Nicolas Cage
Academy Award-winning actor Nicolas Cage's body of work spans across multiple genres. From oddball comedies (1987's "Raising Arizona", 2002's "Adaptation"), to dark character dramas (1995's "Leaving Las Vegas", 1999's "Bringing out the Dead"), to effects-driven action films (1997's "Con Air", 2004's "National Treasure", 2007's "Ghost Rider"). Ever since he could remember, Nicolas Cage wanted to be an actor. He was born Nicolas Kim Coppola in Long Beach, California, and from a young age harbored dreams of being up on the 60-foot silver screen, just like his childhood idol James Dean. Of course, it helped that his famous uncle was none other than Francis Ford Coppola, the Academy Award-winning director of such modern classics as "The Godfather" (1972) and "Apocalypse Now" (1979). However, Cage viewed his famous surname as more of a nuisance than anything, which is why he changed it early in his career. Cage attended Beverly Hills High School, and it was there that he first began acting. He studied theater at the school, but long desired to be acting in movies. Feeling like high school was holding him back, Cage dropped out in his senior year to pursue acting full-time. He nabbed his first role when was 18 in the high school drama "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982). Although Cage's role in the film was minor, it gave him the confidence to charge full-steam ahead in building an acting career for himself. By the early 1980s he had changed his surname to Cage, after the Marvel superhero Luke Cage, and with the name change, saw his acting prospects rise. He was cast in his first substantial role as the lead in the 1983 comedy "Valley Girl," and over the next few years started steadily building a name for himself with parts in films like "Rumble Fish" (1983), "The Cotton Club" (1984), "Birdy" (1984), and "Peggy Sue Got Married" (1986). Both "Rumble Fish" and "The Cotton Club" were directed by his Uncle Francis. With his acting career on the upswing, Cage nabbed a breakout role as a manic ex-con in the Coen Brothers' crime comedy "Raising Arizona." Although the film drew mixed reviews upon its release, it has since grown in appreciation by critics, with Cage's hilarious performance as H.I. "Hi" McDunnough being singled out as one of the film's highlights. After "Raising Arizona," Cage began displaying his versatility as an actor by appearing in a wide array of different film genres. He appeared in romantic comedies like "Moonstruck" (1987) and "Honeymoon in Vegas" (1992), horror films like "Vampire's Kiss" (1988), and crime thrillers like "Red Rock West" (1993) and "Kiss of Death" (1995). Then in 1995 Cage floored both audiences and critics with his magnetic performance as a suicidal alcoholic in the bleak drama "Leaving Las Vegas." For his performance in the film, Cage took home an Oscar for Best Actor-his first. Although he could never quite be pinned down to one specific genre of film, by the late-1990s Cage began starring in a number of big-budget genre pictures made for the masses. These films included "The Rock" (1996), "Con Air" (1997), "Face/Off" (1998), and "8 MM" (1999). He did make time to star in Martin Scorsese's dark drama "Bringing out the Dead" in 1999, and earned his second Oscar nod for his role as screenwriter Charlie Kaufman in 2002's "Adaptation," but by the mid-2000s Cage's acting output was relegated almost exclusively to effect-heavy films with huge budgets. These included "National Treasure," "Knowing" (2009), "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (2010), "Kick-Ass" (2010) and "Drive Angry" (2011). Cage would still, on occasion, make time to appear in more character driven works, among them "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans" (2009), "Joe" (2013), and "Snowden" (2016). But for the most part, by the 2010s he was mostly appearing in genre films. The 2010s also saw Cage's output increase at a furious rate, with the actor appearing in multiple films a year. In 2019 alone he appeared in six films, among them "Primal," about a rare captive jaguar that escapes, and "Running with the Devil," a crime thriller which co-starred Laurence Fishburne. By 2020, Nicolas Cage had been acting professionally for nearly 40 years and had appeared in over 100 films (according to IMDB), thus making him one of the most prolific film actors of his generation.
