Caine's first American accent was in the film Hurry Sundown (1967). He was taught the southern drawl by Vivien Leigh, who told him to say "four door Ford" all day long for weeks. (source - "What's it all about?" Michael Caine's autobiography - 1992)
Ranked #55 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]
Co-owns top London restaurant Langan's Brasserie.
Awarded British Variety Club Award for Best Film Actor 1987.
Awarded CBE (Commander Of The Most Excellent Order Of The British Empire) in 1993.
Owns his own Film Production company.
Took his name from the film The Caine Mutiny (1954)
Shared a London flat with actor Terence Stamp early in his career.
Was awarded a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, 17 June 2000, for his contribution to the performing arts.
When formally knighted at Buckingham Palace on 16 November 2000, he was knighted under his real name of Maurice Micklewhite. He will be known professionally as Sir Michael Caine.
He owns seven restaurants: six in London, one in Miami.
Father, with Shakira Caine, of Natasha.
Father, with the late Patricia Haines, of Dominique (aka Nikki).
The production offices of Mona Lisa (1986) were located in the disused St Olave's hospital, the very hospital in which Caine was born.
Has two brothers. His younger brother Stanley appeared in at least 3 of Caine's films, 'Billion Dollar Brain', 'Play Dirty' and 'The Italian Job'. Caine did not know about his elder half-brother David until their mother died. David suffered from epilepsy and had lived in a hospital his entire life.
The role of Alfie was turned down by Anthony Newley and Terence Stamp before it was offered to him.
Lodged with composer John Barry in the early sixties, for a few months, after being forced to leave his own flat, penniless. He returned the favour in 1998 when agreeing to introduce the composer's Royal Albert Hall concert - his first in the UK for 25 years.
"Michael Caine", a top 10 song in Britain in the mid-80s by the group Madness, had his "My Name Is Michael Caine" quote sampled into the song.
Was voted fifth in the Orange 2001 Film Survey of greatest British actors.
Starred with Donald Sutherland in a 1964 TV production of "Hamlet." Sutherland later starred in a 2003 re-make of Caine's film The Italian Job (1969).
He and Quincy Jones were born on the same day.
Lobbied for the lead role in The Day of the Jackal (1973) but was rejected by director 'Fred Zinneman' , who felt that the character of The Jackal, who essentially is a cypher, should not be played by a movie star.
Upon meeting Laurence Olivier for the first time on the set of Sleuth (1972), he was unsure of how to address Olivier. Olivier told him that he should be called Lord Olivier the first time, and after that, he could simply call him "Larry."
Three of his memorable films, Alfie, Get Carter and The Italian Job have all been remade.
Michael Caine Detailed Biography
Born in South London on 14th March 1933, Michael Caine was the son of a fish-market porter and a cleaning-woman. Intrigued by acting, after serving tea in a theatre, he began performing in amateur plays. He served in Korea during his national service and, on his return, started playing small parts in provincial theatres and on British TV.He was hired to advise on A Hill in Korea in 1956, and played a small role.He had been a working as an actor for ten years before he attracted attention playing an effete young officer in Zulu (1964). He became highly popular after finding the humanity in the self-centred lothario, Alfie (1966), for which he won an Academy Award nomination.
In roles from the atypical, bespectacled spy hero Harry Palmer, to the ruthless avenger, Jack Carter, he has proved himself a popular screen personality. He has won Best Supporting Actor Academy Awards for Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) and The Cider House Rules (1999). He continues to achieve international acclaim as a versatile actor and in the process has become a beloved British icon. In 2000 he accepted a knighthood under his real name, Maurice Micklewhite, in honour of his father.
