Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Michael Caine
Discover the career path of Michael Caine, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Sir Michael Caine is a highly acclaimed English actor, recognized for his distinctive Cockney accent and extensive career spanning eight decades with over 160 films. A British cultural icon, Caine has garnered numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. His films have grossed over $7.8 billion worldwide. He holds the distinction of being one of only five male actors nominated for an Academy Award across five decades. Caine received a BAFTA Fellowship in 2000 and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
1950: Film Debut in Morning Departure
In 1950, Michael Caine made his film debut with an uncredited walk-on role in Morning Departure.
July 1953: Cast in Wuthering Heights
In July 1953, Michael Caine, using the stage name "Michael White," was cast as Hindley in Wuthering Heights.
1956: First Film Role in A Hill in Korea
In 1956, Michael Caine's first film role was as one of the privates in A Hill in Korea.
1957: Role in Dixon of Dock Green and Escape
In 1957, Michael Caine appeared in Dixon of Dock Green and Escape.
1958: Role in Mister Charlesworth
In 1958, Michael Caine appeared in Mister Charlesworth.
1958: Minor Role in The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial
In 1958, Michael Caine played a minor role in a BBC Television adaptation of The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.
1959: Understudy in The Long and the Short and the Tall
In 1959, Michael Caine was Peter O'Toole's understudy in The Long and the Short and the Tall, later taking over the role.
December 1961: The Compartment Play
In December 1961, Michael Caine was cast in the play The Compartment, written by Johnny Speight, also starring Frank Finlay.
January 1963: Cockney Comedy
On 23 January 1963, Michael Caine was cast as Meff in James Saunders' Cockney comedy Next Time I'll Sing To You.
1963: Filming Zulu in South Africa
In 1963, Michael Caine filmed Zulu in Natal, South Africa. Joseph E. Levine released Caine from his seven-year contract, and Levine gave his contract to his Zulu co-star James Booth.
1964: Starring in Zulu
In 1964, Michael Caine played a starring role in the British film Zulu, marking his breakthrough in the film industry.
1964: Hamlet at Elsinore
In 1964, Michael Caine was cast in the BBC production Hamlet at Elsinore as Horatio.
1965: The Ipcress File Release
In 1965, Michael Caine played Harry Palmer in The Ipcress File, establishing himself as a notable actor.
1965: Starring in The Ipcress File
In 1965, Michael Caine played a starring role in The Ipcress File.
1966: Alfie and Gambit Release
In 1966, Michael Caine starred in Alfie, receiving his first Academy Award nomination, and made his first Hollywood film in Gambit.
1966: Oscar Nomination for Alfie
In 1966, Michael Caine was nominated for an Academy Award for his leading role in Alfie.
1967: Funeral in Berlin and Billion Dollar Brain Release
In 1967, Michael Caine played Harry Palmer in Billion Dollar Brain.
1968: The Magus Release
In 1968, Michael Caine starred in The Magus, which failed at the box office.
1969: Starring in The Italian Job
In 1969, Michael Caine starred as Charlie Croker in The Italian Job.
1969: Starring in The Italian Job and Battle of Britain
In 1969, Michael Caine starred in The Italian Job and Battle of Britain.
1969: The Italian Job release
In 1969, Michael Caine starred in the hit film The Italian Job. The title of Caine's third memoir, Blowing the Bloody Doors Off, references an iconic quote from the film.
1971: Starring in Get Carter and The Last Valley
In 1971, Michael Caine solidified his stardom with roles in Get Carter and The Last Valley.
1972: Oscar Nomination for Sleuth
In 1972, Michael Caine was nominated for an Academy Award for his leading role in Sleuth.
1975: Starring in The Man Who Would Be King
In 1975, Michael Caine starred in The Man Who Would Be King.
1976: Starring in The Eagle Has Landed
In 1976, Michael Caine starred in The Eagle Has Landed.
1977: Starring in A Bridge Too Far
In 1977, Michael Caine starred in A Bridge Too Far.
1978: Performance in California Suite
In 1978, Michael Caine delivered a notable performance in the film California Suite.
1980: Performance in Dressed to Kill
In 1980, Michael Caine delivered a notable performance in the film Dressed to Kill.
1983: Educating Rita
In 1983, Michael Caine used his "not a lot of people know that" phrase as a joke in the film Educating Rita.
1983: Oscar Nomination for Educating Rita
In 1983, Michael Caine was nominated for an Academy Award for his leading role in Educating Rita.
1983: BAFTA and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor
In 1983, Michael Caine won the BAFTA and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his performance in Educating Rita.
1984: Madness Song
In 1984, Michael Caine provided vocal samples for the ska-pop band Madness for their song "Michael Caine".
1986: Academy Award for Hannah and Her Sisters and Mona Lisa
In 1986, Michael Caine received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Hannah and Her Sisters and starred in Mona Lisa.
1986: First Academy Award
In 1986, Michael Caine won his first Academy Award for his role in the film Hannah and Her Sisters.
1988: Not a Lot of People Know This Is 1988
In 1988, Michael Caine released "Not a Lot of People Know This Is 1988", with proceeds benefiting the National Playing Fields Association.
1988: Starring in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
In 1988, Michael Caine starred in the comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
1992: Publication of What's It All About?
In 1992, Michael Caine published his first memoir, What's It All About?, an "archetypal show-business memoir".
1992: The Muppet Christmas Carol
In 1992, Michael Caine sang in the musical film The Muppet Christmas Carol.
