Cage, Nicolas (1964-…), is an American motion-picture actor. He is known for his versatility and his striking performances in offbeat roles. Cage won an Academy Award for best actor for his performance in the film Leaving Las Vegas (1995). He played a self-destructive man addicted to alcohol.
Cage was born on Jan. 7, 1964, in Long Beach, California. His real name is Nicholas Kim Coppola. He is the nephew of the American film director Francis Ford Coppola. Cage made his first significant film appearance in Valley Girl (1983). He went on to portray a series of unconventional characters in such films as Rumble Fish (1983); Racing with the Moon and Birdy (both 1984); Moonstruck and Raising Arizona (both 1987); Wild at Heart (1990); and Honeymoon in Vegas (1992). Cage’s performance in Leaving Las Vegas made him a major star. He later starred in the hit action movies The Rock (1996) and Con Air (1997), and in the thriller Face/Off (1997), in which he played both the hero and the villain.
Cage’s other films include It Could Happen to You and Guarding Tess (both 1994); City of Angels (1998); Bringing Out the Dead (1999); Gone in 60 Seconds and The Family Man (both 2000); Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001); Adaptation (2002); Matchstick Men (2003); National Treasure (2004); and Lord of War and The Weather Man (both 2005). His later movies include The Wicker Man and World Trade Center (both 2006); Ghost Rider (2007); Bangkok Dangerous (2008); Knowing and Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (both 2009); The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010); Drive Angry and Seeking Justice (both 2011); Rage and Left Behind (both 2014); Snowden (2016); and Renfield and Dream Scenario (2023). Cage also voiced the character Grug in the animated movies The Croods (2013) and The Croods: A New Age (2020).
