British film icon Michael Caine announced Saturday that he is retiring at the age of 90 after a lauded performance in his latest film, The Great Escaper, which concludes seven decades on screens.
From the manipulative character of the Hound to the lying scientist of Interstellar to the butler of Batman, he has starred in more than 160 films. He received a total of six Oscar nominations, and won a statuette for Woody Allen's Hannah and Her Sisters in 1986 and again in 2000 for God's Work, the Devil's Share. "I keep saying I'm going to retire. Well, that's the case now," he told BBC Radio 4. "I thought I'd just made a movie that I played the lead in and that I got incredible reviews for... What am I going to do that's going to beat that?" he explained.
The Great Escaper, released on October 6 in the United Kingdom, tells the true story of World War II veteran Bernie Jordan, who escaped from his retirement home to attend the ceremonies of the 70th anniversary of the 1944 D-Day landings in France. His performance was praised in this film, where he co-stars with Glenda Jackson, who died in June at the age of 87. "The only roles I can be given now are 90-year-old men. Or maybe 85 years," he said. "It's not going to be leading roles. There are no main actors at 90 years old, there are attractive young boys and girls. So I thought I'd better leave."
Maurice Joseph Micklewhite was born on 14 March 1933 in South London, into a poor background. Looking for a stage name, he had discovered the poster for the film Hurricane on the Caine and adopted the name of the boat as a pseudonym in 1954. The indefatigable actor, known for his working-class London "cockney" accent but a Rolls Royce collector, was one of the first cultural figures to speak out in favour of Brexit in 2016. "Sir Michael" was knighted by Elizabeth II in 2000.