The son of comparative
literature professor August Coppola (a brother of director Francis Ford Coppola) and dancer/choreographer Joy Vogelsang, Cage changed his name early in his career to
make his own reputation, succeeding brilliantly with a host of classic, quirky roles by the late 1980s.
Initially studying
theatre at Beverly Hills High (though he dropped out at 17), he secured a bit part in Fast Times at Ridgemont
High (1982) -- most of which was cut, dashing his hopes and leading to a job selling popcorn
at the Fairfax Theater, thinking that would be the only route to a movie career. But a job reading lines with auditioners
for uncle Francis' Rumble Fish (1983) landed him a role in that film, followed by the punk-rocker in Valley Girl (1983), which was released first and truly launched his career.
His one-time passion
for method acting reached a personal limit when he smashed a street-vendor's remote-control car to achieve the sense of rage
needed for his gangster character in The Cotton Club (1984).
In his early 20s, he dated Jenny Wright for two years and later linked to Uma Thurman. After a relationship of several years with Christina Fulton, a model, they split amicably and share custody of a son, Weston Coppola Cage (b.1992).
