Veteran British actor Michael Caine, renowned for his long and celebrated career in Hollywood, disclosed on Saturday that he has retired from acting at the age of 90. This decision follows his highly-praised role in his final film, “The Great Escaper,” which was released on October 6.
In “The Great Escaper,” Caine portrayed the real-life World War II British veteran Bernie Jordan, who escaped from an elderly residential care home to attend the 2014 D-Day celebrations in France.
“I keep saying I’m going to retire. Well, I am now,” Caine stated during an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today program. “The only parts I’m liable to get now are 90-year-old men. Or maybe 85. They’re not going to be the lead. You don’t have leading men at 90; you’re going to have young handsome boys and girls. So, I thought, I might as well leave with all this.”
Caine, known for his amiable Cockney persona and his understated acting style, has appeared in over 160 films during his seven-decade career. His distinctive voice has made him an icon in both Hollywood and his native Britain, where he became a symbol of the Swinging Sixties era.
His filmography encompasses classic titles like “Zulu” and “The Italian Job,” as well as more recent roles in “Interstellar” and “The Dark Knight” franchise alongside Christian Bale.
With six Oscar nominations and two wins in 1986 for “Hannah and Her Sisters” and 2000 for “The Cider House Rules,” Caine has also received Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and numerous other awards. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000.
Caine’s decision to retire from acting comes shortly before the release of his first novel, “Deadly Game,” scheduled for publication. He had expressed in June that writing a thriller had been a long-held ambition, as it is the genre he most enjoys reading.
