Sir Michael Caine in conversation with Sharon Waxman at Live Talks Los Angeles

Sir Michael Caine in conversation with Sharon Waxman at Live Talks Los Angeles discussing his memoir, "The Elephant to Hollywood." From an event on October 28, 2010.
“Eighteen years ago I thought that my life as an actor was over, so I wrote my autobiography to round off my professional life, and that, as far as I was concerned, was that. Fortunately, and not for the first time, I was wrong. Very wrong. The best was yet to come-which, when I look back at my life, is really saying something.” - Michael Caine
Michael Caine is one of the greatest actors of all times. And yet, in his fifties, he believed his glamorous, rags-to-riches Hollywood career had come to an end. The scripts being sent his way were worse and worse. Salvation came in the unlikely form of his old friend Jack Nicholson, who convinced him to give acting one more shot. What followed was not only an incredible personal transformation but also one of the most radical comebacks in film history.
Learning to accept his new role both on camera and in his own life, Caine went on to win his second Oscar, be knighted by the queen, and deliver some of his best performances to date. Now, he shares the spectacular story of his life, from his humble upbringing in London’s poverty-stricken Elephant and Castle, his military service, touching marriage and family life, to legendary meetings with fellow stars, forays as a restaurateur, and off-screen encounters from his glittering five-decade career.
Sharon Waxman, is Editor in Chief of The Wrap. She is an award-winning journalist and best-selling author, a former Hollywood correspondent for The New York Times. Before the Times, she was a correspondent for eight years for The Washington Post. She started out as a foreign correspondent, covering Europe and the Middle East for a decade. She is the founder and CEO of The Wrap, and the author of two books, including, “Rebels on the Backlot: Six Maverick Directors and How They Conquered the Hollywood Studio System.”

[@stephenremington8448]

The only bad thing about videos of Michael Caine talking, is getting to the end.

[@drummer.ibackhouse]

So so true. Could listen to this incredible man all day !

[@SAVANNAHEVENTS]

Agreed. And thats when you renew your annual Michael Caine KZbin search and lo...there is always more in the KZbin Archives. Thanks so much, Google, Caine and LiveTalkLA

[@siljog]

Love this guy!

[@GrenvilleP710]

Yes it is.The man is a breath of fresh air. Such a character. He fully deserved his success.

[@angelacusackoconnell]

Adore Sir Michael Caine / Brilliant actor!

[@gerarddevita-xl5ji]

My favorite actor I could listen to all day

[@ruadhagainagaidheal9398]

I met Michael Caine and his wife and daughters several times over the years. Very nice people. The last time I met Michael was very soon after he was knighted. I said “ Congratulations Sir Michael - or do you prefer Sir Maurice ?” He laughed and said “Well, you know Maurice is my name, Sir Maurice is fine. Thanks mate”

[@bowler8]

Love Michael Caine, I could listen to him for hours, his lecture on acting is phenominal

[@user-eo8kx1dk7f]

Wow! That was a deep conversation. I never knew how serious Michael was about his craft. He really is a professional. I never looked at actors as being serious. There’s a lot that goes into being these characters they play. Lots of respect for this guy. Man, totally impressed! 👍😎

[@nyanko2077]

It's always wonderful to listen to Micheal Caine. Such an awesome guest to have.

[@johnmcallan3980]

Could listen to Michael all night, great story teller. "Not many people know that" 🙂

[@patriciaweston4563]

Plpplpppllllll

[@janegrainger3900]

I knew

[@brexitannia9703]

I alway enjoy listening to Michael Caine he's so down to earth and a good actor he just turned 90 years old this year.

[@doreendaykin6693]

🙏🙏💙Much gratitude for this wonderful interview! I would have loved it to have lasted another hour or….three. I could happily listen to him for as many hours as he would give. Amazing actor, amazing story teller, amazing comedian & truly amazing man. 🙏💙💙

[@sabejreid2072]

We love you Michael 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🤗

[@philsarkol6443]

Great storyteller...I could listen for hours!!!

[@Missjunebugfreak]

He is such a joy to listen to.

[@peterwhitaker4038]

whenever i watch anything with Michael Caine talking i just stay glued to the end. he is the perfect chat show host. he does a great one with..Parkinson Michael Caine. he's not false he just tells you as it is. Legend..absolute Legend

[@felicitythomson3397]

absolutely...even with this dull host

[@asmodeus0454]

I really like Michael Caine. He's so natural and interesting and entertaining to listen to.

[@noramartin96]

This man makes me proud to be British

[@fritula6200]

Still listening in 2022...

[@ShawnJonesHellion]

Still listening in 23,000,000 b. C.

