Written by Beth Ursin - Used with owners permission

Nicolas Kim Coppola was born January 7, 1964, the youngest of three boys. Marc(cameo as a dealer in LLV), Christopher and "Nicki" grew up in a quiet middle class neighborhood near the Long Beach campus of California State University, where his father worked. His mother, Joy Vogelsang, was a dancer and choreographer. His father, August Coppola, "Auggie" was a Literature Professor, who incidentally also taught film. Nicolas describes himself as having a lot of energy as a child and became fascinated with the idea of being inside the TV at an early age. Joy, who's neighbors and friends describe her as a very sweet, caring woman suffered from severe Depression and was hospitalized from time to time throughout Nicolas' childhood. During this time, the family kept much to themselves except for "shows" that the boys put on for the neighborhood. These "shows" gave Nicki an opportunity to act, or just be a voice of a dead person in their seances. (Nicolas has always been great at disguising his voice.) Nicki's first big believable role as a young actor was when he disguised himself as "cousin Roy" and threatened a bully that had been stealing his twinkies. Young Christopher, a developing director, made films for years with Nicolas as the star.

Sadly in 1976, Nicolas' parents, Joy and August divorced and 'Auggie' took custody of the boys and moved to Beverly Hills. Marc, who graduated from High School in 1974, became a DJ for Q104, a classic rock station in New York City. It was also about this time that Francis Ford Coppola had won his first Oscar and Nicolas' family became instant celebrities. Nicolas revisted his home in Long Beach many years later along with a writer from Esquire Magazine. The Account is documented in the October 1998 issue. The neighbors continue to enjoy watching Nicolas in the news and are very proud of him. In Beverly Hills, Nicolas thought of himself as an 'outsider', not particularly good at sports but had the courage to be 'different'. For instance, he'd often wear one sleeve up and one sleeve down just to be himself. From what I've read, Nicolas who spent summers and vacations with his newly rich cousin's had a hard time reconciling with the income differences between the families. August tried to culture the boys over the years by exposing them to all sorts of art films, music, great literature and art. He at one time hoped Nicolas would become a writer.

Nicolas was sent to live with his Uncle 'Francie' and Aunt 'Ellie' and their three children in their estate in Napa Valley and attended Justin-Sienna Catholic School his Sophmore year. By this time, he'd dropped the 'Nicki' and become 'Nicolas' or 'Nickel Less' as he sometimes described himself to be witty. Lisa, a woman who dated him during this time, recalls that when he arrived as the 'big city boy' he had 'danger in his eyes'. By the way, those gorgeous eyes are 'steel blue gray'. During this time,Nicolas sang for a band and was in a local production of "Grease". His father moved to San Francisco while he was still in Napa. Christopher graduated from High School in 1980 and has become a film and Television Director. He directed Nicolas in "Deadfall". Nicolas has remained close with his cousins, Sophia ("The Godfather III") and Roman Coppola. The third cousin, Gian Carlo passed away in a boating accident in the mid-1980's while his wife was pregnant with their first child. Nicolas attended acting classes at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco between his sophmore and junior year in high school. Nicolas returned to Beverly Hills after his year in Napa to live this time with his mother and attend Beverly Hills High with classmates like Crispin Glover, his best friend and was two years ahead of David Schwimmer (Friends). Nicolas felt once again an 'outsider' as he describes his classmates having their own sports cars while he was relegated to riding the bus for transportation. Nicolas delved into acting…attended Lee Strassbourg School of Acting which focused on 'Method Acting' and became involved in the acting department at school. Nicolas won his first 'Best Actor' award for an action film he developed and starred in at Beverly Hills High. Nicolas left Beverly Hills shy of graduating opting to take an early GED and delve into acting. He and Crispin had their first apartments next door to each other.

When you look at Nicolas' family history, it's no surprise that he considered acting as a career…nor is it any surprise when he says that he acts because "there really isn't anything else I know how to do." Nicolas' family includes many talented members who've been instrumental in film making and the entertainment business for years. Nicolas' great grandfather owned and lived above theatres in the 1920's. He imported movies from Italy for the Italian Americans. He was friends with the originators of Paramount Pictures. In fact Paramount was named after Nicolas' great grandfather's music company, 'Paramount Music Roles', according to Francis Ford Coppola. His great grandfather on the other side was an engineer who built the Vitaphone - the first sound equipment made for early movies. Nicolas' grandfather, Carmine Coppola was a Composer and Music Conductor…who composed and conducted many of the musical scores in "The Godfather" series and "Apocalypse Now". Nicolas' aunt, is Thalia Shire, an actress famous for her roles in "The Godfather" and the "Rocky" series. Nicolas' Uncle is the Academy Award Winning Director of "The Godfather" series, Francis Ford Coppola. And remember, Nicolas' mother, was a choreographer and dancer. Nicolas' father, was a Literature Professor who also taught film. Nicolas describes himself primarily as an 'everyman' and a 'method' actor. A method actor, as I understand it, is someone who develops a complete history on their character for example, mannerisms, what they eat, beliefs, and who they might date. The actor then draws from their own experiences and the given circumstances to actually begin to feel and react like the character they have created. The Meisner technique on the other hand, as I understand it, focuses more on reacting honestly to how you feel in that moment to what the other person is saying or doing. All actors of course use some of each technique.

