Nicolas Cage
In 1996, Nicolas Cage won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his harrowing portrayal of a suicidal alcoholic in Leaving Las Vegas. The honor elevated the eclectic character actor into Hollywood's top tier and ushered in a run of big-budget action leads.
Coppola Roots
Born Nicolas Coppola in 1964, he is the nephew of director Francis Ford Coppola. He adopted the stage name Cage early on to forge his own path.
An Oscar and Action Stardom
After offbeat roles in the 1980s, his Oscar win for Leaving Las Vegas made him a leading man. He pivoted into blockbuster action with The Rock, Con Air and Face/Off.
Prolific Reinvention
Cage has remained one of cinema's most prolific and unpredictable actors. Recent films like Pig and Massive Talent renewed critical appreciation for his range.
Career Timeline
- 1964Born Nicolas Coppola in Long Beach, California
- 1983Early role in Valley Girl
- 1987Stars in Moonstruck and Raising Arizona
- 1995Films Leaving Las Vegas
- 1996Wins Best Actor Oscar; releases The Rock
- 1997Action hits Con Air and Face/Off
- 2000Stars in Gone in 60 Seconds
- 2004Launches National Treasure franchise
- 2021Critical acclaim for the drama Pig
- 2022Plays himself in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Biggest Hits
- He changed his surname from Coppola to Cage to avoid riding on his famous uncle's name.
- Cage won both the Golden Globe and the Academy Award for Best Actor for Leaving Las Vegas.
Portrait: Georges Biard · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons