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Michael Caine -

The actor was born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite on March 14, 1933, in Rotherhithe, London.     

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Groomed for stardom -

Caine is pictured at home with his mother, Ellen. His father, also called Maurice, was a fish market porter of English and Irish heritage.  

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Early acting roles -

The young actor cut his teeth as "Michael White" with small walk-on parts in provincial UK theater. In 1954, he again changed his name to "Michael Caine." An early TV appearance was in the BBC TV movie 'The Compartment' (pictured), screened on July 33, 1961. But Caine's first film role was earlier, in 'A Hill in Korea' (1956). Among the film's stars was Stanley Baker.

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'Zulu' (1964) -

Stanley Baker suggested Caine audition for a film he was producing and starring in called 'Zulu.' The young actor eventually landed the part of Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead in what became a huge box-office hit. It put Caine on the road to stardom.

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'The Ipcress File' (1965) -

This British espionage film introduced audiences to Harry Palmer, one of Caine's most iconic screen characters. Caine/Palmer appeared again in two sequels: 'Funeral in Berlin' (1966) and 'Billion Dollar Brain' (1967). 

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'Alfie' (1966) -

By now an established star, the actor's next film saw him as womanizing Alfie Elkins, who enjoys the favors of women, while avoiding any commitment. It garnered Caine Academy Award, BAFTA, and Golden Globe nominations.  

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'Gambit' (1966) -

American actress Shirley MacLaine invited Caine to play opposite her in the comedy heist film 'Gambit'—his first film made in Hollywood. 

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'The Italian Job' (1969) -

Famous for the thrilling Mini Cooper car chase, 'The Italian Job' is also known for the line, "You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!" barked by Caine's character Charlie Crocker.  

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'Battle of Britain' (1969) -

Caine joined the likes of Laurence Olivier, Trevor Howard, Christopher Plummer, and Robert Shaw for this Second World War drama about the Royal Air Force defense campaign against the German Luftwaffe. The film is notable for its spectacular flying sequences.  

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'Get Carter' (1971) -

Playing against type, Caine turned nasty as London gangster Jack Carter in this cult British crime drama. Quentin Tarantino is among several directors who led a critical reappraisal of the film, which has seen it now ranked as one of the best British movies. 

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'Sleuth' (1972) -

Teaming up again with Laurence Olivier, Caine's success continued with this clever thriller involving a battle of wits between a husband and his wife's lover. Both actors received Oscar nominations. 

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'The Man Who Would Be King' (1975) -

John Huston directed this adventure film that brought together Caine and Sean Connery. A critical and commercial success, both Connery and Caine considered the movie their favorite of all they had worked on. 

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'The Eagle Has Landed' (1976) -

This was the final film made by John Sturges, the director behind 'The Magnificent Seven' (1960) and 'The Great Escape' (1963). Caine stars as a German colonel leading a raid on British soil to kidnap Winston Churchill during World War II. Of course the plot fails, but the movie captured audiences and was a big success.  

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'A Bridge Too Far' (1977) -

The following year the actor was back in military uniform for director Richard Attenborough's epic war film based on the events of World War II's failed Operation Market Garden. Caine portrays Lieutenant-Colonel J.O.E. Vandeleur. 

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'Educating Rita' (1983) -

Michael Caine and costar Julie Walters at the 1984 BAFTA Awards, where they were voted Best Actor and Best Actress respectively for the comedy drama 'Educating Rita.' In addition, they each won a Golden Globe, and were both nominated for Academy Awards. Incidentally, it's in this film that Caine uses his "not a lot of people know that" phrase as a joke.   

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'Hannah and Her Sisters' (1986) -

Michael Caine with Barbara Hershey in a scene from the film 'Hannah and Her Sisters,' one of Woody Allen's most successful pictures. It garnered the British actor his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. 

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'Mona Lisa ' (1986) -

Caine's next film was another critical success. A low-key crime drama, 'Mona Lisa' costars Bob Hoskins and Cathy Tyson. Hoskins romped home with several awards and nominations.

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'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' (1988) -

Praised by critics for the winning chemistry between Caine and costar Steve Martin, 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,' set on the French Riviera, tells the tale of two con men competing to swindle an heiress out of US$50,000. Caine was nominated for a Best Actor Golden Globe. 

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'Little Voice' (1998) - Caine won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his role as Ray Say, "who manages third-rate acts," in this gem of a British musical. The film also garnered a slew of nominations for costars Brenda Blethyn and Jane Horrocks.  

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Golden Globe -

Caine holds aloft his Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his portrayal of Ray Say in 'Little Voice.' 

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'The Cider House Rules' (1999) -

A critical and commercial success, Swedish director Lasse Hallström's delightful drama centers on a World War II-era American orphanage, and saw Caine win his second Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. 

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Second Academy Award -

Caine clutches his second Oscar, won for his role as Dr. Wilbur Larch in 'The Cider House Rules.' 

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BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award -

For Caine, the new decade began as the old one had ended, with more awards bestowed upon the actor, including the BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award, a lifetime achievement award presented in recognition of "outstanding achievement in the art forms of the moving image."

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Knighthood -

In November 2000, the actor became Sir Michael Caine after receiving a knighthood from Britain's Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, London. 

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'The Quiet American' (2002) -

The actor answers questions at a SAG and BAFTA forum in Hollywood to promote 'The Quiet American.' Caine was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Thomas Fowler. 

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'Batman Begins' (2005) -

In his seventies, the British actor began taking somewhat of a backseat in films, accepting roles like that of butler Alfred Pennyworth in 'Batman Begins,' a character he would reprise in 'The Dark Night' (2008) and 'The Dark Night Rises' (2012).  

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'Harry Brown' (2009) -

The gritty crime drama 'Harry Brown' saw a return to form by Caine, who stars in this vigilante action-thriller as a widowed veteran taking justice into his own hands after witnessing the murder of his friend.  

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Ordre des Arts et des Lettres 2011 -

In 2011, the actor was made a commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters), France's highest cultural honor. He's seen with wife Shakira Caine.

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'Youth' (2015) -

This gentle comedy-drama competed for the Palme d'Or at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. It stars Caine and Harvey Keitel as best buddies reflecting on their life while on holiday in the Swiss Alps. 

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Europe Film Awards -

For his portrayal of Fred Ballinger in 'Youth,' Caine picked up a Best Actor prize at the 28th Europe Film Awards in Berlin. 

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'King of Thieves' (2018) -

The audacious 2015 Hatton Garden safe deposit burglary in London was carried out by six elderly men who were experienced thieves. The robbery is the subject of 'King of Thieves,' which teams Caine up with Jim Broadbent, Tom Courtney, Paul Whitehouse, Michael Gambon, and Ray Winstone—the half-dozen pensioners who carry out the daring raid.  

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Retirement -

The legendary actor announced his retirement from acting in October 2023, shortly after the release of his film 'The Great Escaper' (2023).

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