Nicolas Cage Reveals The Real Reason He Changed His Name
Nicolas Cage reveals the real reason he changed his name. One of the most recognized performers of his generation, Cage’s formidable career has spanned three decades with roles in iconic films. These include Adaption, National Treasure, Face/Off, and Leaving Las Vegas - the film that snagged him an Oscar win.
Noted for his eccentric personality, Cage has developed a reputation for his extreme method acting. Occasions of Cage immersing himself in experiences to relate to his onscreen characters have included eating a steak-only diet for months, removing teeth without anesthesia, and snorting saccharin to embrace the mind of a drug addict. Born Nicolas Kim Coppola, Cage is the nephew of legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola. Shortly after landing a role in the 1982 comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Cage opted to change his name after racking up a few film credits under the Coppola name.
Now Cage opens up about why he changed his name years ago. Speaking with Wired, Cage reveals the real reason he changed his name was that he kept hearing Coppola film references while trying to work on set during Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Responding to the question, “Why did Nicolas Cage change his name?”, the actor says he opted to change his name to Cage to honor two influences in his life, Luke Cage and John Cage. Check out Cage’s full answer on why he named his name below:
I changed my name because I was doing a little movie called Fast Times at Ridgemont High and I was still Nicolas Coppola, and people would not stop saying things like, ‘I love the smell of Nicolas in the morning,’ because of Apocalypse Now, and Robert Duvall saying, ‘I love the smell of napalm in the morning,’ and it made it hard to work and I said, ‘I don’t need this,' and changed it to Cage. It’s a combination of Luke Cage from Marvel comics, who was a character I liked, also named Power Man, and John Cage, the avant-garde composer. Speaks volumes about everything I’ve been up to ever since.
Of course, since portraying Brad’s Bud in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Cage has become a household name. Touting the last name associated with some of the most iconic films in Hollywood may have given Cage a stepping stone, but the actor has forged his path in his career. Recently, Cage’s career has seen a resurgence of interest following the performers’ string of straight-to-VOD films. Slated to star as Dracula in Universal’s Renfield, Cage shows no sign of slowing down.
Cage’s career has witnessed highs and lows, but there is no denying he is constantly looking for his mark. Following his compelling performance in the thriller Pig, Cage has reached a new level of creative freedom with The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. The actor continuously surprises his audience and appears to have a surplus of real-life experience to incorporate into his characters. The actor may have been born a Coppola, but he has made a legendary name for himself under the banner of Nicolas Cage.
Source: Wired