Why Nicolas Cage finally made his stage name official after decades in Hollywood
The Hollywood star shares the personal reason behind making his stage name official
Hollywood star Nicolas Cage has revealed that he officially and legally changed his surname to Cage in 2025, saying he wanted to establish his own identity rather than be defined by his connection to the famous Coppola family.
The Spider-Noir actor, who was born Nicolas Coppola, shared the news during a recent interview with Variety, explaining that the decision was rooted in a long-standing desire to step out of the shadow of his renowned relatives, including his uncle, legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola.
“I am Nick Cage. I changed my name legally last year,” the actor said, adding that he preferred being “the patriarch of my own little family” rather than “the clown cousin on the margins of someone else’s.”
Cage adopted the stage name early in his career, but only recently made the change official. He explained that the surname was inspired by both the Marvel Comics character Luke Cage and avant-garde composer John Cage.
According to the actor, he was looking for a name that felt memorable and concise, similar to screen icon James Dean.
“Cage is a name that I liked coming across in the comics,” he said, noting that he also admired the artistic legacy associated with John Cage.
“I was looking for something like James Dean; I was looking for something short and sweet.”
While he changed his surname, Cage chose to keep his first name, Nicolas, which was given to him by his father.
He joked that the French spelling has often caused confusion because many people mistakenly add an “h” to the name.
The Oscar-winning actor also reflected on whether “Nick Cage” sounds like a superhero name.
When asked about the perception, he responded with humor, suggesting that audiences have come to know him as both Nick and Nicolas.
The revelation echoes comments Cage made during a 2022 interview with Wired, where he explained that he wanted to avoid comparisons with his famous uncle and carve out a career based on his own achievements.
At the time, he described the name Cage as a blend of influences from Luke Cage and John Cage, saying it reflected the creative path he has followed throughout his career.