Nicolas Cage Biography: Age, Wife, Children and Net Worth

Nicolas Cage is one of Hollywood’s most recognisable actors, known for his unconventional acting style, memorable movie performances and ability to move between different film genres. From blockbuster action films to psychological thrillers and emotional dramas, he has built a career spanning more than four decades, earning international recognition and one of the entertainment industry’s highest honours.

Born Nicolas Kim Coppola in Long Beach, California, Cage comes from the famous Coppola filmmaking family. However, he chose a different professional name early in his career to establish his own identity rather than depend on his family’s reputation. His determination eventually helped him become an Academy Award-winning actor with a distinctive place in American cinema.

Cage is widely recognised for his performances in Leaving Las Vegas, The Rock, Con Air, Face/Off, National Treasure, Ghost Rider, Pig and Longlegs. His career has also experienced financial difficulties, professional setbacks and remarkable comebacks.

Away from acting, his five marriages, three children, family background and unusual personal interests have attracted considerable public attention. His relationship with Japanese actress Riko Shibata and his continued involvement in major film projects have also kept him in the spotlight.

Here is everything to know about Nicolas Cage, including his age, real name, early life, education, acting career, wife, children, movies, achievements and estimated net worth.

Who Is Nicolas Cage?

Nicolas Cage is an American actor, film producer and director. He was born on January 7, 1964, in Long Beach, California, United States.

His birth name is Nicolas Kim Coppola, although he became professionally known as Nicolas Cage after changing his surname at the beginning of his acting career.

He gained recognition during the 1980s through performances in films such as Valley Girl, Raising Arizona and Moonstruck. His popularity increased significantly during the 1990s when he appeared in commercially successful productions, including The Rock, Con Air and Face/Off.

One of the most important moments in his career came in 1995 when he portrayed Ben Sanderson in Leaving Las Vegas. His performance earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor, establishing him among Hollywood’s leading dramatic performers.

Cage is also known for his unusual approach to acting, which often involves intense emotional expressions, distinctive character interpretations and physical transformations.

Beyond his professional achievements, he is part of the influential Coppola family, which includes several prominent filmmakers and entertainers.

Nicolas Cage’s Age and Date of Birth

Nicolas Cage was born on January 7, 1964, making him 62 years old as of November 2026.

His birthplace is Long Beach, California, where he was born into a family with strong connections to education, entertainment and the arts.

His zodiac sign is Capricorn.

Although he was born Nicolas Kim Coppola, he adopted the surname Cage to distinguish himself professionally from his famous relatives. In 2025, he also completed the legal process of dropping the Coppola surname, explaining that he wanted his personal identity to reflect the name he had used throughout his career.

Early Life and Family Background

Nicolas Cage was born into a family with a long history of involvement in filmmaking, education and creative activities.

His father, August Coppola, was a literature professor, writer and academic who also worked in the arts. His mother, Joy Vogelsang, was a dancer and choreographer.

He grew up with two older brothers, Marc Coppola and Christopher Coppola. Both became involved in the entertainment industry through different professional activities.

Cage’s extended family includes some of Hollywood’s most recognised personalities. His uncle, Francis Ford Coppola, is an internationally acclaimed filmmaker known for directing The Godfather trilogy and Apocalypse Now.

His cousin, Sofia Coppola, is also an established filmmaker recognised for movies such as Lost in Translation. His aunt, Talia Shire, gained recognition through her appearances in The Godfather and Rocky films.

Growing up in this environment exposed Cage to filmmaking and creative expression from an early age.

However, he wanted to establish a career based on his own abilities. He therefore decided to change his professional surname before becoming widely recognised as an actor.

He selected Cage partly because of his admiration for the Marvel Comics character Luke Cage and his interest in the experimental composer John Cage.

The name eventually became closely associated with his acting career and international reputation.

Education and Academic Background

Nicolas Cage attended Beverly Hills High School in California, where he developed an interest in acting and performing arts.

During his teenage years, he became increasingly serious about pursuing a career in entertainment. He also attended a summer acting programme at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, where he gained exposure to formal acting training.

His interest in performance eventually became stronger than his desire to continue with traditional academic education.

Cage left Beverly Hills High School at the age of 17 to concentrate on becoming a professional actor.

Although he did not pursue a university degree, his early exposure to acting classes, theatre and practical film experience helped him develop the skills needed for his career.

