2012 | Starred as a former thief searching for his kidnapped daughter in action thriller "Stolen" |
2012 | Reprised titular role for the sequel "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" |
2011 | Co-starred with Nicole Kidman in the crime drama "Trespass" |
2011 | Starred as a 14th century knight in "Season of the Witch" |
2010 | Starred in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" as a master magician |
2010 | Cast in Matthew Vaughn's film adaption of Mark Millar's "Kick-Ass" |
2009 | Played a crooked cop in Werner Herzog's "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans" |
2009 | Voiced the brilliant scientist Dr. Tenma in the animated feature "Astro Boy" |
2009 | Starred in the sci-fi thriller, "Knowing"; directed by Alex Proyas and co-starring Rose Byrne |
2007 | Reprised role for "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," the sequel to the 2004 hit film |
2007 | Played comic book character Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider in Mark Steven Johnson's "Ghost Rider" |
2006 | Cast in Neil Labute's remake of the 70s horror film, "The Wicker Man" |
2006 | Portrayed Sgt. John McLoughlin, a policeman who was trapped in the World Trade Center collapse of 9/11, in Oliver Stone's "World Trade Center" |
2005 | Cast as Chicago weatherman Dave Spirtz in "The Weather Man" opposite Michael Caine and Hope Davis |
2004 | Co-starred with Diane Kruger as treasure-seekers who set out to protect an ancient treasure in "National Treasure" |
2003 | Co-starred with Sam Rockwell and Alison Lohman in Ridley Scott's "Matchstick Men" |
2002 | Made feature directorial debut with "Sonny" starring James Franco |
2002 | Co-starred with Meryl Streep in "Adaptation," a drama about making a movie based on Susan Orlean's book "The Orchid Thief"; received leading role nominations for a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, a SAG and an Oscar |
2002 | Had leading role of a WWII soldier assigned to protect Native American codebreakers in "Windtalkers" |
2001 | Undertook a romantic role in "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" opposite Penelope Cruz |
2000 | Served as one of the producers on "Shadow of the Vampire" |
2000 | Portrayed a ruthless business executive who magically wakes up on Christmas morning with a wife and two children in the fantasy "The Family Man" |
2000 | Cast as a master car thief opposite Angelina Jolie in "Gone in 60 Seconds" |
1999 | Cast as an ambulance driver in Martin Scorsese's "Bringing Out the Dead" |
1998 | Received star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (July 31) |
1998 | Appeared in the Brian De Palma crime thriller "Snake Eyes" |
1998 | Momentary diversion from action fare in "City of Angels," a remake of Wim Wenders' "Wings of Desire" (1988) |
1997 | Swapped identities with John Travolta in John Woo's "Face/Off" |
1997 | Portrayed Cameron Poe, a bad-luck good guy on his way home after serving eight years, in the action-adventure "Con Air" |
1996 | Played a brainy, geeky biochemist-turned-action hero in "The Rock" |
1995 | Won Best Actor Oscar for his wrenching portrayal of an alcoholic screenwriter bent on drinking himself to death in Mike Figgis' "Leaving Las Vegas" |
1995 | Offered a parody of a mad-dog bad guy in Barbet Schroeder's remake of "Kiss of Death" |
1994 | Protected a former First Lady (Shirley MacLaine) in "Guarding Tess" |
1994 | Reteamed with Bergman for "It Could Happen to You" |
1993 | Acted in brother Christopher Coppola's "Deadfall" |
1993 | Starred opposite Samuel L Jackson in "Amos and Andrew" |
1993 | Mistaken for a contract killer in John Dahl's rock-solid little noir thriller "Red Rock West"; film debuted on HBO before receiving a theatrical release |
1992 | First collaboration with director Andrew Bergman, "Honeymoon in Vegas" |
1990 | Ripped-off Elvis for David Lynch's "Wild at Heart" |
1989 | Ate a live cockroach in "Vampire's Kiss" |
1987 | First box-office hit, "Moonstruck" |
1987 | Took a comic turn for Joel and Ethan Coen in "Raising Arizona" |
1986 | Gave a brilliant, freakish performance in Francis Ford Coppola's "Peggy Sue Got Married"; his Donald Duck-like voice a copy of horse Pokey's from "The Gumby Show"; his bizarre performance almost got him fired |
1984 | Acted opposite Matthew Modine in Alan Parker's "Birdy"; knocked a tooth out in true method acting style to more closely identify with the role |
1984 | Second film with his uncle, "Cotton Club" |
1983 | Cast by his uncle Francis Ford Coppola in "Rumble Fish"; played the film's resident nerd |
1983 | First leading role, "Valley Girl"; credited as Nicolas Cage, the name was inspired by Luke Cage, a black comic-book superhero who suffers with depression and insecurity; director Martha Coolidge didn't know he was a Coppola when she cast him |
1982 | Film acting debut, "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (billed as Nicolas Coppola) |
1981 | TV debut in the ABC variety special "The Best of Times" |
| Moved to Los Angeles |
1979 | At age 15, enrolled in the American Conservatory Theatre (ACT); appeared there in a production of "Golden Boy" |
1976 | Moved to San Francisco, CA with family at age 12 |
