With more than 100 acting credits to his name,Nicolas Cageis one of Hollywood’s most recognizable and hard-working performers. Sincehis debut in 1982’sFast Times at Ridgemont High, he’s appeared alongside some of the industry’s biggest stars, and under the direction of some of itsmost renowned directors, in a prolific career that’s seen all manner of ups and downs. From critical darlings and box office hits to comical misfires and direct-to-video schlock, Cage has dabbled in just aboutevery kind of film imaginable, ultimately amassing a body of work that’s raked inmore than $6 billion worldwide. The actor has also garnered attention fora history of financial woesthat dethroned him as one of Hollywood’s highest-paid and most-bankable actors, but perhaps a lesser-known fact is thatCage was never paid for one of his best, and Oscar-winning, roles as Ben SandersoninLeaving Las Vegas.
Leaving Las Vegas
Ben Sanderson, a Hollywood screenwriter who lost everything because of his alcoholism, arrives in Las Vegas to drink himself to death. There, he meets and forms an uneasy friendship and non-interference pact with prostitute Sera.
What Is ‘Leaving Las Vegas’ About?
Based upon the lateJohn O’Brien’s semi-autobiographical 1990 novel of the same name,Leaving Las Vegascenters on the doomed affair between Ben (Nicolas Cage) and Sera (Elisabeth Shue), an alcoholic screenwriter and sex worker, respectively. Despairing and suicidal after losing his family and job, Ben abandons his possessions, liquidates his assets, and travels from Los Angeles to Las Vegas with the intention of drinking himself to death. Upon crossing paths with Sera, whose grim reality working under Latvian pimp Yuri (Julian Sands) has her at a crossroads, the two lost souls develop a friendly rapport that evolves into an increasing downward spiral.
Nicolas Cage Turned Down Two Huge Roles for a Great Reason
Cage’s career could’ve looked incredibly different.
Uncompromising, powerfully-acted, but not without moments of tenderness and levity,Leaving Las Vegasis a bleak exploration of self-destruction. Critically lauded andgrossing nearly $50 millionon a shoestring budget, the 1995 film received four Oscar nominations, including Best Actor for Cage, Best Actress for Shue, and Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for directorMike Figgis,with Cage taking home the film’s sole accolade for his performance.According toThe Hollywood Reporter, however, the actor’s compensation for playing Ben Sanderson would be limited to a golden statuette.
Nicolas Cage Wasn’t Paid His $100,000 Fee for ‘Leaving Las Vegas’
There may be few things that could make up for an actor not being paid his $100,000 fee, but winning an Oscar is arguably one of them. Garnering such recognition would be a dream come true for a performer or craftsperson of any trade, especially for someone receivinghis or her first nomination. Nominated alongsideAnthony Hopkins,Sean Penn,Richard Dreyfuss, andMassimo Troisi, Nicolas Cage was in talented company when he emerged victorious in1996’s Best Actor race. Taking the stage to accept his award, heannounced with humility, “Oh, boy. $3.5 million budget, some 16mm film stock thrown in, and I’m holding one of these. I know it’s not hip to say it, but I just love acting.”
He may have received Hollywood’s highest honor, but Nicolas Cage’s paycheck forLeaving Las Vegaswould never arrive in the mail. Per Mike Figgis,one of the film’s financial backers, Lumiere Pictures, not only withheld Cage’s payment, but the director’s $100,000 fee as well. “They said the film never went into profit,” says Figgis, a curious claim consideringLeaving Las Vegas' impressive box office haul on a mere $3.5-4 million budget. But Figgis harbors no ill will over being slighted. “Whatever. I mean, my career then took off again, and the next film I did, I got really well paid,” he admits. “And within a year Nic was earning $20 million a film, so that was quite good.”
Putting up a fuss over $100,000 after winning an Oscar and going on to become one ofHollywood’s highest-paid actorscould be perceived as petty. Like Mike Figgis, Nicolas Cage appears to have regarded not being paid forLeaving Las Vegasas water under the bridge when considering the doors that opened as a result of the acclaim he’d received. According to the director, Cage put his heart and soul into the role, working thanklessly in service of the film’s limited production resources and his character,with Figgis notingthat “he bankrolled the preproduction essentially in the sense that he took a suite at the Chateau Marmont for us to rehearse — he rehearsed by getting drunk every night so he could get in the mode.” Unfortunately for the actor,getting stiffed onLeaving Las Vegaswouldn’t be the last time he’d run into trouble with money.
Nicolas Cage Faced Financial Setbacks Later in His Career
Winning an Oscar can do creative and monetary wonders for one’s career, and Nicolas Cage is no exception. AfterLeaving Las Vegas, the A-lister starred in several hits, includingThe Rock,Con Air, andFace/Off, each of which scored big at the box office andturned Cage into a bona fide action star. His hot streak continued into the 2000s with a second Oscar nomination for his performance inAdaptation, butthe actor’s run of good fortune hit a roadblock when financial turmoil struck. “I was over-invested in real estate,“Cage revealed on60 Minutes. “The real estate market crashed, and I couldn’t get out in time.”
Owing $6 million, he refused to file for bankruptcy and opted instead to work off his debt by appearing in as many films as he could, regardless of quality.Well-aware that he was taking some roles that may have been unthinkable at an earlier time in his career, Cage maintained his sense of integrity and enthusiasm. “Even if the movie ultimately is crummy, they know I’m not phoning it in, that I care every time.” True to his word, theactor continues taking on rolesthat challenge, delight, and inspire him, turning in stellar performances in lesser-known films likeJoe,Mandy, andPig, andexploring various genresin a way that keeps audiences guessing as to what else he has up his performative sleeve.
Leaving Las Vegasis available to stream on Max in the U.S.
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