Nicolas Cage
Full Name and Common Aliases
Full Name: Nicolas Kim Coppola
Common Aliases: Nicolas Cage
Birth and Death Dates
Birth Date: January 7, 1964
Death Date: N/A
Nationality and Profession(s)
Nationality: American
Profession(s): Actor, Producer, Director
Early Life and Background
Nicolas Cage was born Nicolas Kim Coppola on January 7, 1964, in Long Beach, California. He hails from a family deeply entrenched in the arts and entertainment industry. His father, August Coppola, was a literature professor, while his mother, Joy Vogelsang, was a dancer and choreographer. Cage is also the nephew of the acclaimed director Francis Ford Coppola, which placed him in the midst of Hollywood's elite from a young age. Despite his illustrious family background, Cage was determined to carve out his own path in the film industry. To avoid the appearance of nepotism, he adopted the stage name "Nicolas Cage," inspired by the Marvel Comics superhero Luke Cage.
Major Accomplishments
Nicolas Cage's career is marked by a series of transformative performances that have earned him critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in "Leaving Las Vegas" (1995), where he portrayed a self-destructive alcoholic with raw intensity and vulnerability. This performance solidified his reputation as a versatile actor capable of delivering powerful and emotionally charged performances. Cage has also received nominations for other prestigious awards, including the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards, further cementing his status as a leading figure in Hollywood.
Notable Works or Actions
Throughout his career, Nicolas Cage has demonstrated an extraordinary range, taking on diverse roles across various genres. Some of his most notable films include "Raising Arizona" (1987), "Moonstruck" (1987), "Face/Off" (1997), and "Adaptation" (2002). In "Adaptation," Cage played dual roles as real-life screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and his fictional twin brother, showcasing his ability to navigate complex characters with ease. His performances in action films like "The Rock" (1996) and "Con Air" (1997) have also contributed to his reputation as a dynamic and bankable star.
Beyond acting, Cage has ventured into producing and directing. He made his directorial debut with "Sonny" (2002), a film that explores the life of a young man trying to escape his past as a male escort. Cage's passion for storytelling and his willingness to take creative risks have made him a multifaceted figure in the entertainment industry.
Impact and Legacy
Nicolas Cage's impact on the film industry is undeniable. His unique approach to acting, often described as "Cageian," is characterized by its intensity and unpredictability. This distinctive style has influenced a generation of actors and filmmakers who admire his commitment to his craft. Cage's willingness to embrace unconventional roles and his ability to oscillate between mainstream blockbusters and independent films have made him a versatile and enduring presence in Hollywood.
Cage's legacy is also marked by his contributions to the popularization of certain film genres. His work in action and thriller films during the 1990s helped define the era's cinematic landscape, while his performances in more experimental films have pushed the boundaries of traditional storytelling.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Nicolas Cage is widely quoted and remembered for his memorable performances and his ability to deliver lines with a unique flair that often becomes iconic. His quotes from films like "Face/Off" and "Con Air" have become part of popular culture, frequently referenced and parodied in various media. Cage's off-screen persona, characterized by his eccentricity and passion for his craft, has also contributed to his quotability. His interviews often reveal insightful and sometimes humorous reflections on his career and life, endearing him to fans and making him a subject of fascination.
In summary, Nicolas Cage's enduring appeal lies in his fearless approach to acting and his ability to captivate audiences with his dynamic performances. His contributions to cinema and his memorable quotes continue to resonate with audiences, ensuring his place as a beloved and influential figure in the entertainment industry.
Quotes by Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage's insights on:
Mel Blanc is a hero because of what he could do with his voice for all the Looney Tunes, the Warner Brothers cartoons, to be the voice of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Porky Pig.
I have a love / hate relationship with the city of New Orleans, which is the strongest kind of relationship.
Actors work with their look. I come from the Lon Chaney Sr. school of acting. I’ll wear wigs, I’ll wear nose pieces, I’ll wear green contact lenses in my eyes. I’ll do whatever I need to do to create a character.
When you have 400 people watching you making a movie, it doesn’t go where you want it to go. It’s a lot of pressure.
I went to New Orleans for the first time for Wild at Heart, and I kept going back to make more movies there. I’ve become very close to the city and part of me does feel like a New Orleanian.
I like to work with young people because young people haven’t had their dreams kicked out of them yet. They’re full of confidence and imagination and vision and when they score, that all get’s empowered.
You often feel like you are on a high wire with no net productions because you have to rely on spontaneity and come up with ideas on the spur of the moment – and then what happens is that there is electricity to it that gets caught.
I may be alone in this, but I do sense the power of film, in that movies have the ability to literally change people’s minds. That’s pretty powerful stuff when you consider that.
I got a little tired of movies where I had to shoot people. I got to thinking about the power of film and what that power is. The power is in fact that it really can change people’s minds.