Nicolas Cage’s Acting Career and Professional Journey

Nicolas Cage began his professional acting career in the early 1980s. His determination to establish himself in Hollywood led him to accept different roles as he gradually developed his reputation.

His career has since covered independent productions, major studio films, television projects and international cinema.

Early Acting Roles and Breakthrough

One of Cage’s earliest screen appearances came in the 1982 teen comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Although his role was relatively small, the experience introduced him to professional filmmaking and encouraged him to pursue additional opportunities.

His first major leading role came in the 1983 romantic comedy Valley Girl. He played Randy, a young man who falls in love with a girl from a different social background.

The film helped establish him as a promising young performer.

He subsequently appeared in Rumble Fish (1983), directed by his uncle Francis Ford Coppola, and Birdy (1984), a drama in which he starred alongside Matthew Modine.

In 1987, Cage appeared in Raising Arizona, a comedy directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. His portrayal of H.I. McDunnough demonstrated his ability to combine humour with unusual character performances.

The same year, he starred alongside Cher in Moonstruck, a romantic comedy that became a major success.

These early productions helped establish his reputation as a versatile actor capable of performing in different genres.

Leaving Las Vegas and Academy Award Achievement

A defining moment in Cage’s career came in 1995 when he starred in Leaving Las Vegas.

He portrayed Ben Sanderson, an alcoholic screenwriter who travels to Las Vegas after experiencing personal and professional difficulties.

The film explored addiction, loneliness and emotional suffering through the relationship between Sanderson and a woman named Sera, played by Elisabeth Shue.

Cage’s performance received widespread critical recognition because of its emotional depth and realistic portrayal of a troubled character.

At the 1996 Academy Awards, he won the Oscar for Best Actor.

He also received a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for the performance.

The achievement established him as one of the most respected actors of his generation and remains one of the defining accomplishments of his professional life.

The Rock, Con Air and Face/Off

During the second half of the 1990s, Cage successfully moved into major action productions.

In 1996, he starred in The Rock, an action thriller directed by Michael Bay. He portrayed Stanley Goodspeed, an FBI chemical weapons specialist involved in a mission to prevent an attack on San Francisco.

The film also featured Sean Connery and Ed Harris and became a major commercial success.

In 1997, Cage appeared in Con Air, playing Cameron Poe, a former Army Ranger travelling home after being released from prison when dangerous criminals take control of the aircraft.

He also starred in Face/Off, alongside John Travolta. The film explored an unusual story involving two enemies who undergo a face-transplant procedure and assume each other’s identities.

Both productions strengthened Cage’s international popularity and established him as a major action-film performer.

Other notable projects from this period included City of Angels, Snake Eyes and Bringing Out the Dead.

National Treasure and Ghost Rider

Cage continued his success in the 2000s with several commercially successful films.

In 2004, he starred as Benjamin Franklin Gates in National Treasure, an adventure film about a historian and treasure hunter searching for a legendary treasure connected to American history.

The film became popular with audiences and received a sequel, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, released in 2007.

Another major project was Ghost Rider (2007), in which Cage portrayed Johnny Blaze, a motorcycle stunt performer who becomes a supernatural bounty hunter.

He returned to the character in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance in 2012.

Other films from this period included Gone in 60 Seconds, Lord of War, World Trade Center, Next and Knowing.

Although some productions received mixed reviews, Cage remained one of the most recognisable actors in international cinema.

Career Challenges and Financial Difficulties

Despite his success, Cage experienced a difficult period during the late 2000s and early 2010s.

He continued accepting roles in numerous films, including independent productions and projects that received limited theatrical attention.

His financial situation also became a major subject of public discussion.

Cage later explained that he had made substantial investments in real estate and expensive properties before the American property market experienced a major downturn.

He also faced significant tax liabilities, publicly acknowledging that he owed approximately $6 million in unpaid taxes.

The actor explained that he eventually repaid the outstanding amount by continuing to work and accepting available acting opportunities.

Although the period affected his public image, Cage did not abandon the entertainment industry.

Instead, he continued building his filmography, gradually returning to projects that received stronger critical recognition.

Pig and His Career Resurgence

One of the most important developments in Cage’s later career came in 2021 with the release of Pig.

Directed by Michael Sarnoski, the independent drama featured Cage as Rob Feld, a former chef living in the Oregon wilderness with his truffle-hunting pig.

