Nicolas Cage Reflects on Auditioning for ‘The Dating Game’ at 14 Years Old

Nicolas Cage’s first audition experience was rather unconventional! The versatile actor, renowned for his portrayal of eccentric characters, reminisced about his initial audition for ‘The Dating Game’, which he landed despite being just 14 years old. His father, however, vetoed the opportunity, feeling Cage was too young for the role. Cage humorously noted that his audition tape likely still exists somewhere online.

Speaking to the New Yorker while promoting his upcoming film Longlegs, Cage shared, “The first audition I ever had was for ‘The Dating Game’.” Despite securing the role, his father (August Coppola, brother of director Francis Ford Coppola) intervened, preventing Cage from pursuing it at such a young age. Reflecting on the incident, Cage found it amusing but acknowledged his father’s concern.

Also Read: Nicolas Cage Says He Won’t Play Dark Roles Again

He also recalled the show’s history of casting individuals like serial killer Rodney Alcala, illustrating how appearances can be deceiving. While Cage has often portrayed intense characters, including in his upcoming horror mystery ‘Longlegs’, he admitted a personal aversion to playing violent roles. Despite this, he approaches each character with dedication, even when they diverge significantly from his usual roles.

In ‘Longlegs’, Cage portrays Dan Ferdinand Cobble, inspired by a memory of his mother, who is a Satan worshipper and doll maker. His character’s actions, involving demonic dolls that compel fathers to commit horrific acts, highlight Cage’s versatility despite his preference for less dark roles.

–Farheen Ali