into a family deeply embedded in American arts and culture. His father, August Floyd Coppola, was an Italian-American writer and professor of literature, while his mother, Joy Vogelsang, of German descent, worked as a choreographer and ballerina. Cage’s early childhood was marked by emotional instability within the household. His mother, who suffered from chronic depression and hallucinations, was institutionalized when Cage was six years old. His parents divorced in 1976.

The Coppola family name carried significant cultural weight. Nicolas Cage is the nephew of legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola and the cousin of filmmaker Sofia Coppola. He is also related to actors Jason Schwartzman and Robert Carmine. Cage grew up with two brothers: Christopher Coppola, who later became a film director, and Marc "The Cope" Coppola, who pursued a career in radio broadcasting.

Reflecting on his family background, Cage once stated:

Education and Early Artistic Interests

Nicolas Cage attended Beverly Hills High School, an institution also attended by figures such as Angelina Jolie, Albert Brooks, Lenny Kravitz, Slash, Rob Reiner, and David Schwimmer. It was during this period that he realized his desire to become an actor. He performed on stage in the play Golden Boy, gaining early confidence in dramatic performance.

Name Change and Artistic Identity

During his early adulthood, Cage experienced repeated rejections and periods of unemployment. Determined to succeed independently and avoid the perception of nepotism associated with the Coppola name, he adopted the professional surname “Cage,” inspired by the Marvel Comics superhero Luke Cage. Although he did not legally change his name, he began using Nicolas Cage on all professional and official documents.

He later explained the decision in an interview:

Career Beginnings

Nicolas Cage struggled with stage fright and social anxiety early in his career, often trembling when appearing before audiences. He viewed acting as a way to confront and overcome these fears. His film debut came with a brief appearance in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, starring Sean Penn and introducing Jennifer Jason Leigh to mainstream audiences.

In 1983, Cage appeared alongside Matt Dillon in Rumble Fish, followed by his breakout role in Valley Girl, which made him a recognizable figure across the United States. A more serious artistic challenge soon followed when acclaimed director Alan Parker cast him in Birdy, where Cage portrayed Sergeant Al Columbato. His performance impressed critics and industry veterans alike.

This success led Francis Ford Coppola to cast Cage in The Cotton Club, featuring Richard Gere, Diane Lane, Bob Hoskins, and Gregory Hines. He later appeared in Coppola’s Peggy Sue Got Married, further solidifying his presence in American cinema.

Breakthrough and Critical Recognition

Nicolas Cage’s defining breakthrough came with Moonstruck, in which he starred opposite Cher. The film won three Academy Awards and marked Cage’s complete emergence from the shadow of his famous family. Director Norman Jewison famously described him as “a poet who could do anything,” while critics praised his emotional depth and originality.

His performance caught the attention of the Coen Brothers, leading to his role in Raising Arizona. Cage continued his ascent with films such as Vampire’s Kiss (1990) and Honeymoon in Vegas (1992), becoming an actor capable of commanding salaries of up to four million dollars per film.

Academy Award Success

The year 1995 marked a turning point in Cage’s career. His portrayal of a suicidal alcoholic in Leaving Las Vegas earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor. The performance was widely regarded as one of the most emotionally raw and fearless in modern American cinema.

Mainstream Stardom and Action Cinema

Following his Oscar win, Nicolas Cage entered a period of mainstream superstardom. He appeared in high-budget action films such as The Rock, Con Air, Face/Off, and Gone in Sixty Seconds, balancing commercial appeal with his unconventional acting style. In 1998, he starred opposite Meg Ryan in the romantic drama City of Angels.

In 2002, Cage received another Academy Award nomination for his dual performance as Charlie and Donald Kaufman in Adaptation. Throughout the 2000s, he continued to alternate between studio films and more personal projects, including The Weather Man and Next.

He returned to comic-book cinema by portraying the lead character in Ghost Rider (2007) and reprised the role in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2012).

Personal Life

Nicolas Cage has had a complex personal life marked by multiple marriages and relationships. In his twenties, he dated E.G. Daily and later became romantically involved with Uma Thurman. On December 26, 1990, his son Weston Coppola Cage was born from his relationship with Christina Fulton.

In 2006, Cage purchased a private island in the Exuma archipelago for approximately three million dollars, reflecting his long-standing fascination with isolation, privacy, and eccentric investments.

Marriages

1st wife: Patricia Arquette (April 8, 1995 – May 18, 2001) – divorced
2nd wife: Lisa Marie Presley (August 10, 2002 – May 16, 2004) – divorced
3rd wife: Alice Kim Cage (July 30, 2004 – 2016) – divorced (one child, Kal-El Cage)
4th wife: Erika Koike (March 23, 2019 – May 31, 2019) – divorced
5th wife: Riko Shibata (February 16, 2021 – present)

Filmography

Director :
2002 – Sonny (Feature Film)

Producer :
2008 – Bangkok Dangerous (Feature Film)
2003 – Bringing Out the Dead (Feature Film)

