American actor known for an eclectic career spanning Leaving Las Vegas, the National Treasure series, and recent independent dramas.
Background
Born Nicolas Kim Coppola in Long Beach, California, nephew of Francis Ford Coppola, he changed his stage name to avoid trading on the family name.
Career
He starred for the Coen brothers in “Raising Arizona,” John Woo in “Face/Off,” Spike Jonze in “Adaptation,” and Mike Figgis in “Leaving Las Vegas,” winning Best Actor. He led the “National Treasure” franchise as Benjamin Franklin Gates and has built a late-career critical revival through indie films such as “Mandy,” “Pig,” and “Dream Scenario.”
Style
Cage is associated with an eclectic prolific output, willingness to alternate between studio franchises and small genre productions, and a self-styled “nouveau shamanic” approach to acting.