Happy Birthday, Michael Caine

Screen Icon Turns 85

Born Maurice Micklewhite on this day in 1933, Michael Caine has been an icon on the small and big screens for more than 60 years and he's still going strong today at the age of 85. With 160+ acting credits already amassed on his impressive resume, the knighted actor has received two Academy Awards® (along with six nominations) and three Golden Globes (from 11 nominations), and ranks in the Top Ten among all actors in career box-office numbers. With his trademark cockney accent, tilted-head questioning manner and a versatile on-screen persona, Caine has reached legendary status from portraying mild-mannered characters to explosive protagonists. We have gathered together a slew of films from the Warner Bros. Film and Television Library that brings a wide-ranging look into Caine's illustrious career, also proving that a few turkeys are just part of the game. Caine readily admits that he has "made a lot of awful films," but even those misses have grown to become cult fodder fun over the years.

A small bit player in television through much of the late '50s and '60s, Caine finally hit stardom with his Academy Award-winning performance in 1966’s Alfie. A few years removed from his first Oscar®, Caine opened the '70s playing a small-time mobster who unleashes vengeance on those responsible for his brother's death in Get Carter. Decried by some for excessive violence, the movie was a mild success at the time of its release but has grown in stature since the 1990s when a new crop of filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie spoke of the film's impact on them. In 2000, Sylvester Stallone starred in a less-successful remake, which also starred Caine, albeit in a different role. Throughout the rest of the decade, Caine would mix memorable performances such as his Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for 1973's Sleuth, with a roller-coaster series of drama and action flicks, including The Man Who Would Be King with longtime friend Sean Connery. On the other side of the box-office scale, there were even a few harmless disaster films—both in theme and result—from Irwin Allen.

Get Carter (1971)

Ian Hendry as Eric Paice laying on the ground holding bottle and Michael Caine as Jack Carter holding gun/shotgun standing above him while crew members look on. — Michael Caine as Jack Carter stands over Ian Hendry as Eric Paice while *Get Carter* crew members look on.

The Man Who Would Be King (1975)

Close friends off-screen, Michael Caine and Sean Connery share a laugh during the filming of The Man Who Would Be King. — Close friends off-screen Michael Caine and Sean Connery share a laugh during the filming of *The Man Who Would Be King*.

The Swarm (1978)

Michael Caine gets his point across to Richard Widmark in The Swarm — Michael Caine gets his point across to Richard Widmark in Irwin Allen's *The Swarm*.

Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979)

not even the impressive cast, including Karl Malden, Sally Field and Caine could keep this sequel from taking on water. — Not even the impressive cast, including Karl Malden, Sally Field and Michael Caine could keep this sequel from taking on water, although it remains good popcorn fun.

Like the decade before, Caine was very active throughout the '80s, bursting out of the gates in the classic thriller Dressed to Kill, which was followed by Oliver Stone's cult horror flick, The Hand, the controversial Deathtrap, another Oscar nomination and Golden Globe win for 1983's Educating Rita and his second Academy Award for 1986's Hannah and Her Sisters. And on the small screen, Caine snared his second Golden Globe for the popular 1988 television miniseries, Jack the Ripper.

The Hand (1981)

Wearing quite the wardrobe, Caine is pictured with Andrea Marcovicci on the set of Oliver Stone's horror flick, The Hand — Wearing quite the wardrobe, Caine is pictured with Andrea Marcovicci on the set of Oliver Stone's horror flick, *The Hand*.

Deathtrap (1982)

christopher reeve has michael caine in a choke-hold in a scene from the cat-and-mouse suspenser, Deathtrap — Christopher "Superman" Reeve has Michael Caine in a choke-hold in a scene from the cat-and-mouse suspenser, *Deathtrap*.

Jack the Ripper (1988)

michael caine in his golden globe-winning performance as Inspector Frederick Abberline in the miniseries, Jack the Ripper. — Michael Caine won the Golden Globe for his powerful performance as Inspector Frederick Abberline in the excellent miniseries, *Jack the Ripper*.

While many of the actors from his generation had retired by the turn of the millennium, Michael Caine hit all-new heights in his career as he effortlessly moved from another Oscar-winning dramatic performance in The Cider House Rules straight into hit comedies like Miss Congeniality, playing the father of cinema's most hilarious superspy in Austin Powers in Goldmember, teaming with Robert Duvall in Secondhand Lions, and with Christopher Walken in the underrated drama Around the Bend. Caine also became an understated presence and instrumental cog in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy and the epic Inception. This was followed by the worldwide hit action/adventure Journey 2: The Mysterious Island in 2012. And last year, along with co-stars Morgan Freeman and Alan Arkin, Caine proved in the box-office smash hit comedy Going in Style that great actors age like the finest of wines. And Sir Maurice Micklewhite is certainly one such thespian. Happy 85th, Maurice!

Miss Congeniality (2000)

Sandra Bullock and Caine enjoy a moment during the shooting of the mega-hit, Miss Congeniality. — Caine and Sandra Bullock enjoy a moment during the shooting of the mega-hit, *Miss Congeniality*.

Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)

complete with the trademark Powers family grill, Caine played the superspy's father in Austin Powers in Goldmember. — Complete with the trademark Powers' family grill, Caine played the superspy's father in *Austin Powers in Goldmember*.

Secondhand Lions (2003)

robert duvall and michael caine are the twisted brothers in the dramatic comedy, Secondhand Lions. — Robert Duvall and Caine are twisted brothers forced to raise their teenage nephew in the dramatic comedy, *Secondhand Lions*.

Around the Bend (2004)

christopher walken, josh lucas, michael caine and jonah bobo pictured in the generational family drama, Around the Bend. — Christopher Walken, Josh Lucas, Michael Caine and Jonah Bobo pictured in the generational family drama, *Around the Bend*.

The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005-2012)

on the set of 2008's The Dark Knight, director Christopher Nolan discusses a scene with Michael Caine as Alfred and Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne. — On the set of 2008's *The Dark Knight*, director Christopher Nolan discusses a scene with Caine as Alfred and Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne.

Inception (2010)

Michael Caine plays Professor Stephen Miles, the father-in-law of Leonardo DiCaprio's Cobb in Christopher Nolan's dream-stealing epic, Inception. — Caine plays Professor Stephen Miles, the father-in-law of Leonardo DiCaprio's Cobb in Christopher Nolan's dream-stealing epic, *Inception*.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)

Luis Guzman, Vanessa Hudgens, Michael Caine, Dwayne Johnson and Josh Hutcherson traverse a dangerous mountain path in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island — Luis Guzman, Vanessa Hudgens, Michael Caine, Dwayne Johnson and Josh Hutcherson traverse a dangerous mountain path in the worldwide hit, *Journey 2: The Mysterious Island*.

Going in Style (2017)

Michael Caine is the getaway driver for Morgan Freeman in last year's hit comedy, Going in Style. — Michael Caine is the getaway driver for Morgan Freeman in last year's hit comedy, *Going in Style*.