How Nicolas Cage’s Flamboyance Turned Him Into the Actor (And Meme) The Internet Just Can’t Forget

You’ve probably heard of Nicolas Cage. Considered a bad actor to some and a good actor to others, what’s really important is that he has earned a special place in the hearts of all of us. Not only for having starred in some classics of decades past but also because, even if you haven’t seen his movies, you’ve most likely seen him in a meme.

Today Bright Side wants to present a brief summary of the career of the legendary actor Nicolas Cage and we chose the best memes to illustrate our piece. Have a look!

Nicolas Kim Coppola, born into the Coppola family, changed his stage name to Nicolas Cage early in his career to make it in Hollywood on his own merit. Although three of his first films were directed by his uncle, Francis Ford Coppola, this was only the beginning of a very extensive career.

Part of his success is due to his peculiar acting technique. Thanks to that, most people can remember his face so easily. We are referring to an acting style that, although it could come across as “exaggerated” for many, is a way of experimenting with modern expressionism. Cage’s acting really made some movies brilliant. That came with unforgettable memes like Vampire’s Kiss, where Cage’s character is descending into madness after believing a vampire woman kissed him. “Think of the stars of silent films, of German expressionism. I was trying to be abstract. Naturalism is a style, and I wanted to be more expressionistic,” the actor said.

The first stage of Cage’s career, which was plagued by experimentation, featured films such as Valley Girl, Moonstruck and Wild at Heart. Here Nicolas would go on to perfect this technique and learn to choose in which movies it was convenient to use it. The actor explains that when he ventures into new acting styles, his characters “have problems, whether it’s a mental illness, an addiction or whatever. There’s an organic engine that drives that behavior, and that’s why I made the decision to apply myself and experiment.”

Little by little, Nicolas would land more critical roles that would launch him to fame. At this stage, Nicolas starred in tremendous box office hits such as Con Air, Face/Off, or The Rock. These films also gave us viral memes that made him famous, even among people who had not seen his movies.

This, however, did not mean that Nicolas could not become known as a prestigious actor because at this stage, he received an Oscar award for Leaving Las Vegas and was nominated for another one for Adaptation.

Everything seemed to be going well for the talented actor. However, some personal and financial problems caused the actor to be slowly forgotten by the public.

His decline resulted from factors such as using his signature technique at the wrong time and taking part in films that the critics did not very well receive. During this time, he appeared in The Wicker Man, Ghost Rider, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, or Next. However, had it not been for this last stage of his career, we would not have been “blessed” with memes such as the famous “Your argument is invalid” and others.

By this point, the actor has become one of the Internet’s favorite faces. The euphoria for Cage is such that anything can become a meme, as long as it has his face on it.

Probably one of the reasons why the actor’s face is so well received by internet memers is the fact that he’s not just eccentric on screen. Cage is quite a character even when he’s away from the cameras. For example, the actor named his son “Kal-El” after the DC comic book character. He also has a rare obsession with exotic animals. He has octopuses, cobras, and sharks, and even sleeps with his crocodiles. His fascination with strange animals also led him to buy, through auction, a tarbosaurus fossil, although he has not been able to keep it due to legal issues.

Another proof of his eccentricity lies in his interest in haunted properties. Cage has bought several haunted mansions and has even acquired a sarcophagus. He already drew specifications on how to handle his body for his eternal rest.

Fortunately for the actor and his fans, everything seems to point to the fact that his career is about to change course, and he is preparing for a triumphant resurgence. In recent years, he has appeared in films for which he has again been critically acclaimed. Think of Mom and Dad, Mandy, Pig, or The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, where he will have the opportunity to play himself and take a nostalgic journey through his most iconic performances and where he once again will prove why he is an Oscar winner.

How would you react if you were turned into a meme?