Actor :
2021 – Untitled Joe Exotic Project (Joe Exotic) (TV Series)
2021 – Pig (Rob) (Feature Film)
2021 – The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (Nick Cage) (Feature Film)
2021 – Willy's Wonderland (The Janitor) (Feature Film)
2021 – Prisoners of the Ghostland (Hero) (Feature Film)
2020 – The Croods: A New Age (Grug – voice) (Animated Feature)
2020 – Jiu Jitsu (Wylie) (Feature Film)
2019 – Grand Isle (Walter) (Feature Film)
2019 – Primal (Frank Walsh) (Feature Film)
2019 – Kill Chain (Araña) (Feature Film)
2019 – Running with the Devil (The Cook) (Feature Film)
2019 – Color Out of Space (Nathan Gardner) (Feature Film)
2019 – A Score to Settle (Frank) (Feature Film)
2018 – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Spider-Man Noir – voice) (Animated Feature)
2018 – Between Worlds (Joe) (Feature Film)
2018 – Teen Titans Go! To the Movies (Superman – voice) (Animated Feature)
2018 – 211 (Mike Chandler) (Feature Film)
2018 – Looking Glass (Ray) (Feature Film)
2018 – Mandy (Red Miller) (Feature Film)
2017 – Inconceivable (Brian) (Feature Film)
2017 – Vengeance: A Love Story (John Dromoor) (Feature Film)
2017 – Mom and Dad (Brent) (Feature Film)
2017 – The Humanity Bureau (Noah Kross) (Feature Film)
2017 – Arsenal (Feature Film)
2016 – The Trust (Jim Stone) (Feature Film)
2016 – USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage (Captain McVay) (Feature Film)
2016 – Snowden (Feature Film)
2016 – Dog Eat Dog (Troy) (Feature Film)
2016 – Army of One (Feature Film)
2015 – The Runner (Colin Price) (Feature Film)
2015 – Pay the Ghost (Mike Cole) (Feature Film)
2015 – Dying of the Light (Evan Lake) (Feature Film)
2014 – Tokarev (Paul Maguire) (Feature Film)
2014 – Outcast (Gallain) (Feature Film)
2014 – Left Behind (Rayford Steele) (Feature Film)
2013 – Joe (Joe Ransom) (Feature Film)
2013 – The Croods (Grug – voice) (Animated Feature)
2013 – The Frozen Ground (Jack Halcombe) (Feature Film)
2012 – Stolen (Will Montgomery) (Feature Film)
2012 – Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (Johnny Blaze) (Feature Film)
2011 – Seeking Justice (Nick Gerard) (Feature Film)
2011 – Drive Angry (Milton) (Feature Film)
2011 – Trespass (Kyle Miller) (Feature Film)
2010 – Kick-Ass (Damon Macready) (Feature Film)
2010 – The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Balthazar Blake) (Feature Film)
2010 – Season of the Witch (Behmen) (Feature Film)
2009 – Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (Terence McDonagh) (Feature Film)
2009 – Knowing (John Koestler) (Feature Film)
2009 – Astro Boy (Dr. Tenma – voice) (Animated Feature)
2009 – G-Force (Speckles – voice) (Animated Feature)
2008 – Bangkok Dangerous (Joe) (Feature Film)
2007 – Next (Cris Johnson) (Feature Film)
2007 – Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze) (Feature Film)
2007 – National Treasure: Book of Secrets (Ben Gates) (Feature Film)
2006 – The Wicker Man (Edward Malus) (Feature Film)
2006 – World Trade Center (John McLoughlin) (Feature Film)
2005 – Lord of War (Yuri Orlov) (Feature Film)
2005 – The Weather Man (David Spritz) (Feature Film)
2004 – National Treasure (Ben Gates) (Feature Film)
2003 – Matchstick Men (Roy Waller) (Feature Film)
2002 – Adaptation (Charlie Kaufman) (Feature Film)
2002 – Sonny (Acid Yellow) (Feature Film)
2002 – Windtalkers (Joe Enders) (Feature Film)
2001 – Captain Corelli's Mandolin (Captain Corelli) (Feature Film)
2000 – The Family Man (Jack Campbell) (Feature Film)
2000 – Gone in Sixty Seconds (Memphis Raines) (Feature Film)
1999 – Bringing Out the Dead (Frank Pierce) (Feature Film)
1999 – 8MM (Tom Welles) (Feature Film)
1998 – Snake Eyes (Rick Santoro) (Feature Film)
1998 – City of Angels (Seth) (Feature Film)
1997 – Face/Off (Castor Troy) (Feature Film)
1997 – Con Air (Cameron Poe) (Feature Film)
1996 – The Rock (Stanley Goodspeed) (Feature Film)
1995 – Leaving Las Vegas (Ben Sanderson) (Feature Film)
1994 – It Could Happen to You (Charlie Lang) (Feature Film)
1994 – Guarding Tess (Doug Chesnic) (Feature Film)
1993 – Amos & Andrew (Amos Odell) (Feature Film)
1993 – Deadfall (Eddie) (Feature Film)
1992 – Honeymoon in Vegas (Jack Singer) (Feature Film)
1992 – Red Rock West (Michael Williams) (Feature Film)
1991 – Zandalee (Johnny Collins) (Feature Film)
1990 – Wild at Heart (Sailor Ripley) (Feature Film)
1989 – Vampire's Kiss (Peter Loew) (Feature Film)
1987 – Raising Arizona (H.I. McDunnough) (Feature Film)
1987 – Moonstruck (Ronny Cammareri) (Feature Film)
1986 – Peggy Sue Got Married (Charlie Bodell) (Feature Film)
1984 – Birdy (Al Columbato) (Feature Film)
1984 – Racing with the Moon (Nicky) (Feature Film)
1983 – Valley Girl (Randy) (Feature Film)
1983 – Rumble Fish (Smokey) (Feature Film)
1982 – Fast Times at Ridgemont High (Brad's Bud) (Feature Film)

Source: Biyografiler.com