Michael Caine was born, Maurice Joseph Micklewhite. on the 14th March 1933. He was the son of Michael Joseph Micklewhite who bestowed his son with his name, his mother was named Ellen Francis Marie Burchall. Both his parents worked, his father worked at the local Fish Market as a Porter and his mother was a Cook and part time Housecleaner.
Michael was brought up as a Protestant, and lead an uneventful childhood, although it was during the Second World War. In 1952-54, he joined the British Armies Royal Fusilier's to first be stationed in Germany, and then active duty in Korea.
In 1953 aged 20, he got his first job in amateur theatre, with a small part in Emily Brontes 'Wuthering Height's. It was quite by chance after he was told he would stand a better chance of getting work if he changed his name to something shorter, he saw a poster advertising the 1954 movie "The Caine Mutiny", thus the legend was born.
Over the years, I've watched and enjoyed may of Sir Michael's films, but most of all the 1969, original "The Italian Job", it was during his role as Charlie Croker, that I formed the belief, that I've had since then. That belief being that he made the Cockney accent cool. This was made clearer by his titular role in the 1966 movie "Alfie" with Shelly Winters. There was a famous quote from the 'Italian Job' which is pure Caine. The context is that one of Croker's mates Arthur, is trying to get into a locked car, by using an explosive. Using way too much, he succeeds in blowing the car up, causing Croker to remark, " You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off".
Caine won 2 Supporting Actor Oscars, the first for his role as Elliot in the 1987 movie, 'Hannah and her Sister's. The second was playing Wilbur Larch in 'The Cider House Rules'.
Fast forward to 2005, when Caine plays Alfred, Bruce Wayne's (Batman) Butler. He repeated the role in 2007's 'The Dark Knight', then in 2012 ' The Dark Knight Rises'.
It will be a sad day when he retires, the history of Movies owes him so much.
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