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14th Oct 2023

Sir Michael Caine, 90, announces his retirement from acting

"You don't have leading men at 90"

Jody Coffey

The award-winning actor has worked in the industry for seven decades.

Sir Michael Caine has announced his retirement from acting following the release of his latest and final film, The Great Escaper.

Now in his 90s, the Oscar, Golden Globe, and Bafta-winning actor has officially confirmed he will not appear in any future movies after featuring in over 160 films throughout his seven decades working in the industry.

The British actor’s final role in The Great Escaper will see him star as the real-life Second World War veteran, Bernie Jordan, who escaped from a care home to attend D-Day celebrations in France. Glenda Jackson, who died in June after the completion of the film, stars alongside Sir Michael for their final debuts in acting.

Over the course of the two-time Oscar winning actor’s career, he was appeared in classics such as Zulu (1964),  The Man Who Would Be King (1975), and The Italian Job (1969), as well as modern-day blockbusters such as Interstellar (2014) and The Dark Knight trilogy (2005 – 2012).

Credit: Getty

In conversation on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the crucially acclaimed actor confirmed his retirement and the reasoning for his decision.

“I keep saying I’m going to retire. Well, I am now,” Sir Michael told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. I’ve figured, I’ve had a picture where I’ve played the lead and had incredible reviews. What am I going to do that will beat this? The only parts I’m liable to get now are 90-year-old men. Or maybe 85,” he explained.

“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.”

Sir Michael Caine (1980) Credit: Getty

Despite alluding to a departure from the industry back in 2021 following the release of Best Sellers, where he played the role of Harris Shaw, the veteran actor has since played the role of Lord Boresh in Medieval which was released in 2022.

Sir Michael’s announcement comes ahead of the release of his debut novel, Deadly Game, which hits shelves on November 23rd.

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