Nicolas Cage is remembered for his roles in iconic films such as Leaving Las Vegas (1995), The Rock (1996), or Face/Off (1997), but also for his more recent performances in feature films like Longlegs (2024) or El elegido del mal (2025). What many do not grasp is that the popular American film actor actually has another name.
Nicolas Cage was born Nicolas Kim Coppola. Yes, the actor has this surname as he belongs to the Coppola family: he is the son of August Coppola, brother of Francis Ford Coppola. The Oscar winner is the nephew of the director who created such legendary films as The Godfather (1972) or Apocalypse Now (1979). In fact, the latter film had a lot to do with his decision to change his name.
According to Cage himself in an interview with Wired, the decision was motivated by the teasing he received after the premiere of his uncle’s film. “People wouldn’t stop saying things like ‘I love the smell of Nicolas in the morning’ because of Apocalypse Now,” he shared with the media.
This joke was based on one of the most iconic phrases from Coppola’s film, in which the character of Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore (played by Robert Duvall) said: “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.” Nicolas, who was then just a teenager, thought it would be a good idea to believe of an artistic surname that would accompany him in his career.
A surname that, in a way, would allow him to distance himself from the “Coppola” label and build his own trajectory. To choose it, he was inspired by Luke Cage, a Marvel comic book superhero, and John Cage, an American composer and key figure in 20th-century avant-garde music. Today, many are unaware that Cage is not the real surname of one of Hollywood’s most famous actors.
The films in which they collaborated together
Cage did not adopt his new name until the early 1980s, when he had already begun his acting career. The actor debuted in 1981 with the pilot episode of The Best of Times, a television series that was very successful, and soon landed a role in the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). In both productions he appeared credited as Nicolas Coppola, but it was the last time that happened.
When his uncle Francis Ford Coppola chose him for a role in The Outsiders (1983), the actor had already changed his name. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Cage confessed that he asked his uncle to participate in The Godfather Part II. “It just wasn’t going to happen. It was a movie I wasn’t allowed into, but I really wanted to be in,” he shared at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nicolas Cage’s birth name?
Nicolas Cage’s birth name is Nicolas Kim Coppola.
Why did Nicolas Cage change his name?
Nicolas Cage changed his name due to teasing he received after the release of his uncle Francis Ford Coppola’s film, Apocalypse Now, and to establish his own identity as an actor.
Is Nicolas Cage related to Francis Ford Coppola?
Yes, Nicolas Cage is the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola; his father, August Coppola, is Francis Ford Coppola’s brother.
Given the actor’s long and varied career, what impact do you think adopting a new name had on his professional trajectory?