ACTOR · BORN 1964
Nicolas Cage
- Born
- 7 January 1964, Long Beach, California, USA
- Known for
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), Kick-Ass (2010), The Croods (2013), National Treasure (2004)
118 archived facts 6 topics 2 sources Last reviewed Sep 2026
30 Facts From Nicolas Cage's Career
- #003
In 1984, Cage was Johnny Depp's neighbor at the Fontenoy Tower apartments. At the time, Depp was a guitarist in the band Rock City Angels and was struggling financially. Both lived on the sixth floor. Thanks to Cage's constant encouragement and his introduction of Depp to his agent, Depp turned to acting and gave up his music career.
- #010
Nicolas Cage's first non-cinematic acting experience came in a school production of Golden Boy.
- #012
Nicolas Cage said he began acting because he wanted to be James Dean, citing Dean's performances in Rebel Without a Cause and East of Eden as a profound influence.
- #016
Nicolas Cage adopted his stage name to avoid the appearance of nepotism as Francis Ford Coppola's nephew, even though he had appeared in some of his uncle's films early in his career.
- #022
Nicolas Cage's acting debut came in the 1981 television pilot The Best of Times, which ABC never picked up.
- #024
Cage's film debut was a minor role as an unnamed co-worker of Judge Reinhold's character in the 1982 coming-of-age film Fast Times at Ridgemont High; he had originally auditioned for Reinhold's part.
- #029
Nicolas Cage appeared in three period films in 1984, none of which performed well at the box office.
- #037
Nicolas Cage appeared in the little-seen Canadian sports drama The Boy in Blue in 1986.
- #041
Every time Nicolas Cage has been nominated for an Oscar, he has played a screenwriter. The curious coincidence reflects the choices of his career. His nominations came for films such as 'Leaving Las Vegas' and 'Adaptation.'.
- #043
Nicolas Cage starred in the 1989 black comedy Vampire's Kiss as a man who comes to believe he is a vampire; the film flopped at the box office but later gained a cult following, largely because of Cage's surrealistic and over-the-top performance.
- #045
Critic Vincent Canby described Nicolas Cage's work in Vampire's Kiss as a "chaotic, self-indulgent performance" that dominated and destroyed the film.
- #048
Nicolas Cage was initially cast as Randy 'The Ram' Robinson in 'The Wrestler' (2008). However, Cage felt he did not have enough time to build muscle for the role and left the film because he knew director Darren Aronofsky's heart was set on Mickey Rourke. Rourke won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar for the performance.
- #049
Nicolas Cage starred as a helicopter pilot in the 1990 action film Fire Birds, which critics panned and negatively compared to Top Gun (1986).
- #050
Nicolas Cage's erotic thriller Zandalee was released in 1991 and went direct-to-video in the United States without a theatrical release.
- #053
Nicolas Cage hosted an episode of the variety show Saturday Night Live to promote Honeymoon in Vegas, the only time he hosted the show.
- #055
Nicolas Cage appeared in three films released in 1993: Deadfall, Amos & Andrew and Red Rock West. All three performed poorly at the box office.
- #061
Nicolas Cage's portrayal of a psychopathic criminal kingpin in the 1995 crime film Kiss of Death was regarded by many critics as the film's strongest element.
- #063
Nicolas Cage's most acclaimed performance came in the drama Leaving Las Vegas, where he played an alcoholic screenwriter who falls in love with a prostitute.
- #065
For his role in Leaving Las Vegas, Nicolas Cage won the Academy Award for Best Actor and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama.
- #071
Journalist Alexander Larman said The Rock launched Nicolas Cage into an unexpected career as an offbeat action star.
- #073
Nicolas Cage starred in Con Air and Face/Off, two commercially successful action thrillers both released in June 1997.
- #080
Nicolas Cage is one of three actors to receive an Oscar nomination for playing more than one character in a single film, alongside Lee Marvin and Peter Sellers. In 'Adaptation.' (2002), he played the twin brothers Donald and Charlie. Marvin is the only one to have won an Oscar for a dual role.
- #084
Nicolas Cage auditioned for the role of Joel Goodson in 'Risky Business' (1983), but the part eventually went to Tom Cruise. Cruise's performance in the film became a turning point in his career. Cage went on to forge his own path.
- #088
Nicolas Cage attended and graduated from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. This training gave him a solid foundation for his acting career. UCLA is a school that has produced many successful actors.
- #091
On July 31, 1998, Nicolas Cage received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. The honor was a recognition of his success in the film industry. His star is still visited by fans today.
- #105
In the early 1980s, Nicolas Cage attended Justin-Siena High School in Napa, California. This period corresponds to his youth and was a time when his interest in acting took root. During his high school education his passion for theater became clear, and this experience laid the foundation for his later career; this period holds an important place in his artistic development.
- #108
In 1998, Premiere magazine ranked Nicolas Cage 37th on its list of the 100 most powerful people in Hollywood. The ranking reveals his influence and popularity in the industry at the time. By appearing on the list, Cage proved his weight in the industry through both his acting career and his producing work; this achievement represents one of the high points of his career.
- #110
In October 1997, Empire magazine placed Nicolas Cage 40th on its list of the '100 Greatest Movie Stars of All Time'. This prestigious list brings together the most influential actors in cinema history, and Cage's inclusion shows how respected his career is. The ranking proves that he is an actor appreciated by both critics and audiences.
- #113
Nicolas Cage's birthday falls one day before that of Elvis Presley, of whom he is a great fan. Cage has often said throughout his career that he drew inspiration from Presley and loved his music.
- #115
A shot from Nicolas Cage's 1988 film "Vampire's Kiss" became a worldwide internet meme. In the scene, Cage's character, Peter Loew, tells his secretary Alva Restrepo (Maria Conchita Alonso) that he is the lowest man on the totem pole.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
Sources for the entries on this page
- Wikipedia Nicolas Cage — Wikipedia
- IMDb IMDb
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