Michael Caine
Sir Maurice Joseph Micklewhite,
CBE (born
14 March 1933), known professionally as
Sir Michael Caine, is a two-time
Oscar-winning
English film
actor.
He was born in
Rotherhithe, South East
London to Maurice Micklewhite, a
Catholic fish-porter, and Ellen Maria, a
Protestant charlady. He grew up in nearby
Camberwell attending
Wilson's School and during
World War II was evacuated to
North Runcton in
Norfolk. In
1944 he passed his
eleven-plus exam. He left school at sixteen after gaining four
O-Levels and did his
National Service from April
1952 to
1954 in the
Royal Fusiliers, serving in
Germany and
Korea.
When he first became an actor, he used the stage name "Michael Scott." He happened to be speaking to his agent in a telephone box in
Leicester Square in
London when he was informed that he had to change his name again because another actor was already using the name "Michael Scott." His agent insisted that he come up with a new name immediately. 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 once joked to an interviewer that had he looked the other way, he would have ended up as "Michael
One Hundred and One Dalmatians."
After several minor roles, Caine came into the public eye as an upper-class British army officer in the
1964 film,
Zulu. This proved paradoxical, as Caine was to become notable for using a
regional accent, rather than the
Received Pronunciation hitherto considered proper for film actors. At the time, Caine's
working-class cockney, just as with
The Beatles'
Liverpudlian accents, seemed like a breath of fresh air.
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). He went on to play Palmer in a further two films. His trademark
horn-rimmed glasses did not prevent him from becoming a pin-up. After ending the 1960s with the equally iconic
The Italian Job and a solid role as an RAF fighter pilot, Squadron Leader Canfield, in the all-star cast of
Battle of Britain (
1969), Caine entered the 1970s with
Get Carter, a British gangster film. 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).
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 (as Hoagie Newcombe) (
1987) and
On Deadly Ground (
1994). Of the former, Caine famously said
"I have never seen the film, but by all accounts it was terrible. However I have seen the house that it built, and it is terrific." By this time Caine's reputation as an
icon was assured, and recent performances in
Little Voice (
1998),
Last Orders (
2001),
The Quiet American (
2002) and others have rehabilitated his critical reputation. Several of Caine's classic films have been
remade to appeal to new, younger audiences, including
The Italian Job,
Get Carter, and
Alfie. He played the role of
Nigel Powers in
Austin Powers in Goldmember and recently appeared as Bruce Wayne/
Batman's beloved butler
Alfred in
Batman Begins (2005).
He has been Oscar-nominated six times, winning his first
Academy Award for the
1986 film,
Hannah and Her Sisters, and his second in
1999 for
The Cider House Rules, in both cases as a supporting actor. He was made a
Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in
1993 for services to drama, and in
2000 a
Knight Bachelor, becoming
Sir Maurice Micklewhite. Unlike some actors who adopt their
stage name for everyday use, Caine still uses his real name when he is not working.
Caine is a popular subject for
impressionists and
mimics, having a distinctive yet fairly easy to copy voice. Most Caine impressions repeat the catchphrase,
"Not a lot of people know that", which was used by Caine in Educating Rita, and more recently when sending up himself and the mimics who established it as a catchphrase; it originated with an
answering machine message recorded by
Peter Sellers, who impersonated Caine very well and in this case did so saying,
"My name is Michael Caine. Peter Sellers is not in at the moment. Not a lot of people know that." This was also parodied memorably in
Harry Enfield's Television Programme by
Paul Whitehouse, who introduced himself with the line "My name is Michael Paine, and I am a nosey neighbour."
He has stated that his four most memorable roles are, in no particular order,
Alfie,
Get Carter,
The Italian Job, and
The Muppet Christmas Carol.
Famous quotes
*"Not a lot of people know that." (
Educating Rita)
*"You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!" (
The Italian Job)
*"Hang on Lads, I've got a great idea,errrrrr..." (
The Italian Job)
Caine has been married twice:
* The actress
Patricia Haines (
1955-
1958); one daughter Dominique
* The actress and model
Shakira Baksh (
2 January 1973-); one daughter Natasha
Some time after his mother died, Caine and his younger brother learned they had an elder half-brother, named David. He suffered from severe
epilepsy and had been kept in hospital his entire life. Although their mother regularly visited her first son in hospital, even her husband did not know the child existed. David died in
1992.
* He appeared as himself on the hit
Madness song "Michael Caine" in
1984.
* December 2005 saw the British press speculating that Sir Michael Caine had been offered a million pounds to appear in future episodes of the British soap
EastEnders as a character that was recently offered to
David Essex, but the role went to
Nicky Henson.
* Caine's height is 6'2" (1.88 m).
* Caine is a fan of
Chelsea FC. [
1]
* Caine is one of only two actors to be nominated for an Academy Award for acting (either lead or supporting) in every decade since the 1960s. The other is
Jack Nicholson.
*
New York Film Critics' Best Actor Award for
Alfie*Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for
Educating Rita*
British Academy Award for Best Actor for
Educating Rita*
Golden Globe for Best Actor for
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels*Golden Globe for Best Actor for
Little Voice*
1966 - Nominated -
Best Actor in a Leading Role -
Alfie*
1972 - Nominated - Best Actor in a Leading Role -
Sleuth*
1983 - Nominated - Best Actor in a Leading Role -
Educating Rita*
1986 - Won -
Best Actor in a Supporting Role -
Hannah and Her Sisters*
1999 - Won - Best Actor in a Supporting Role -
The Cider House Rules*
2002 - Nominated - Best Actor in a Leading Role -
The Quiet American*
CitizenCaine: Michael Caine fansite*
Michael Caine's Norfolk childhood*
Classic Movies (1939 - 1969): Michael Caine*
Michael Caine goes shopping
