Nicolas Cage

He named his five favorite films as East of Eden (1955), A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), A Clockwork Orange (1971) and The Wizard of Oz (1939).

Owns the rights of the original The Courtship of Eddie's Father movie, for which he bought the rights from Ted Turner. He was going to use that as a new movie. Since Cage was busy with other projects, the movie didn't come to any fruition.

Owns the rights of the original The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963) movie, which he bought from Ted Turner, with the intention of turning it into a movie.

One of three actors (with Lee Marvin and Peter Sellers ) with an Oscar nomination for playing multiple characters in a film (in Adaptation. , he plays two characters, Donald and Charlie). Marvin is the only one who actually won one for a double role.

One of three actors (with Lee Marvin [Cat Ballou (1965)] and Peter Sellers [Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)]) with an Oscar nomination for playing multiple characters in a film (in Adaptation. (2002), he plays two characters, Donald and Charlie). Marvin is the only one who actually won one for a double role.

Proposed to Patricia Arquette on the day he met her in the early 1980s. Arquette thought he was a bit strange but played along with his antics by creating a list of things Cage would have to fulfill to win her. When he started to work his way through the list, Arquette got scared and avoided him. They met again many years later and later went on to marry.

Was originally considered for the role of Brad Hamilton in Fast Times at Ridgemont High , but after his audition the studio thought his performance was too dark and the role went, instead, to Judge Reinhold. Additionally, Cage was 17 at the time and could not work as many hours as actors over 18. In this film, he is credited under the name Nicolas Coppola for the first and only time.

After his first film role (in Fast Times at Ridgemont High ), he adopted the stage name of Cage, because he wanted to assure himself that any success he had was based on his own merits, not the fame of his uncle, Francis Ford Coppola.

After his first film role (in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)), he adopted the stage name of Cage, because he wanted to assure himself that any success he had was based on his own merits, not the fame of his uncle, Francis Ford Coppola.

Was originally considered for the role of Brad Hamilton in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), but after his audition the studio thought his performance was too dark and the role went, instead, to Judge Reinhold. Additionally, Cage was 17 at the time and could not work as many hours as actors over 18. In this film, he is credited under the name Nicolas Coppola for the first and only time.

Auditioned for the role of Joel in Risky Business , but the role eventually went to Tom Cruise.

Auditioned for the role of Joel in Risky Business (1983), which eventually went to Tom Cruise and helped launch his career.

1984: Listed as one of 12 "Promising New Actors of 1984" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 36.

1984: Listed as one of 12 "Promising New Actors of 1984" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 36.

Despite playing her father in Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), Cage is 1 year younger than Helen Hunt.

Ate a real cockroach in the film Vampire's Kiss , it reportedly took three takes. He once said about the experience, "Every muscle in my body didn't want to do it, but I did it anyway."

Ate a real cockroach in the film Vampire's Kiss (1988), it reportedly took three takes. He once said about the experience, "Every muscle in my body didn't want to do it, but I did it anyway."

Devoted Elvis Presley fan that he is, in Wild at Heart he performed the Elvis classic "Love Me" with uncanny aplomb.

Has a son, Weston Cage (with actress Christina Fulton), born 26 December, 1990.

The Wild at Heart movie poster lists his name as both "Nicolas Cage" and "Nicholas Cage".

The Wild at Heart (1990) movie poster lists his name as both "Nicolas Cage" and "Nicholas Cage".

Devoted Elvis Presley fan that he is, in Wild at Heart (1990) he performed the Elvis classic "Love Me" with uncanny aplomb.

On "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" , he told Jay that he took the name "Cage" from a comic book character named Luke Cage, the "first black superhero." This is not accurate; the first black superhero in mainstream comics was Marvel's Black Panther, introduced in 1966. Luke Cage, introduced in 1972, was also preceded by: Marvel's Falcon, introduced in 1969; the black western hero, Lobo, from Dell Comics in 1965 (the first black character to star in his own title); the title character of "Waku, Prince of the Bantu," an African chieftain, introduced as part of the Atlas Comics anthology title "Jungle Tales" in 1954. When asked which of the powers he would prefer to have, he said flight was his desire.

