I had been waiting for a chance to see Michael Caine’s last film, The Great Escaper (2023), where he starred with Glenda Jackson, until it finally popped up on PBS and I watched it.
Elisa Leonelli, Michael Caine (c) HFPA 2002
Caine played the real life World War II Royal Navy veteran who in 2014 traveled from his retirement home to Dover and crossed the channel to participate in the 70th anniversary celebrations of D-Day.
I was wondering how the 92-year-old British actor was doing in real life, when I saw him pictured at the Red Sea film Festival in Saudi Arabia, where he was honored on December 4. He was in a wheelchair, but his sense of humor remained intact. “I’m here to get an award, which doesn’t surprise me. I won two Oscars. I kept going until I was 90, which is two years ago. I’m not going to do anything else, I’ve had all the luck I can get.”
He was accompanied by his three grandchildren, Taylor and twins Miles and Allegra, by his daughter Natasha with Shakira, his wife of 52 years.
Elisa Leonelli, Michael Caine © HFPA 1988
I had long admired this amazing performer, and interviewed him several times.
In 2002 I wrote a career interview for the Spanish Cinemania. Click here
In 2014 I wrote Michael Caine’s classic profile among the 15 legendary movie stars I chose to feature in the Golden Globes website. Read it here.
Michael Caine (c) Elisa Leonelli 1988
Best wishes to him and his family.