Actor Nicolas Cage officially adopts new legal name in 2025.
Nicolas Cage, whose birth name is Nicolas Coppola, legally changed his name to Nicolas Cage last year. The actor explained that the change was a way to establish an independent identity separate from his famous family. He cited the Marvel character Luke Cage and composer John Cage as inspirations that resonated with him during his upbringing.
Cage said he prefers being the “patriarch” of his own name rather than being a peripheral figure linked to the Coppola family legacy. He noted that the French spelling of Nicolas has been a point of frustration, but he kept it for personal reasons.
The name change followed years of the industry and audience associating him with his uncle Francis Ford Coppola. The actor stated that the connection made it difficult to be seen on his own merit.
Professionally, Cage is touring a new Phase of career. He plays Ben Reilly/The Spider in the “Spider‑Noir” series on Prime Video and is set to star in a biopic about former NFL coach John Madden.