Facts

10times · Newbie

RE: Facts

Cagefactor · Forum Founder

Born Nicolas Coppola on January 7, 1964 in Long Beach, Calif.
The son of literature professor August Coppola and dancer/choreographer Joy Vogelsang, he changed his name early on in his career to make a name for himself, separate from his famous uncle, director Francis Ford Coppola.
At 15, he studied acting at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater and while still in school landed a part in the TV series The Best of Times as a surfer due.
In 1982, he made his film debut in with a small role in Amy Heckerling's Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
He worked in his uncle's film Rumble Fish and had a lead role in Valley Girl in 1983.
In 1986 he starred opposite Kathleen Turner in Peggy Sue Got Married and captured the attention of the Coen brothers who cast him in their comedy Raising Arizona.
1987 was also the year that Cage landed a role as Cher's love interest in Moonstruck, earning a Golden Globe nomination for his performance.
For the 1989 film Birdy, he had a tooth extracted without Novocain in preparation for his role as a wounded soldier.
Among the movies he made in the '90s were Wild at Heart, Vampire's Kiss and Honeymoon in Vegas earning in the latter a Golden Globe nomination.
But it was Mike Figgis' Leaving Las Vegas that established him as respected dramatic actor. His portrayal of a suicidal alcoholic earned him a Best Actor Oscar.
From there, Cage chose to star in action films such as The Rock, Con Air and Face Off, all of which achieved blockbuster success.
In 1998, Cage went back to star as the romantic protagonist in City of Angels, but kept things moving in the action realm in the suspense movie Snake Eyes.
In 1999, he starred in 8MM and Martin Scorsese's Bringing Out The Dead, which co-starred his real-life wife, Patricia Arquette.
Gone in 60 Seconds reunites Cage with producer Jerry Bruckheimer for the third time. They previously teamed for Con-Air and The Rock
Cage collects vintage cars as a hobby. His favorite is a 1955 D Type Jaguar (British racing green). He has had a few cars stolen, and one has been impounded by the police because of unpaid parking tickets.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/06/08/entertainment/main203871.shtml