Claim: Nicolas Cage is an actor.

Nicolas Kim Coppola -LRB- born January 7 , 1964 -RRB- , known professionally as Nicolas Cage , is an American actor and producer . He has performed in leading roles in a variety of films , ranging from romantic comedies and dramas to science fiction and action films . In the early years of his career , Cage starred in films such as Valley Girl -LRB- 1983 -RRB- , Racing with the Moon -LRB- 1984 -RRB- , Birdy -LRB- 1984 -RRB- , Peggy Sue Got Married -LRB- 1986 -RRB- , Raising Arizona -LRB- 1987 -RRB- , Moonstruck -LRB- 1987 -RRB- , Vampire 's Kiss -LRB- 1989 -RRB- , Wild at Heart -LRB- 1990 -RRB- , Fire Birds -LRB- 1990 -RRB- , Honeymoon in Vegas -LRB- 1992 -RRB- , and Red Rock West -LRB- 1993 -RRB- .   Cage received an Academy Award , a Golden Globe , and Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance as an alcoholic Hollywood writer in Leaving Las Vegas -LRB- 1995 -RRB- before coming to the attention of wider audiences with mainstream films , such as The Rock -LRB- 1996 -RRB- , Face/Off -LRB- 1997 -RRB- , Con Air -LRB- 1997 -RRB- and City of Angels -LRB- 1998 -RRB- . He earned his second Academy Award nomination for his performance as Charlie and Donald Kaufman in Adaptation -LRB- 2002 -RRB- . In 2002 , he directed the film Sonny , for which he was nominated for Grand Special Prize at Deauville Film Festival . Cage owns the production company Saturn Films and has produced films such as Shadow of the Vampire -LRB- 2000 -RRB- and The Life of David Gale -LRB- 2003 -RRB- .   He has also appeared in National Treasure -LRB- 2004 -RRB- , Lord of War -LRB- 2005 -RRB- , Bad Lieutenant : Port of Call New Orleans -LRB- 2009 -RRB- , and Kick-Ass -LRB- 2010 -RRB- . Films such as Ghost Rider -LRB- 2007 -RRB- and Knowing -LRB- 2009 -RRB- were box office successes . Cage has been strongly criticized in recent years for his choice of roles , some of which have been universally panned . However , he recently starred in The Croods and Joe , both of which were warmly received by critics .