1995: Bullet to Beijing Release
In 1995, Michael Caine played Harry Palmer in Bullet to Beijing.
1996: Midnight in Saint Petersburg Release
In 1996, Michael Caine played Harry Palmer in Midnight in Saint Petersburg.
1998: Performance in Little Voice
In 1998, Michael Caine delivered a notable performance in the film Little Voice.
1999: Academy Award for The Cider House Rules
In 1999, Michael Caine received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Cider House Rules.
2000: Performance in Quills
In 2000, Michael Caine delivered a notable performance in the film Quills.
2000: Starring in Miss Congeniality
In 2000, Michael Caine starred in the comedy Miss Congeniality.
2000: Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II
In 2000, Michael Caine was knighted (as Sir Maurice Micklewhite, CBE) by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace for his contribution to cinema and also received a BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award.
2000: Second Academy Award
In 2000, Michael Caine won his second Academy Award for his performance in the film The Cider House Rules.
2002: Austin Powers in Goldmember
In 2002, Michael Caine starred in Austin Powers in Goldmember, portraying Nigel Powers, a spoof of his Harry Palmer character, at Mike Myers' request.
2002: Oscar Nomination for The Quiet American
In 2002, Michael Caine was nominated for an Academy Award for his leading role in The Quiet American.
2003: Starring in Secondhand Lions
In 2003, Michael Caine starred in Secondhand Lions.
2005: Batman Begins Release
In 2005, Michael Caine portrayed Alfred Pennyworth in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins.
2006: Performance in Children of Men
In 2006, Michael Caine delivered a notable performance in the film Children of Men.
2006: The Prestige Release
In 2006, Michael Caine had a role in Christopher Nolan's The Prestige.
2007: Cained Compilation CD Release
In 2007, Michael Caine released a compilation CD of chill-out music called Cained on the UMTV record label.
2008: Outstanding Contribution to Showbusiness at the Variety Club Awards
In 2008, Michael Caine was awarded the prize for Outstanding Contribution to Showbusiness at the Variety Club Awards.
2009: Call for National Service Reintroduction
Following the launch of his film Harry Brown in 2009, Michael Caine called for the reintroduction of national service in the UK.
2009: Performance in Harry Brown
In 2009, Michael Caine delivered a notable performance in the film Harry Brown.
2010: Inception Release
In 2010, Michael Caine had a role in Christopher Nolan's Inception.
2010: Publication of The Elephant to Hollywood
In 2010, Michael Caine published his second memoir, The Elephant to Hollywood.
May 2012: Honorary Freedom of the London Borough of Southwark
In May 2012, Michael Caine was awarded the Honorary Freedom of the London Borough of Southwark as a person of distinction and eminence of the borough.
2012: The Dark Knight Rises Release
In 2012, Michael Caine portrayed Alfred Pennyworth in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises, concluding the Batman trilogy.
2014: Interstellar Release
In 2014, Michael Caine had a role in Christopher Nolan's Interstellar.
2015: Performance in Youth
In 2015, Michael Caine delivered a notable performance in the film Youth.
2017: Box Office Success
As of 2017, films starring Michael Caine have grossed over $7.8 billion worldwide.
2017: Dunkirk Release
In 2017, Michael Caine had a role in Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk.
2017: Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement
In 2017, Michael Caine received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.
2018: Publication of Blowing the Bloody Doors Off
In 2018, Michael Caine published his third memoir, Blowing the Bloody Doors Off.
2018: British Airways Pre-Flight Safety Video
In 2018, Michael Caine starred in a British Airways pre-flight safety video with other British celebrities to promote the Flying Start children's charity partnership between BA and Comic Relief.
May 2019: Cast in Christopher Nolan's Tenet
In May 2019, Michael Caine was cast as Sir Michael Crosby in Christopher Nolan's film, Tenet.
September 2020: Tenet Release
In September 2020, Christopher Nolan's film Tenet, starring Michael Caine, was released in America during the COVID-19 pandemic after multiple delays and became a box office disappointment despite positive reviews.
2020: Tenet Release
In 2020, Michael Caine had a role in Christopher Nolan's Tenet.
2021: Appearances in Twist and Best Sellers
In 2021, Michael Caine played Fagin in Twist, an adaptation of Oliver Twist, and suggested he would retire during interviews promoting Best Sellers due to walking difficulties and interest in novel-writing, though this was later retracted.
2022: Filming The Great Escaper
In 2022, Michael Caine filmed The Great Escaper, a British-French film with Glenda Jackson, about a WWII veteran who escaped his nursing home to attend the 70th anniversary of D-Day in France.
October 2023: Retirement from Acting
In October 2023, Michael Caine announced his retirement from acting, with his final film being The Great Escaper, released in the same month.
October 2023: Official Retirement Announcement
On October 13, 2023, Michael Caine officially confirmed his retirement from acting, citing a lack of leading roles and positive reviews for his performance in The Great Escaper as reasons.
October 2023: The Great Escaper Release
On October 6, 2023, The Great Escaper, a film starring Michael Caine, was released.
November 2023: Publication of Deadly Game
In November 2023, Michael Caine's first novel, a thriller entitled Deadly Game, was published.
2024: Publication of Don't Look Back, You'll Trip Over: My Guide to Life
In 2024, Michael Caine published his fourth memoir, Don't Look Back, You'll Trip Over: My Guide to Life.
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