Nicolas Cage legally changed his name last year, drops Coppola
Synopsis
Nicolas Cage didn't just use a stage name — he made it official. The Oscar winner confirmed he legally dropped 'Coppola' last year, framing it as a deliberate choice to build his own legacy rather than remain a footnote in one of Hollywood's most powerful families. With Spider-Noir on the horizon, the name change is both personal declaration and career reset.
Key Takeaways
Nicolas Cage confirmed he legally changed his name from Nicolas Kim Coppola to Nicolas Cage last year.
He told Variety he preferred being 'the patriarch of my own little family' over being the 'clown cousin' of the Coppola dynasty.
The surname 'Cage' was inspired by Marvel Comics character Luke Cage and avant-garde composer John Cage .
He is the son of the late August Coppola , brother of director Francis Ford Coppola .
His next project, Spider-Noir , sees him play Ben Reilly / The Spider , expanding on his role in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse .
Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage, born Nicolas Kim Coppola, confirmed in a recent interview that he formally legalised his long-used stage name last year, cementing his break from one of Hollywood's most storied dynasties. The revelation came during a conversation with Variety, in which Cage also spoke candidly about identity, family legacy, and his next major project.
The Name Change, in His Own Words
'I am Nick Cage. I changed my name legally last year,' the actor said. He went further, explaining the philosophy behind the decision: 'I'm Nick Cage in life, and I'm Nick Cage on camera. 'Tis better to be the patriarch of my own little family than the clown cousin on the margins of someone else's, so I decided I'm going to bring it on and be 'Cage.''
Cage had originally adopted the pseudonym decades ago while filming Fast Times at Ridgemont High, after growing tired of being associated with his famous uncle. 'I decided, I don't need this, and I changed it to Cage,' he told Wired in 2022, recalling how people on set would quote Apocalypse Now at him.
The Inspiration Behind 'Cage'
The surname was drawn from two distinct cultural touchstones. Cage cited the fictional Marvel Comics character Luke Cage as one source, and avant-garde composer John Cage as the other. 'It's a combination of Luke Cage from Marvel Comics ... and John Cage, the avant-garde composer. Speaks volumes about what I've been up to ever since,' he explained.
As for keeping 'Nicolas', the actor said his late father named him with the French spelling — without the 'h' — a detail that has apparently frustrated him for years. 'I don't know why he gave me the French spelling! But he did,' he said. He added that he is equally comfortable being called 'Nick' or 'Nicolas': 'I'm both! I think people know me as both.'
The Coppola Shadow
Cage is the son of the late August Coppola, older brother of director Francis Ford Coppola and actress Talia Shire. Other prominent members of the extended family include Sofia Coppola, Francis' daughter, and Jason Schwartzman, Shire's son. The weight of that lineage was a key driver behind his early name change, and now, its legal formalisation.
What's Next: Spider-Noir
Cage's upcoming project is Spider-Noir, a live-action series in which he plays Ben Reilly / The Spider — a character he previously voiced in the animated hit Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The series draws from Marvel's Spider-Man: Noir comics and also stars Lamorne Morris, Li Jun Li, Karen Rodriguez, Abraham Popoola, Jack Huston, and Brendan Gleeson. The project marks a full-circle moment for Cage, who now carries the name he chose — legally and permanently — into his next chapter.
Point of View
Not the beneficiary. Cage has been making this argument with his career choices for decades; formalising it legally at this stage of his life is the logical conclusion. What's notable is that he framed it not as rejection but as self-definition: patriarch, not exile. Whether Spider-Noir cements that rebranding or gets lost in the Marvel content machine remains the more interesting question.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nicolas Cage's real name?
Nicolas Cage was born Nicolas Kim Coppola . He adopted the stage name 'Cage' early in his career and confirmed in a recent Variety interview that he legally changed his name to Nicolas Cage last year.
Why did Nicolas Cage change his name from Coppola?
Cage wanted to establish an identity separate from the famous Coppola family. He has said he preferred being 'the patriarch of my own little family' rather than being seen as a peripheral figure in his uncle Francis Ford Coppola 's legacy.
Where does the surname 'Cage' come from?
The name is drawn from two sources: fictional Marvel Comics hero Luke Cage , and avant-garde composer John Cage . Cage has described the combination as reflective of his artistic sensibilities.
Who is Nicolas Cage related to in Hollywood?
Cage is the son of the late August Coppola , the older brother of director Francis Ford Coppola and actress Talia Shire . His extended family also includes director Sofia Coppola and actor Jason Schwartzman .
What is Nicolas Cage's next project?
Cage stars in Spider-Noir , a live-action series in which he plays Ben Reilly / The Spider , expanding on his voice role in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse . The series also features Lamorne Morris , Brendan Gleeson , and others.
