Michael Caine

Most Caine impressions repeat the catchphrase "...and not a lot of people know that", which was never actually used by Caine, except more recently when sending up himself and the mimics who established the catchphrase. His son Jacon was born in 1998. Caine is a popular subject for impressionists and mimics, having a distinctive yet fairly easy to copy voice. He married Linda Stokes in 1996. Unlike some actors who adopt their stage name for everyday use, Caine still uses his real name when he is not working. His first, in 1976, to Sheila Ryan, was short lived, and they divorced the next year. He was created Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1992 for services to drama, and in 2000 a Knight Bachelor, becoming Sir Maurice Micklewhite. Caan has been married twice.

He has been Oscar-nominated six times, winning his first Academy Award for the 1986 film, Hannah and Her Sisters, his second in 1999 for The Cider House Rules, in both cases as a supporting actor (in common with his contemporary Sean Connery, Caine now plays supporting roles). He continues to act on screen and on television. By this time Caine's reputation as an icon was assured, and recent performances in Little Voice (1998), Last Orders (2001) and others have rehabilitated his critical reputation. Amiable, down to earth and not afraid to tell it like it is, James Caan is a true gentleman, a tough guy with a heart of gold and a Hollywood survivor in every sense of the word. However, I have seen the house that it paid for, and it is superb". In 1999, Caan joined the ranks of Humphrey Bogart, Robert Mitchum and Powers Boothe when he portrayed Phillip Marlowe in the HBO film Poodle Springs. Of the former, Caine famously said "I have not seen the film, but I hear it is terrible. He co-starred with Sarah Jessica Parker and Nicolas Cage and hilariously spoofed his "Sonny Corleone" character from The Godfather.

Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s Caine alternated between acclaimed performances in films such as Educating Rita (1983) and Mona Lisa (1986), and unashamedly mercenary roles in notorious duds such as Jaws: The Revenge (1987) and On Deadly Ground (1994). Caan made one of the most delightful films of his career in 1992 with the hit Honeymoon In Vegas. The 1970s proved to be a lean period for Caine, with successes such as Sleuth (1972) and The Man Who Would Be King (1975) overshadowed by disasters such as The Swarm (1978) and Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979). In 1988 and 1990, Caan starred in the popular films Alien Nation and Misery (co-star Kathy Bates won a Best Actress Oscar). After ending the 1960s with the equally iconic The Italian Job Caine entered the 1970s with Get Carter, one of the best British gangster films. He made a stirring return to film in 1987 when his old friend Francis Ford Coppola cast him as an Army Sergeant in Gardens Of Stone, a film that dealt with the effect of the Vietnam War on the homefront. His trademark horn-rimmed glasses did not prevent him becoming a pin-up. From 1982 to 1987, Caan did not act in any films. He was suffering from depression over his sister's death, a growing problem with cocaine, and what he described as Hollywood burnout.

He went on to play Palmer in a further two films. This film is today regarded as a film noir classic and Caan has often said it is the role he is proudest of next to The Godfather. Zulu was closely followed by his two best-known roles: the spy "Harry Palmer", in The Ipcress File (1965), and the woman-chasing Alfie (1966). The following year, Caan appeared in Thief, directed by Michael Mann, where he played a professional safe cracker. At the time, Caine's working-class cockney, just as with The Beatles Liverpudlian accents, seemed like a breath of fresh air. Despite critical praise, the film was not a hit. This proved to be ironic, as Caine was quickly to become notable for using a regional accent, rather than the 'BBC English' hitherto considered proper for film actors. Caan was a devoted family man all his life and said this film was a powerful one about family love and values.

After several minor roles, Caine came into the public eye as an upper-class British army officer in the 1963 film, Zulu. In 1980, Caan directed Hide In Plain Sight a film about a father searching for his children lost in the Witness Protection Program. He once joked to an interviewer that had he looked the other way, he would have ended up as Michael 101 Dalmatians. His many films include Cinderella Liberty, Freebie and The Bean, The Gambler, The Killer Elite, Rollerball, Harry And Walter Go To New York, A Bridge Too Far, Comes A Horseman and Chapter Two (a play screenplay conversion by Neil Simon). Looking around for inspiration, he noted that The Caine Mutiny was being shown at the Odeon cinema, and so he decided to change his name to Michael Caine. He played a wide variety of roles and refused to be typecast as a mobster. His agent insisted that he come up with a new name immediately. From 1973 to 1982, Caan appeared in many Hollywood films.

He happened to be speaking to his agent in a telephone box in London's Leicester Square when he was informed that he had to change his name again because another actor was already using the name Michael Scott. For his role Caan was nominated for an Academy Award. During the Second World War he was evacuated to Norfolk. When Michael Caine first became an actor he changed his name to Michael Scott. The following year Coppola cast Caan as mobster Sonny Corleone in The Godfather, which also helped launch Al Pacino's career. He was born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite in Rotherhithe, South London and grew up in nearby Camberwell. In 1971, Caan won even greater acclaim as dying football player Brian Piccolo in the television movie Brian's Song. Michael Caine (born March 14, 1933) is a British film actor. Caan first won praise for his role as a brain-damaged football player in The Rain People (1969), directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

Zulu (1964). In 1967, Caan appeared in El Dorado with John Wayne. The Ipcress File (1965). Caan's first substantial film role was as a menacing villain in the 1964 thriller Lady In A Cage. Alfie (1966). Caan began acting in television in such series as The Untouchables. The Wrong Box (1966). James Caan (born March 26, 1939, Bronx, New York) is an American actor.

Gambit (1966). Funeral in Berlin (1966). Hurry Sundown (1967). Woman Times Seven (1967).

Billion Dollar Brain (1967). Deadfall (1968). The Magus (1968). Play Dirty (1968).

The Italian Job (1969). Battle of Britain (1969). Too Late the Hero (1970). The Last Valley (1971).

Get Carter (1972). Kidnapped (1972). Sleuth (1972). The Romantic Englishwoman (1975).

The Man Who Would Be King (1975). The Eagle Has Landed (1976). Dressed to Kill (1980). Deathtrap (1982).

Educating Rita (1983). Hannah and Her Sisters (1986). Half Moon Street (1986). The Fourth Protocol (1987).

Without a Clue (1988). Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988). Jekyll & Hyde (1990). A Shock to the System (1990).

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992). Bullet to Beijing (1997). Petersburg (1997). Midnight in St.