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Nicolas
Kim Copalla was born on January 7, 1964 in Long
Beach, California to August Copalla and
Joy Vogelsang
(divorced).
His uncle is famed director Francis Ford
Coppola.
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In 1979, his
family moved to San Francisco and he began to
learn to act at the American Conservatory
Theater.
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Around 1982 he
changed his name to Nicolas Cage so that he
would receive no favoritism as the nephew of his
famous uncle. The new name was based on the
comic book hero Luke Cage.
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His first
professional acting job came in 1981, when he
made a short appearance in the TV movie Best
of Times. He also made another quick
appearance the next year in the teenage
coming-of-age classic Fast Times and
Ridgemont High. Without much hope of
succeeding in movies, he began working at the
Fairfax movie theater selling popcorn. However,
he continued to audition for movie roles in the
early to mid-1980's with varying degrees of
success.
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His
big break came in 1987 when he co-starred in
Moonstruck with Cher. It was Cher who
picked him for the part of Ronny Cammareri, and
the move was a box office success. He was
nominated for the
Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an
Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical.
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He
was awarded the Catalonian
International Film Festival Award for Best Actor
for his role in Vampire's Kiss in 1989.
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A
son (Weston Coppala Cage) was born to him and
and Kristina Fulton in December 1990.
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In 1992, his
then girlfriend, the model Kristina Fulton, gave
birth to their son Weston Coppalla Cage. In 1992
he was also nominated for the
Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an
Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical for
his role in Honeymoon in Las Vegas.
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He married
actress Particia Arquette in 1995, but they were
divorced in May of 2001.
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His most
critically acclaimed role came in Leaving Las
Vegas (1996) where he won or was nominated
for various award, including the Academy Award
for Best Actor.
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During the late 1990s
he took on a number of roles and won or was
nominated for a number of Blockbuster awards
including:
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The Family Man
(2000) -
Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite
Actor - Comedy/Romance
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Gone in 60
Seconds (2000)
- Blockbuster Entertainment Award for
Favorite Actor - Action (nominated)
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City of Angels
(1998) -
Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite
Actor - Drama/Romance
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Snake Eyes
(1998) -
Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite
Actor - Suspense
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Face/Off
(1997) -
Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite
Actor - Action/Adventure
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Con Air
(1997) -
Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite
Actor - Action/Adventure
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The Rock
(1996) - Blockbuster Entertainment Award for
Favorite Actor - Action/Adventure
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In
1998 he was honored with a star on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame.
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In 2001, he was awarded the
ShoWest Special Award
for Distinguished Decade of Achievement in Film
and the American Cinematheque Award.
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He
was remarried in August 2002 for a little less
than two years to Lisa Marie
Presley, the daughter to his idol,
Elvis Presley.
They divorced in May 2004.
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He was also
nominated for a Best Actor Oscar in 2002 which
his portrayal of twin brothers in the movie
Adaption.
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In
2003 he was awarded the
Chicago
International Film Festival
Career Achievement Award.
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Married
Alice Kim in July 2004.
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For Nicolas Cage
contact information, Click Here
Biography by Ian Ripley,
PopStarsPlus.com, Sr. Staff Writer
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