When the animal is stolen, he returns to the city to search for it.

Unlike many of his previous action productions, Pig relied on restrained acting, emotional storytelling and character development.

Cage’s performance received widespread critical praise and reminded audiences of his abilities as a dramatic actor.

In 2022, he starred in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, a comedy in which he played a fictionalised version of himself.

The film explored his public image and career through a humorous storyline involving a wealthy admirer.

In 2023, he appeared in Dream Scenario, portraying Paul Matthews, an ordinary university professor who unexpectedly begins appearing in other people’s dreams.

His performance earned him another Golden Globe nomination.

These productions helped strengthen his reputation as an actor willing to experiment with unusual and challenging characters.

Longlegs and Recent Film Projects

Cage continued exploring different genres with his appearance in the 2024 horror thriller Longlegs.

Directed by Osgood Perkins, the film featured him as a disturbing serial killer whose activities become connected to a series of family murders.

His transformation for the role attracted considerable attention, while the film became a major talking point among horror audiences.

He also appeared in Arcadian, a post-apocalyptic thriller about a father attempting to protect his children, and The Surfer, a psychological thriller released in 2025.

Other recent productions include Gunslingers and The Carpenter’s Son.

In 2026, Cage returned to television through Spider-Noir, an adaptation of the Marvel character Spider-Man Noir. He portrays Ben Reilly, also known as the Spider, in the series.

He also stars as legendary American football coach John Madden in the biographical film Madden. The production features Christian Bale as Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis and explores Madden’s journey through professional football and broadcasting.

The film premiered in Los Angeles on November 4, 2026, with its theatrical and streaming releases scheduled for later in the month.

Major Achievements and Awards

Nicolas Cage has received several important awards and nominations throughout his acting career.

His most significant achievement remains winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for Leaving Las Vegas in 1996.

He also won a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for the same performance.

His other career recognitions include Golden Globe nominations for Adaptation and Dream Scenario.

In addition to his awards, Cage has established himself as an internationally recognised performer through his work in commercially successful films and critically acclaimed independent productions.

His major career achievements include winning an Academy Award, receiving a Golden Globe Award, earning a Screen Actors Guild Award, appearing in major Hollywood franchises and maintaining a professional acting career spanning more than four decades.

Nicolas Cage’s Wife and Marriage History

Nicolas Cage’s personal life has attracted considerable public attention, particularly because of his five marriages.

His current wife is Japanese actress and artist Riko Shibata.

Who Is Nicolas Cage’s Current Wife?

Nicolas Cage is married to Riko Shibata, whom he met through mutual friends in Japan while working on the film Prisoners of the Ghostland.

Their relationship developed privately before they announced their engagement in 2021.

Cage reportedly proposed through a video call while Shibata was in Japan.

The couple married on February 16, 2021, in an intimate ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Their wedding date was significant because it coincided with the anniversary of Cage’s late father’s birthday.

Shibata generally maintains a private lifestyle despite her relationship with the Hollywood actor.

The couple welcomed their daughter, August Francesca Coppola Cage, in September 2022.

They have occasionally appeared together at entertainment events, including the Los Angeles premiere of Madden in November 2026.

Nicolas Cage’s Previous Marriages

Before marrying Riko Shibata, Cage had four previous marriages.

His first marriage was to actress Patricia Arquette. They married in April 1995 and divorced in 2001.

His second marriage was to Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of legendary musician Elvis Presley. They married in August 2002, but their relationship ended shortly afterwards. Their divorce was finalised in 2004.

His third marriage was to Alice Kim, whom he married in 2004. Their relationship lasted approximately 12 years before they separated in 2016.

In March 2019, Cage married makeup artist Erika Koike in Las Vegas. However, he filed for an annulment four days later, and the marriage was legally dissolved that year.

His fifth marriage is to Riko Shibata, whom he married in February 2021.

Nicolas Cage’s Children and Family Life

Nicolas Cage has three children from different relationships.

His first son, Weston Coppola Cage, was born in December 1990. His mother is actress Christina Fulton, with whom Cage had a relationship before his marriage to Patricia Arquette.

Weston has pursued interests in music and acting and has been associated with heavy metal music.

His second son, Kal-El Coppola Cage, was born on October 3, 2005. His mother is Cage’s former wife, Alice Kim.

