Nicolas Cage: I changed my name legally last year
Los Angeles, May 28
Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage, whose real name is Nicolas Kim Coppola, adopted his stage name as his legal name last year.
The actor told Variety in an interview, where he also said he would rather be the patriarch of his own family than the "clown cousin" of Hollywood royalty, reports people.com.
"I am Nick Cage. I changed my name legally last year," the Spider-Noir said.
"I'm Nick Cage in life, and I'm Nick Cage on camera. 'Tis better to be the patriarch of my own little family than the clown cousin on the margins of someone else's, so I decided I'm going to bring it on and be 'Cage.' "
The actor took his last name from the fictional Marvel Comics character Luke Cage, and said his family also talked about avant-garde artist John Cage. He was also looking for a "short and sweet" name, similar to James Dean.
"I thought, well, I'll keep the name 'Nicolas' because my father named me Nicolas - with French spelling, which has always frustrated me, because everyone adds an 'h,' " Cage explained.
"I don't know why he gave me the French spelling! But he did."
He also said he doesn't care if people call him "Nick" or "Nicolas."
"I'm both! I think people know me as both," Cage said.
Cage is the son of the late August Coppola, the older brother of Francis Ford Coppola and Talia Shire. Other famous members of the Coppola family include Francis' daughter, Sofia Coppola, and Shire's son, Jason Schwartzman.
While making Fast Times, Cage said people would constantly walk up to him and say things like "'I love the smell of Nicolas in the morning,' " referring to a famous line in his uncle Francis' film, Apocalypse Now.
"I decided, I don't need this, and I changed it to Cage," he told Wired in 2022.
"It's a combination of Luke Cage from Marvel Comics ... and John Cage, the avant-garde composer. Speaks volumes about what I've been up to ever since."
Cage's next project is Spider-Noir, in which Cage plays Ben Reilly/The Spider, a character he voiced in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Marvel's Spider-Man: Noir comics inspired the series, which also features Lamorne Morris, Li Jun Li, Karen Rodriguez, Abraham Popoola, Jack Huston and Brendan Gleeson.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I always wondered why he chose 'Cage'—Luke Cage and John Cage make perfect sense. It's like when some Indian actors change their names for better branding. But paying homage to a Marvel character? That's next-level fan dedication! 😄
Interesting move. He wants to be his own patriarch, not just 'Francis Ford Coppola's nephew.' In Indian families, it's hard to escape that shadow, so I get it. But legally changing it after 60 years? That's bold. Respect for taking control. 🙌
Honestly, I find this a bit over-the-top. He's been using the name for decades, so why bother with the legal change now? Seems like a PR stunt for Spider-Noir. But hey, whatever makes him happy. The Luke Cage inspiration is cool though.
'Clown cousin'—that's quite a self-deprecating line! But he's carved his own path with crazy roles. I love how he owns his quirky identity. In India, we'd call it 'apna style alag hai.' Can't wait for Spider-Noir! 🕷️🕸️
I respect his decision. In many Indian families, taking your own name or changing it is seen as disrespectful to elders, but sometimes you need to break free. Cage is doing what he feels is right for his legacy. 'Tis better to be the patriarch'—well said!
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.