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Nicolas Cage
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
86% |
|
Longlegs |
Longlegs (Character), Producer |
$74.2M | 2024 |
78% |
|
Arcadian |
Paul (Character), Producer |
$793.3K | 2024 |
87% | No Score Yet | The Surfer |
The Surfer (Character), Producer |
- | 2024 |
91% |
|
Dream Scenario |
Paul Matthews (Character), Producer |
$4.9M | 2023 |
60% |
|
The Retirement Plan | Matt (Character) | $1.4M | 2023 |
60% |
|
Sympathy for the Devil | The Passenger (Character) | $5.4K | 2023 |
58% |
|
Renfield | Dracula (Character) | $17.1M | 2023 |
32% |
|
The Old Way | Colton Briggs (Character) | $365.0K | 2023 |
73% |
|
Butcher's Crossing | Miller (Character) | - | 2022 |
87% |
|
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent |
Nick Cage (Character), Self, Producer |
$20.2M | 2022 |
62% |
|
Prisoners of the Ghostland | Hero (Character) | - | 2021 |
97% |
|
Pig |
Rob (Character), Producer |
$3.1M | 2021 |
61% |
|
Willy's Wonderland |
The Janitor (Character), Producer |
$388.7K | 2021 |
76% |
|
The Croods: A New Age | Grug (Voice) | $58.5M | 2020 |
27% |
|
Jiu Jitsu | Wylie (Character) | - | 2020 |
86% |
|
Color Out of Space | Nathan Gardner (Character) | $677.3K | 2019 |
9% |
|
Grand Isle | Walter (Character) | - | 2019 |
39% |
|
Primal | Frank Walsh (Character) | - | 2019 |
No Score Yet |
|
Kill Chain | Araña (Character) | - | 2019 |
25% |
|
Running With the Devil | The Cook (Character) | - | 2019 |
16% |
|
A Score to Settle | Frank (Character) | - | 2019 |
33% |
|
Between Worlds | Joe (Character) | - | 2018 |
97% |
|
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse | Spider-Man Noir (Voice) | $190.2M | 2018 |
50% |
|
Becoming Iconic | Self | - | 2018 |
90% |
|
Mandy | Red Miller (Character) | $1.2M | 2018 |
92% |
|
Teen Titans GO! to the Movies | Superman (Voice) | $29.6M | 2018 |
4% |
|
211 | Mike Chandler (Character) | - | 2018 |
23% |
|
Looking Glass | Ray (Character) | - | 2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Looking Glass | Unknown (Character) | - | 2018 |
25% |
|
The Humanity Bureau | Noah Kross (Character) | - | 2017 |
74% |
|
Mom and Dad | Brent Ryan (Character) | - | 2017 |
No Score Yet |
|
Vengeance: A Love Story |
John Dromoor (Character), Producer |
$4.5K | 2017 |
38% |
|
Inconceivable | Brian (Character) | - | 2017 |
3% |
|
Arsenal | Eddie King (Character) | - | 2017 |
18% |
|
USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage | Captain Charles Butler McVay III (Character) | - | 2016 |
52% |
|
Dog Eat Dog | Troy (Character) | - | 2016 |
25% |
|
Army of One | Gary Faulkner (Character) | - | 2016 |
61% |
|
Snowden | Hank Forrester (Character) | $21.6M | 2016 |
62% |
|
The Trust | Jim Stone (Character) | - | 2016 |
10% |
|
Pay the Ghost | Mike Lawford (Character) | - | 2015 |
24% |
|
The Runner | Colin Price (Character) | - | 2015 |
5% |
|
Outcast | Gallain (Character) | - | 2014 |
13% |
|
Dying of the Light | Evan Lake (Character) | - | 2014 |
0% |
|
Left Behind | Rayford Steele (Character) | $14.0M | 2014 |
13% |
|
Tokarev | Paul Maguire (Character) | - | 2014 |
87% |
|
Joe | Joe (Character) | $371.9K | 2013 |
61% |
|
The Frozen Ground | Jack Holcombe (Character) | - | 2013 |
71% |
|
The Croods | Grug (Voice) | $187.2M | 2013 |
39% |
|
Can't Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police | Producer | $23.2K | 2012 |
18% |
|
Stolen | Will Montgomery (Character) | $289.8K | 2012 |
0% |
|
A Thousand Words | Producer | $18.4M | 2012 |
28% |
|
Justice | Will Gerard (Character) | - | 2011 |
18% |
|
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance |
Johnny Blaze/ |
$51.8M | 2011 |
9% |
|
Trespass | Kyle Miller (Character) | $16.8K | 2011 |
47% |
|
Drive Angry | John Milton (Character) | $10.7M | 2011 |
11% |
|
Season of the Witch | Behman (Character) | $24.8M | 2011 |
40% |
|
The Sorcerer's Apprentice |
Balthazar Blake (Character), Executive Producer |
$63.1M | 2010 |
78% |
|
Kick-Ass |
Damon Macready/ |
$48.0M | 2010 |
86% |
|
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans | Terence McDonaugh (Character) | $1.7M | 2009 |
51% |
|
Astro Boy | Dr. Tenma (Voice) | $19.5M | 2009 |
21% |
|
G-Force | Speckles (Voice) | $119.4M | 2009 |
35% |
|
Knowing | John (Character) | $79.9M | 2009 |
9% |
|
Bangkok Dangerous |
Joe (Character), Producer |
$15.3M | 2008 |
35% |
|
National Treasure: Book of Secrets | Ben Gates (Character) | $220.0M | 2007 |
28% |
|
Next |
Cris Johnson (Character), Producer |
$18.0M | 2007 |
28% |
