THE MOVIE PAGES STAR PICK - MICHAEL CAINE Known the world over for his two standout trade marks, his spectacles and that cockney accent Michael Caine was born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite on the 14th of March 1933 at St. Olave's Hospital, Rotherhithe, London, England. Life started out in a two bedroom flat with no electricity but during the second world war his mother was relocated to Norfolk taking her two sons with her. As a young man of 16 Caine would leave school and later joined the army serving overseas during the Korean War. Returning to England the prospects looked poor so he took a job as the assistant stage manager with Horsham Repertory Company in Sussex. During this period he achieved some success in theatre and had assumed the name Michael Scott [later he would use the name Michael Caine taking his stage surname from The Caine Mutiny(1954)] moving to the Lowestoft Theatre in Suffolk where as fate would have it he would meet his first wife Patricia Haines. From here through to the late sixties Caine enjoyed success with television and film and was acclaimed for his role in movies like ZULU, The Ipcress File, The Battle of Britian, How to Murder A Rich Uncle and The Wrong Arm of the Law.
Over the years Michael Caine has taken on a variety of roles and has shown a versatility reserved only for the great. That didn't mean that every move he acted in was great and there were many that the critics did not like. His departure from the dramatic to comedy provided audiences with another side to Michael Caine. There were a string of good comedies including Blame it on Rio, Co-starring with Steve Martin in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, then with Ben Kingsley in Without a Clue where he played the hopeless, bungling, Shelock Holmes and now in 2001 he is wowing audiences with his performance as the camp Victor Melling in Miss Congeniality. It's been a long and varied path for the man who refused to drop his cockney accent. That was until he starred in the 1967 film Hurry Sundown where he had a southern drawl. A man of boundless talent he has written two books, "Michael Caine's Moving Picture Show" and his autobiography "What's It All About?".
MICHAEL CAINE - TRIVIA
Took his name from the film Caine Mutiny, The (1954)
He owns seven restaurants. Six in London, one in Miami.
Co-owns top London restaurant Langan's Brasserie.
Owns his own Film Production company.
Once shared a London flat with actor Terence Stamp early in his career.
Awarded British Variety Club Award for Best Film Actor 1987
Awarded CBE (Commander Of The Most Excellent Order Of The British Empire) in 1993.
Sir Michael Caine was awarded a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, 17 June 2000.
Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his contribution to the performing arts.(2000)
He was formally knighted at Buckingham Palace on 16 November 2000.
He was knighted under his real name as Sir Maurice Micklewhite.
He will be known professionally as Sir Michael Caine.
Father, with Shakira Caine, of Natasha.
Father, with the late Patricia Haines, of Dominique (aka Nikki).
MICHAEL CAINE - FAMOUS QUOTE
In 1967: "I've never been out with a married woman, never. I respect others' properties." Copyright ©2005 - Impact Internet Services
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