Michael Caine Announces Fourth Retirement: “I’ve Had All the Luck”
At the recent Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, renowned actor Michael Caine hinted at his fourth retirement from acting. During a ceremony where he received a lifetime achievement award, Caine reflected on his illustrious career, remarking, “I kept going until I was 90, which was two years ago. I thought to myself, I’m not going to do anything else because I’ve had all the luck you can get.”
Highlights from Michael Caine’s Career
Caine, now 92, has a storied history in film. He first announced his retirement in 2009 after appearing in the crime drama Harry Brown. He retired again in 2021 following his role in Best Sellers. However, he returned to the screen in the Czech film Medieval in 2022 and starred in The Great Escaper the following year, playing a D-Day veteran.
A Fourth Retirement?
While promoting The Great Escaper, Caine shared mixed feelings regarding retirement. He acknowledged his age limits the roles available to him, saying, “The only parts I’m likely to get now are old men, 90-year-old men, maybe 85.” Despite these sentiments, Caine had previously expressed interest in portraying Charles Darwin in an upcoming film.
- Notable Awards: Caine has won two Academy Awards.
- First Retirement: 2009 after Harry Brown.
- Second Retirement: 2021 after Best Sellers.
- Recent Films:Medieval (2022), The Great Escaper (2023).
A Family Legacy
During the festival, Caine was accompanied on stage by his grandchildren, while his wife and daughters watched proudly from the audience. He humorously shared his thoughts on his name, saying, “My name is Michael Caine. It’s not my real name but it’s a realistic name.”
He also highlighted the importance of family over his film accomplishments, commenting, “I’ve been married for 52 years. I have loads of photographs but none are of any of the movies I am in, it’s just family, because that’s my life.”
Recent Projects
Caine published his first novel, Deadly Game, in 2023 and is reportedly working on a sequel. His latest memoir, Don’t Look Back, You’ll Trip Over: My Guide to Life, will be released in 2024.
Despite contemplating retirement, Caine’s legacy in film and literature continues to enrich his life. As he stated, “One of the biggest lucky things is tonight to turn up here… I’ve won something, so I’m happy.”
