Biography

Regarded as one of the most versatile actors of our time, Nicolas Cage is equally well known for his poignant portrayals in drama and comedy. He earned an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award, as well as Best Actor Awards from the New York Critics Circle, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the Chicago Film Critics and the National Board of Review for his performance as an alcoholic who drinks himself to death in "Leaving Las Vegas."

In 1996 he starred opposite Sean Connery and Ed Harris in the blockbuster action film "The Rock." This past summer he starred in the hit action thrillers "Con Air" with John Cusack and John Malkovich, and "Face/Off" with John Travolta. Following his work on "City of Angels," Cage will star in "Snake Eyes" and "Superman Lives," the latter for Warner Bros.

Among Cage's best-known films are "Moonstruck," "Wild at Heart," "Honeymoon in Vegas," "Peggy Sue Got Married," "Vampire's Kiss," "Raising Arizona," "Valley Girl" and "Birdy."

Cage was born in Long Beach, California, and lived there until his family moved to San Francisco when he was 12. He began acting at age 15 when he enrolled in San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater, where he appeared in the school's production of "Golden Boy." He later moved to Los Angeles and, while still a high school student, landed a role in the television film "The Best of Times." He made his feature-film debut in "Rumble Fish."