Michael Caine, veteran film actor and frequent collaborator of director Christopher Nolan, recently announced his retirement. In a recent radio interview on Saturday, the venerable 90-year-old actor officially announced his retirement. This decision follows the release of his latest film, The Great Escaper, on October 6th.

“I keep saying I’m going to retire. Well, I am now,” Caine revealed on BBC Radio 4’s Today. “I’ve figured, I’ve had a picture where I’ve played the lead and it’s got incredible reviews. The only parts I’m likely to get now are old men,” he added. “…And I thought, well I might as well leave with all this — what have I got to do to beat this?” In The Great Ecaper, Caine portrays Bernard Jordan, a World War II veteran who escapes his care home to attend the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings in France. Caine stars alongside the late Glenda Jackson in the film.

Caine embarked on his acting journey on the stage during the early 1950s. He then made his silver screen debut in 1956. Originally known as Maurice Joseph Micklewhite, Jr., he opted for the screen name Caine, inspired by the 1954 film The Caine Mutiny. He eventually changed it to his legal name.

Caine has played diverse roles in his career, including secret agents, playboys, butlers, pilots, and doctors. He gained recognition for portraying the British spy Harry Palmer in five films, with his breakthrough in the 1965 drama thriller The Ipcress File. Another milestone came in 1966 when he charmed audiences in the romantic comedy Alfie.

Michael Caine’s Prolific Career Includes Two Oscar Nominations

He went on to gain two Academy Award nominations. The first was in 1986 for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Woody Allen’s Hannah and Her Sisters. Michael Caine’s second nomination came with 1999’s Cider House Rules, also for Best Supporting Actor. Caine received the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1993, followed by a knighthood in 2000.

Michael Caine went on to have a strong career in the 21st century. He appeared as Batman’s father figure and butler Alfred Pennyworth in director Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, starting with 2005’s Batman Begins. Caine would go on to reteam with Nolan in five other films, including 2014’s Interstellar and 2020’s Tenet.

Though Caine is retiring from acting, he plans to continue with other projects. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today that he planned to take up writing. “The thing about movie-making is you have to get up at 6.30 in the morning, do a long ride learning your lines in the bloody car, and then get there and work until 10 o’clock at night.” However, that’s not the case with writing. “You don’t have to get out of bed,” Caine quipped.