Nicolas' acting debut was as a 'boy on the beach' in "The Best of Times" TV Premiere, along with his buddy, Crispin Glover. Nicolas then landed a role opposite Matt Dillon in Francis Coppola's "Rumblefish." Having to fight the 'image' that he only got the part because his uncle was the director…and wanting to prove that he could do it on his own led Nicolas to the decision to officially change his name in 1983 to Nicolas Cage. 'Cage' was chosen both for the composer John Cage, and the underdog comic book hero, Luke Cage. Apparently, Nicolas landed his first starring film role with a little bit of luck. Director of "Valley Girl", Martha Coolidge said that her casting director had been auditioning 'pretty boys' for the part of Randy. As she talked with her casting director explaining she wanted someone more 'real' for the part, she walked over to the 'reject' pile of photos and picked up Nicolas' and told him she wanted somebody who looked 'more like this'. Six foot tall Nicolas is very well read and studied many of the great film actors…and as a young actor, still experimenting, tried to do some of the things they did. He looked up to actors like James Dean who beautifully portrayed emotions, Marlon Brando with his 'picture poses' and Sean Connery who always reminded him of his father. He wanted a classic voice, which oddly enough, he never felt he had. Nicolas carefully constructed a mystique around himself…he changed voices for almost every role and became known more for his original antics than his acting…at first.

In 1984 his coming of age or self proclaimed Barmitzvah included being the first in his family to get a tattoo. A lizard on the back of his left shoulder. His father turned pale at the sight of it. He later added a top hat and cane to give it a more humorous appearance. In the early days, Nicolas got so far into character…he'd sometimes become his character off the set. His father says that made it difficult sometimes to carry on a conversation with him. During the filming of "The Cotton Club" he became so frustrated with the delays in filming...and was so into his violent character that he trashed his trailer. He also demolished a $50 remote control car for sale in the streets of New York City, while a crowd watched on, to prove to himself that he was capable of instilling fear in others to prepare for his role. It worked and he did pay for the car. During the filming of Birdy, Nicolas had some late baby teeth removed…he used the REAL pain he experienced to 'feel' like a maimed veteran. Word leaked out that he'd had them pulled without novocaine (not true). Later he became known as the actor who ate a live cockroach inVampire Kiss, and "the wart on the otherwise' great film "Peggy Sue Got Married". He took a big chance and insisted that he wear fake teeth, fake hair and speak with the voice of 'Pokey' from "The Gumby Show"…much to his costar Kathleen Turner's surprise. That performance, however one might view it, gained the attention of the Cohen Brothers and landed him a role opposite Academy Award winner Holly Hunter in the tremendously outrageous comedy "Raising Arizona". His willingness to experiment also gained him the respect of his now good friend, Actor Jim Carrey. I for one, think that performance was totally endearing.

In his personal life, Nicolas is a hopeless romantic in the most positive way. His break up with actress Jenny Wright inspired his role as "Ronny" in Moonstruck. He met his wife, nineteeen year old aspiring actress, Patricia Arquette in 1987 at Canter's Deli in Los Angeles. After a few hours…he announced to her that he was going to marry her. She declined. He insisted that she put him on a quest to prove his love for her. She wrote her almost impossible requests on a napkin…a black orchid (non-existant), an autograph from known recluse J.D. Salinger and a wedding dress from a Tibetan Tribe. When Nicolas spray painted an orchid black and actually bought a letter from Salinger, Patricia agreed to go on a trip with him…but not to marry. After a short lived romance the couple parted ways, but remained friends. Patricia had a son, Enzo in 1988 coincidentally named after the character Enzo in "The Godfather". Enzo acted in Patricia's movie, "Beyond Rangoon". Nicolas had a son, Weston Coppola Cage in 1990 with Actress and model Christina Fulton. Christina Fulton was most recently credited as "Round Girl" in Snake Eyes. Nicolas and Christina broke up around the time he was filming "Honeymoon in Vegas" and share custody of Nicolas' pride and joy, Weston. Weston is dark haired and blue eyed like his father. Nicolas says he'd be proud if Weston decided to become an actor. In his Academy Award Acceptance speech, bringing a tear to every mother's eye, Nicolas said "Weston, It's Daddy…I love you!"