|
Ghost Rider |
Johnny Blaze/ |
$115.8M | 2007 |
15% |
|
The Wicker Man |
Edward Maulis (Character), Producer |
$18.8K | 2006 |
66% |
|
World Trade Center | Sgt. John McLoughlin (Character) | $70.2M | 2006 |
61% |
|
The Ant Bully | Zoc (Voice) | $28.1M | 2006 |
60% |
|
The Weather Man | Dave Spritz (Character) | $12.5M | 2005 |
62% |
|
Lord of War |
Yuri Orlov (Character), Producer |
$24.1M | 2005 |
46% |
|
National Treasure | Ben Gates (Character) | $173.0M | 2004 |
83% |
|
Matchstick Men | Roy (Character) | $36.9M | 2003 |
19% |
|
The Life of David Gale | Producer | $19.6M | 2003 |
21% |
|
Sonny |
Acid Yellow (Character), Director, Producer |
$17.6K | 2002 |
90% |
|
Adaptation |
Charlie Kaufman/ |
$22.2M | 2002 |
32% |
|
Windtalkers | Joe Enders (Character) | $40.9M | 2002 |
13% |
|
Christmas Carol: The Movie | Marley (Voice) | - | 2001 |
28% |
|
Captain Corelli's Mandolin | Captain Antonio Corelli (Character) | $25.5M | 2001 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Bel Air | Producer | - | 2000 |
82% |
|
Shadow of the Vampire | Producer | $8.3M | 2000 |
53% |
|
The Family Man | Jack Campbell (Character) | $75.8M | 2000 |
26% |
|
Gone in Sixty Seconds | Randall "Memphis" Raines (Character) | $101.6M | 2000 |
73% |
|
Bringing Out the Dead | Frank Pierce (Character) | $16.6M | 1999 |
24% |
|
8MM | Tom Welles (Character) | $36.3M | 1999 |
43% |
|
Snake Eyes | Rick Santoro (Character) | $55.6M | 1998 |
No Score Yet |
|
Welcome to Hollywood | Self | - | 1998 |
58% |
|
City of Angels | Seth (Character) | $78.7M | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Face/Off | Castor Troy (Character) | - | 1997 |
93% |
|
Face/Off |
Castor Troy/ |
$112.3M | 1997 |
58% |
|
Con Air | Cameron Poe (Character) | $101.1M | 1997 |
67% |
|
The Rock | Dr. Stanley Goodspeed (Character) | $134.1M | 1996 |
91% |
|
Leaving Las Vegas | Ben Sanderson (Character) | $29.9M | 1995 |
69% |
|
Kiss of Death | Little Junior Brown (Character) | $14.7M | 1995 |
73% |
|
It Could Happen to You | Charlie Lang (Character) | $37.8M | 1994 |
57% |
|
Guarding Tess | Doug Chesnic (Character) | $26.2M | 1994 |
10% |
|
Trapped in Paradise | Bill Firpo (Character) | $5.8M | 1994 |
No Score Yet |
|
Deadfall | Eddie (Character) | $9.2K | 1993 |
17% |
|
Amos & Andrew | Amos Odell (Character) | $9.5M | 1993 |
98% |
|
Red Rock West | Michael Williams (Character) | - | 1993 |
64% |
|
Honeymoon in Vegas | Jack Singer (Character) | $33.5M | 1992 |
33% |
|
Zandalee | Johnny Collins (Character) | - | 1991 |
9% |
|
Fire Birds | Jake Preston (Character) | $14.8M | 1990 |
No Score Yet |
|
Industrial Symphony No. 1: The Dream of the Broken Hearted | Unknown (Character) | - | 1990 |
65% |
|
Wild at Heart | Sailor (Character) | $14.5M | 1990 |
No Score Yet |
|
Time to Kill | Enrico Silvestri (Character) | - | 1990 |
63% |
|
Vampire's Kiss | Peter Loew (Character) | $96.7K | 1989 |
89% |
|
Moonstruck | Ronny Cammareri (Character) | $80.0M | 1987 |
91% |
|
Raising Arizona | H.I. McDonnough (Character) | $21.1M | 1987 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Boy in Blue | Ned Hanlan (Character) | $235.9K | 1986 |
87% |
|
Peggy Sue Got Married | Charlie Bodell (Character) | $37.7M | 1986 |
74% |
|
The Cotton Club | Vincent Dwyer (Character) | - | 1984 |
84% |
|
Birdy | Sergeant Al Columbato (Character) | - | 1984 |
60% |
|
Racing With the Moon |
Nicky/ |
- | 1984 |
76% |
|
Rumble Fish | Smokey (Character) | - | 1983 |
83% |
|
Valley Girl | Randy (Character) | - | 1983 |
78% |
|
Fast Times at Ridgemont High | Brad's Bud (Character) | - | 1982 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | 60 Minutes | Guest | 2023 |
No Score Yet | 50% | The Late Show With Stephen Colbert | Guest | 2023 |
No Score Yet | 55% | The Kelly Clarkson Show | Guest | 2022 |
No Score Yet | 18% | The Late Late Show With James Corden | Guest | 2022 |
No Score Yet | 42% | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Guest | 2022 |
69% | 54% | History of Swear Words | Host | 2021 |
No Score Yet | 44% | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | Guest | 2014 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Late Night With Jimmy Fallon | Guest | 2010 2012-2013 |
No Score Yet | 57% | Saturday Night Live |
Unknown (Guest Star), Host |
1992 2012 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Lopez Tonight | Guest | 2010 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Late Night With Conan O'Brien | Guest | 2008 |
58% | 87% | The Dresden Files | Executive Producer | 2007 |