Nicolas Cage
An actor who swings from Oscar-winning subtlety to operatic intensity, creating a unique and unpredictable cinematic legacy.
Born 1964 (age 62)·American actor·Birthday: January 7·Baby Boomers
Biography
Born Nicolas Kim Coppola into a filmmaking dynasty, he forged his own path by changing his name to Cage, inspired by a comic book hero. His career is a study in contrasts: early, raw performances in films like 'Leaving Las Vegas,' for which he won an Academy Award by portraying a self-destructive alcoholic with haunting vulnerability, set against a later era of high-energy, often surreal genre films. He became a cultural fixture not for a single type, but for his total commitment to every role, whether a romantic lead, an action hero, or a man on the edge of madness. This fearless approach has earned him a devoted following who celebrate his unique screen presence. Beyond acting, he is a voracious collector of eclectic artifacts, from shrunken heads to dinosaur skulls, reflecting the same boundless curiosity he brings to his work.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Nicolas was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Nicolas Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Nicolas's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Ben Sanderson in 'Leaving Las Vegas' (1995).
- Starred in 'National Treasure,' a film franchise that grossed over $800 million worldwide.
- Received critical acclaim for dual roles as Charlie and Donald Kaufman in the meta-comedy 'Adaptation.'
- His film work has collectively generated over $6.4 billion in global box office revenue.
Did You Know?
He purchased a pyramid tomb in New Orleans' historic St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.
He is the nephew of film director Francis Ford Coppola.
He once owned a pet octopus, which he said helped him prepare for roles by watching its movements.
He was ranked as the second-highest paid actor in the world in 2009.
“I like to take a character and push it to the limit, see how far you can go.”
