Legendary actor Michael Caine is likely hanging up his hat as an actor.
The “Cider House Rules” Oscar winner told The Telegraph that his new upcoming film “The Great Escaper” might be his last since he is “sort of” retired already.
“I am bloody 90 now, and I can’t walk properly and all that,” Caine said. The actor used a walking stick while filming the true story of Bernard Jordan, a British World War II veteran who escaped his retirement home to attend the 70th anniversary of D-Day commemorations in France.
“I was so happy to do it. I just loved the character of Bernie,” Caine said. “I thought he was incredible, and it’s so beautifully written.”
He continued of production, “They gave me a very good walking stick, and I was able to do scenes that needed that. I’d just do them once, and then fall over. But just one take, and that’s it. Forget it.”
Reflecting on his career and personal legacy as a whole, Caine added, “I’ve had the best possible life I could have thought of. The best possible wife, and the best possible family. They may not be a family that other people would say is the best possible family — but the best possible family for me.”
Caine previously teased that 2021 film “Best Sellers” would be his “last part” on BBC Radio show “Kermode and Mayo.”
“Funnily enough, it has turned out to be my last part really, because I haven’t worked for two years and I have a spine problem which affects my legs and I can’t walk very well,” Caine said, citing the COVID pandemic. “And I also wrote a book, a couple of books, which were published and were successful, so, I’m now not an actor, I’m a writer, which is lovely because as an actor you have to get up at half past six in the morning and go to the studio. As a writer, you can start writing without leaving the bed.”
He added at the time, “Also, I’m 88, there’s not exactly scripts pouring out with a leading man who’s 88.”
Caine later issued a statement clarifying his comments, saying, “Regarding retirement, I’ve spent over 50 years getting up at 6 a.m. to make movies, and I’m not getting rid of my alarm clock!”
