Nicholas Cage : Biography
Born Nicholas Coppola on January 7, 1964, in Long Beach, California, to
choreographer Joy Vogelsang and literature professor August Coppola. Cage
has two older brothers, Marc and Christopher. He is the nephew of film
director Francis Ford Coppola and, as a youth, visited his uncle often
at his San Francisco home. At age 15, Cage fell in love with acting during
a summer class at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco.
He dropped out of Beverly Hills High School to pursue an acting career,
making his debut on television in 1981. He changed his name to Nicolas
Cage as a way to separate his identity from that of his famous uncle.
He chose the name “Cage” as a tribute to comic-book superhero Luke Cage.
Nicholas Cage : Career
Initially
studying theatre at Beverly Hills High (though he dropped out at 17),
he secured a bit part in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) -- most of
which was cut, dashing his hopes and leading to a job selling popcorn
at the Fairfax Theater, thinking that would be the only route to a movie
career. But a job reading lines with auditioners for uncle Francis's Rumble
Fish (1983) landed him a role in that film, followed by the punk-rocker
in Valley Girl (1983) which was released first and truly launched his
career. His one-time passion for method acting reached a personal limit
when he smashed a street-vendor's remote-control car to achieve the sense
of rage needed for his gangster character in Cotton Club, The (1984).
After starring opposite Cher in Moonstruck (1987), Cage kept busy crafting
his thespian skills in a plethora of marginal movies - the most notable
flick being Honeymoon in Vegas (1992). In 1995, Cage established himself
critically by winning an Oscar for his leading role in Leaving Las Vegas.
A string of commercial blockbusters followed (The Rock, Face Off, Con
Air); making him one of Hollwood's most bankable and celebrated stars.
Nicholas Cage : Films
The Best
of Times (1982), Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), Rumble Fish (1983),
Valley Girl (1983), Cotton Club (1984), Racing with the Moon (1984), Birdy
(1984), Boy in Blue (1986), Peggy sue Got Married (1986), Moonstruck (1987),
Raising Arizona (1987), Vampire Kiss (1989), Time to Kill (Tempo di uccidere)
(1989), Firebirds (1990), Never on Tuesday (1990), Wild at Heart (1990),
Industrial Symphony #1- Dream of the Broken Hearted (1990), Zandalee (1991),
Honeymoon in Vegas (1992), Amos and Andrew (1993), Red Rock West (1993),
Deadfall (1993), Guarding Tess (1994), It could Happen to You (1994),
Trapped in Paradise (1994), Kiss of Death (1995), Leaving Las Vegas (1995),
The Rock (1996), Con Air (1997), Face/off (1997), City of Angels (1998),
Snake Eyes (1998), Eight Millimeter (1999), Bringing Out the Dead (1999),
Gone in 60 Seconds (2000), Family Man (2000), Captian Corellis Mandolin
(2001), Windtalkers (2002), Adaptian (2002)