His name was inspired by Superman’s birth name in the DC Comics universe, reflecting his father’s interest in comic books and popular culture.

Cage’s third child is his daughter, August Francesca Coppola Cage, born in September 2022. Her mother is his current wife, Riko Shibata.

Although the actor has occasionally discussed fatherhood, he generally keeps his children’s private lives away from unnecessary public attention.

Nicolas Cage’s Net Worth and Sources of Income

Nicolas Cage has accumulated substantial wealth through his long career in Hollywood.

As of 2026, his net worth is commonly estimated by celebrity wealth publications at approximately $25 million to $30 million. However, this figure is not based on an official financial disclosure, and his actual wealth has not been publicly confirmed.

During the height of his career, Cage was among Hollywood’s highly paid actors. His film salaries reportedly reached millions of dollars for major productions, including Gone in 60 Seconds, National Treasure and other studio projects.

His financial history has also attracted attention because of expensive property purchases, luxury possessions and significant tax obligations.

The actor previously owned several valuable properties, including large residential estates and castles. His investments and spending contributed to financial difficulties when the property market declined.

Nevertheless, his continued work in film and television has provided opportunities to rebuild his financial position.

His principal sources of income include acting in feature films, television productions, film production and other entertainment-related projects.

It is important to understand that online net worth figures are estimates rather than confirmed statements of his current assets and liabilities.

Interesting Facts About Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage’s life includes several interesting details that have contributed to his distinctive public image.

He was born Nicolas Kim Coppola and later adopted the surname Cage to establish an independent professional identity.

He is the nephew of filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola and the cousin of director Sofia Coppola.

He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Leaving Las Vegas.

He has appeared in more than 100 film and television productions.

He has a strong interest in comic books and popular culture.

His son Kal-El was named after Superman’s fictional birth name.

He has been married five times and has three children.

He played a fictionalised version of himself in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

He has worked across action, comedy, romance, horror, fantasy, thriller and dramatic films.

In 2025, he completed the legal process of dropping the Coppola surname.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nicolas Cage

How old is Nicolas Cage?

Nicolas Cage is 62 years old as of November 2026. He was born on January 7, 1964, in Long Beach, California.

What is Nicolas Cage’s real name?

His birth name is Nicolas Kim Coppola. He adopted the professional name Nicolas Cage early in his acting career.

Who is Nicolas Cage’s wife?

His current wife is Riko Shibata, a Japanese actress and artist. They married on February 16, 2021.

How many times has Nicolas Cage been married?

He has been married five times. His wives are Patricia Arquette, Lisa Marie Presley, Alice Kim, Erika Koike and Riko Shibata.

How many children does Nicolas Cage have?

He has three children: Weston Coppola Cage, Kal-El Coppola Cage and August Francesca Coppola Cage.

What is Nicolas Cage’s net worth?

His net worth is commonly estimated at approximately $25 million to $30 million, although no official financial disclosure confirms the figure.

Is Nicolas Cage related to Francis Ford Coppola?

Yes. Francis Ford Coppola is his uncle. Filmmaker Sofia Coppola is his cousin.

Which movie earned Nicolas Cage an Oscar?

He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the 1995 film Leaving Las Vegas. The award was presented in 1996.

What are Nicolas Cage’s most famous movies?

Some of his best-known films include Leaving Las Vegas, The Rock, Con Air, Face/Off, National Treasure, Ghost Rider, Moonstruck, Raising Arizona, Pig and Longlegs.

Does Nicolas Cage have a daughter?

Yes. He has a daughter named August Francesca Coppola Cage with his current wife, Riko Shibata. She was born in September 2022.

Conclusion

Nicolas Cage’s journey from a young aspiring actor in California to an Academy Award-winning Hollywood star reflects decades of dedication, experimentation and professional reinvention.

His performances in Leaving Las Vegas, The Rock, Face/Off and National Treasure established him as one of the entertainment industry’s most recognisable performers.

Although his career has experienced financial difficulties and periods of mixed critical reception, he has continued exploring different characters and filmmaking styles.

His more recent performances in Pig, Dream Scenario and Longlegs have demonstrated that his creative abilities remain an important part of his professional identity.

Away from the screen, his marriage to Riko Shibata and his three children represent significant aspects of his personal life.

With new film and television projects continuing to expand his filmography, Cage remains an influential and distinctive figure in international cinema.