On "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (1992), he told Jay that he took the name "Cage" from a comic book character named Luke Cage, the "first black superhero." This is not accurate; the first black superhero in mainstream comics was Marvel's Black Panther, introduced in 1966. Luke Cage, introduced in 1972, was also preceded by: Marvel's Falcon, introduced in 1969; the black western hero, Lobo, from Dell Comics in 1965 (the first black character to star in his own title); the title character of "Waku, Prince of the Bantu," an African chieftain, introduced as part of the Atlas Comics anthology title "Jungle Tales" in 1954. When asked which of the powers he would prefer to have, he said flight was his desire.

While making an appearance on "Late Show with David Letterman" for the film Knowing , he mentioned that he is fascinated with hang-gliding.

While making an appearance on "Late Show with David Letterman" (1993) for the film Knowing (2009), he mentioned that he is fascinated with hang-gliding.

1997: He lived in a fake castle on the outskirts Los Angeles. He wants to import an authentic one from overseas.

October 1997: Ranked #40 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.

October 1997: Ranked #40 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.

Ranked #37 in Premiere's 100 most powerful people in Hollywood in 1998.

Ranked #37 in Premiere's 100 most powerful people in Hollywood in 1998.

1999: Was among the guests at the wedding of Spike Jonze and Sofia Coppola. Others were George Lucas, Jason Schwartzman, Bo Barrett, Kirsten Dunst and Tom Waits.

2000: Filed divorce papers in February, withdrew them in April.

Was originally cast as "Randy 'The Ram' Robinson" in _The Wrestler (2000)_. However, Nic felt he didn't have time to bulk up for the part and Darren Aronofsky's heart was set on Mickey Rourke. Mickey would go on to win a Golden Globe and be nominated for an Oscar for his performance.

2001: Announced that he is dating Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of the late Elvis Presley. They later married.

May 2001: Awarded an Honory Doctorate in Fine Arts by California State University, Fullerton. He spoke at the commencement.

May 2001: Awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts by California State University, Fullerton and also spoke at the commencement.

Offered the role of Green Goblin/Norman Osborn in Spider-Man .

During an A&E Biography on him, the host explained that Cage was director Sam Raimi's first choice to play Norman Osborn/Green Goblin in the movie Spider-Man . Apparently this was before he met Willem Dafoe.

During an A&E Biography on him, the host explained that Cage was director Sam Raimi's first choice to play Norman Osborn/Green Goblin in the movie Spider-Man (2002). Apparently this was before he met Willem Dafoe.

Offered the role of Green Goblin/Norman Osborn in Spider-Man (2002).

Nick and his wife, Alice Kim Cage, had a son, Kal-el Coppola Cage, on October 3, 2005 in New York City. Just as Nick was named after a comic book character, "Luke Cage", so he has named his son after the comic book character "Kal-el" (aka Superman).

Nick and his wife, Alice Kim Cage, had a son, Kal-el Coppola Cage, on October 3, 2005 in New York City. Just as Nick was named after a comic book character, "Luke Cage", so he has named his son after the comic book character "Kal-el" (aka Superman).

In 2006, he donated $2 million to Amnesty International for a fund to help child soldiers.

2006: He purchased a home on the former property of John Wayne in Newport Beach, CA, for a record-setting $24 million.

July 2006: Bought Schloss Neidstein, a mini castle in the Bavarian village of Etzelwang.

2007: Bought Midford Castle (a big house, not a real castle) near Bath, England. Purchase price was in the region of £5 million (about $10 million).

2007: Bought Midford Castle (though not an actual castle) near Bath, England for an estimated price £5 million (about $10 million).

Owns homes in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, New Orleans, New York City and in one in Middletown, Rhode Island, which he purchased in 2007.

The historic LaLurie House on the corner of Royal and Gov. Nicholls St. in New Orleans, which Cage bought for $3,450,000 in 2007, is reputed to be haunted by the many slaves tortured and killed by Delphine LaLurie in the 1830s.

Ex-girlfriend Christina Fulton hit Cage with a $13 million lawsuit in 2009, regarding a property transfer. They negotiated a settlement in June 2011.

March 2009 - Sold Schloss Neidstein, a castle in the Bavarian village of Etzelwang.

When Cage was arrested in New Orleans and charged with alleged domestic violence against his wife, Alice, and disturbing the peace. The $11,000 needed to bail him out was posted by Duane 'Dog' Chapman, better known as "Dog the Bounty Hunter". [16 April 2011]