Nicolas credits his son for changing his life, as having someone so dependent sometimes does. Over the next few years Nicolas stopped smoking, driving cars too fast and taking as many chances. Nicolas was later engaged to model Kristin Zang (now dating Leonardo DiCaprio) and broke up during the filming of "Leaving Las Vegas". Nicolas had thought a lot about Patricia over the years and ran into her again by coincidence in Canter's Deli at 2am in 1995. By then, Patricia was an accomplished actor in her own right, and had recently received widespread fame in her role opposite Christian Slater, "True Romance". A short time later, Patricia called Nicolas on the phone and proposed to him…they got married two weeks later on the cliffs overlooking Carmel, CA on Patricia's 27th birthday, April 8, 1995. Nicolas describes the early days as being "somewhat like an arranged marriage" as they really didn't know each other that well, but he's said that they were "definitely soulmates". Sadly, citing "irreconcilable differences", Nicolas filed for divorce February 24, 2000. Patricia's spokesperson said it was a mutual decision and amicable. But by April 4th, 2000, the divorce papers were rescinded and Patricia's spokesperson confirmed that they've reunited in time for their 6th anniversary - and what a great Birthday present for Patricia. Winning an Academy Award in 1996 for his role as Ben Sanders, a suicidal alcoholic opposite Elisabeth Shue in "Leaving Las Vegas" proved to the world what the rest of us already knew, that Nicolas was one of a handful of truly great actors. His greatness stems from his uncanny ability to build unique, totally believable, often eccentric characters entirely different from one another that have the common theme of having something about them we all can identify with….and their own sense of dignity. He is truly someone who has always followed his own heart. I admire him for that.

Nicolas is also known for his unique taste. He recently sold his faux castle in the Hollywood hills, which he'd decorated totally gothic. Nicolas has always been fascinated with Vampires from the early silent film "Nosferatu"...perhaps the gothic castles in those films wet his taste for such unique items as he featured in his castle. I understand the stair railing was carved like a snake, a beetle was in the headboard of his bed and the fireplace was fashioned like a dragon's mouth breathing fire. He has an incredible collection of unique cars…from a yellow Ferrari, a Lamborghini to a Bentley…and many more. Maybe because he knows what it's like to feel like an "outsider', Nicolas reaches out to pets that may seem strange to others…a 5 foot lizard, named Mr. Sheen, a shark, and Patricia's Dr. Seuss dog. He once rescued a seal from the beach outside his Malibu home, cared for it, brought it to the Veterinarian and offered to keep it in his pool if they couldn't find a suitable home for it. Nicolas founded his own production company, Saturn Productions with his long time friend, Jeff Levine. Jeff Levine (cameo as a bartender in "Red Rock West". Their new production company seeks scripts from unknown and untested writers. Their first production, comes as no surprise…"Shadow of a Vampire" based most closely on Bram Stoker's version of Dracula. He's also scheduled to produce a film "Heartbreaker" directed by the very determined actor, Christopher Reeve. Christopher says Nicolas has been extremely accommodating. In fact…most of Nicolas' costars and directors have nothing but great things to say about him. They say he's intense, professional, creative, unconventional and fun to work with.

How do others describe him? The June 1999 issue of Premiere rates Nicolas' strengths as "intensity" and "class". Entertainment Weekly 1999 lists him as the 34th most powerful person in Hollywoood. His wife, Patricia described him as "graceful and intelligent" at the Snake Eyes Premiere. Connie, a photographer who shoots candids says "he's not standoffish like other actors, he's seems like a real nice down to earth kind of guy." Peisun, a TONCAS member, who saw him at the dedication for his star on the walk of fame said he's "a gracious and appreciative celebrity." Winning an Academy Award gave Nicolas enough clout in Hollywood to be able to work with highly esteemed directors and win big Box Office success in each movie following his Oscar. Despite criticism from some peers, Nicolas remains true to himself. He continues to choose scripts that challenge him as an actor…and often say that it's ok to be different or challenge us in some way to think. It's obvious from the what he says in public, in interviews and how he greets his fans, photographers and the public in general that he doesn't think of himself as a member of "the rich and famous" but merely as a man doing his job the best that he can. And that's exactly what I think we can count on in the years to come…truly great performances in some unique and interesting films….hand picked by the "jazz musician of acting", as Director David Lynch calls him.

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