Nicolas Cage was born Nicholas Coppola in Los Angeles to dancer-choreographer Joy Vogelsang and literature professor August Coppola. Joy Vogelsang suffered severe depression, an illness that kep her hospitalized for years, she has since recovered. Nicolas Cage and his two older brothers were instilled with an appreciation for great works of art, literature, and cinema by August Coppola. During the summer, August Coppola would take his family to visit their uncle, Francis Ford Coppola. During the summer Nicolas was 15, Nicolas attended an acting class at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater.
Nicolas Cage disliked school and decided to take the G.E.D. exam in the eleventh grade. After receiving his G.E.D., Nicolas Cage got a part in a T.V. series called "The Best Of Times" and made his film debut in "Fast Times At Ridgemont High". Nicolas Cage decided that he did not want to receive parts for being Francis Ford Coppolas relative, so he changed his name (Nicolas Cage named himself after a comic book character named Luke Cage). Though he did accept work in his uncle's film "Rumble Fish". Nicolas Cage got his first leading man role in "Valley Girl" that same year.
Nicolas cage had two teeth pulled out while filming "Birdy", trashed his trailer in a fit in "The Cottom Club", and eat a live cockroach on camera in "Vampire's Kiss"".
Nicolas Cage did another of his uncle's films in "Peggy Sue Got Married". Nicolas Cage did "Moonstruck" and "Raising Arizona" which helped Nicolas Cage's image to be the 'charming anyman'. Then Nicolas Cage did "Vampire's Kiss" and "Honeymoon In Vegas".
Nicolas Cage had established a healthy movie career by 1994. Nicolad Cage had his pick of decent scripts. When director Mike Figgis asked him to appear in "Leaving Las Vegas", a low-budget, independent picture about a suicidal alcoholic, Nicolas Cage found a part that he could throw himself into. Nicolas Cage did not make a lot for "Leaving Los Vegas", but the role paid off for him in another way, Nicolas Cage earned a Best Actor Oscar. Nicolas Cage then starred in "The Rock", "Con Air", "Face/Off", "City Of Angels", "Wings Of Desire", and "Snake Eyes".
Besides acting, Nicolas Cage enjoys fine clothes, European sports cars, working out, and writing poems and stories. Nicholas Cage married Patricia Arquette in April 1995 and both Nicholas Cage and Patricia Arquette come form show business families and each has a son from a previous relationship.
