Nicolas Cage has revealed why he officially changed his name and distanced himself from the famous Coppola family legacy.
The Academy Award-winning actor, now 62, was born Nicolas Kim Coppola and comes from one of Hollywood’s most influential filmmaking families. Despite those connections, Cage says he spent much of his life trying to establish his own identity and career.
In a recent interview with Variety, the actor explained that he legally adopted the name Nicolas Cage, making his professional stage name his official name as well.
“I’m Nic Cage,” the actor said. “Last year, I officially changed my name in legal documents. Now I’m Nic Cage both in real life and on screen.”
Cage explained that creating his own path was important to him. Rather than relying on the recognition that came with the Coppola name, he wanted to build a reputation based on his own achievements.
The actor also shared the story behind his famous surname. He chose “Cage” partly as a tribute to Marvel Comics character Luke Cage and partly as a nod to avant-garde composer John Cage, whose work was often discussed within his family.
He decided to keep the first name Nicolas because it was chosen by his father, August Coppola, a respected professor and writer. However, Cage admitted that the French spelling of Nicolas often caused confusion, with many people mistakenly adding an “h” and spelling it Nicholas.
Nicolas Cage is the son of the late August Coppola and the nephew of legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, director of The Godfather trilogy. He is also related to acclaimed director Sofia Coppola and actor Jason Schwartzman.
Although he comes from one of Hollywood’s most celebrated entertainment dynasties, Cage says he is proud to have created a legacy of his own, becoming one of the most recognizable actors of his generation.