[@juttadestiny6810]

January 2023! 😸💚❤️💜💙😸💚

[@OneHalfOfBent]

The fact that he mentions our song Swollen will be one of my proudest moments ever. I wrote a letter to him a few years ago thanking him for the support and for shouting about Bent in his interviews. He got his secretary to write a lovely letter back, and he said “sorry I got my secretary to write this but I’m film Batman in Nottingham”, which is beautiful because not only did he take the time to reply, but Bent is from Nottingham. This video means a lot to us! ❤

[@patcavasin5947]

Sir Michael Caine gave an excellent interview and seems like a real decent guy.

[@rcadenow7543]

what a voice. you could listen to it for days.

[@johnmccaffrey5942]

Can’t think of a bigger British movie star than this guy. Fabulous guy too. Full of integrity who led the way for working class actors in the UK.

[@philsarkol6443]

What a wonderfull storyteller...you start listening and time does not exist, other then the times, people and places he will take you to in the narrative of his life!

[@xl51956]

What a wonderful humble human being Sir Michael is !!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@letsexplainricky6825]

One of my favorites, star, lead or character

[@hoisin75]

one of the coolest men on earth

[@paulmichaelrichardson6582]

totally agree he is still a cool dude

[@jairourdaneta1]

One of the greatest and so simple and sincere

[@normadesmond6017]

love, love Michael Caine. He was almost always better then the movies he was in. Bless him.

[@nickprohoroff3720]

One of the last remaining Actors from days of yore. Keeper of the flame.

[@davidfeather3880]

A wonderful man and a wonderful actor.

[@grayharker6271]

Duval, Nicholson and Caine just listening to anyone of them speaking is a thrill!

[@elizabethlinsay9193]

Caine most of all.

[@berniedavies5946]

What a lovely bloke and a great actor.

[@lonpfrb]

A national treasure and he's right that the Elephant and Castle has changed since the 1950s, several times in fact. The Man Who Would Be King is great for many reasons and two are Sean and Michael. You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off! A classic....

[@gibbogle]

Great interview with a great man.

[@carolas1541]

Speaks from my life. Brilliant commentary. Noted the button factory where he worked. My father also worked as a button designer! Very working class and down to earth. We are a community on our way out and we lose the history and experience. He is my hero!

[@anthonyheavey6600]

What a great piece of film,great stories getting remembered and tripped out , I could listen to that gentleman all day.

[@patriciaowen6243]

So much like Richard Burton..love them.

[@imacp2909]

He is a legend this man. Working class hero.

[@irenadziovaliene7082]

My favourite! Great storyteller! His humour is disarming ❤

[@johnwatts8346]

Caine is a true legend, universally loved by all, super duper star charisma and talent, and a diamond bloke all round. i saw a clip where he was taking the piss outta all the people who impersonate him, he said theyre all terrible and only ever sound like old Dudley playing Dud- 'bleeding gre'a garbo, tappin' on the window... '

[@sammuniz5360]

Love Michael Caine. He's got such a wicked sense of humor.

[@SagaLarton]

he gets younger!! Lov e his movies

[@toucheguy]

What a person! top actor, serious and funny about life and himself.

[@user-xd2yg9mh5f]

OMG, I could listen to Caine all night. He is a wonderful actor. His tales are so down to earth and so funny. I can only hope he lives to a ripe old age. Funnily enough my least favourite film of his was The Man Who Would Be King. I thought Zulu was much bettet.

[@rappingcommuter3148]

Just bought the book. Lovely read

[@johnomahony5241]

A dinner with Richard Harris, Sean Connery, Michael Caine and Peter O'Toole woukd have been a hoot

[@toucheturtle3840]

Don’t forget Ollie Reid…

[@davidmorley2995]

And Bob Hoskins

[@GrrMeister]

*And Marilyn Monroe !*

[@tennisbum3686]

Why don't you guys just leave it to the four of them?

[@jfryer485]

Yes, I think there is a Peter O’Toole video where he talks about his drinking habits with Richard Harris.

[@baird5776mullet]

This interview must have been from 2010,OUTSTANDING!

[@stusmith6631]

Soooo many priceless stories from Michael ... thank you so much 😎

[@susanschaffner4422]

Wonderful interview. Wish it was longer.

[@alessandrorossini8704]

Interviews with Sir Michael are always interesting and funny and he is always cool. 😎

[@funjuror]

Pure Joy, what a life.

[@climatehero]

Maurice Micklewhite is an extraordinary man and a fantastic actor.

[@margaretorban9750]

Love this man.

[@bensouthwell1339]

As a Geordie it will always be Get Carter filmed around the corner where we were all dragged up in a slum.

[@ownpetard8379]

In his first book, his transitions were often, "...then I had a fry up and went to bed". A fry up is what it sounds like, fixing fried food for a meal. Great deal of respect for Michael.

[@jamesappleton7390]

A London style fry up would be. Sausages, eggs, bacon, fried bread, black pudding ( pigs blood ) plum tomatoes and baked beans 2 slices of bread and butter and copious amounts of strong tea....

[@bobbybigboyyes]

Dear Michael has had a very interesting wonderful life, played many many great parts, and he's done so many different things. His books are very very interesting. Some of his movies are legendary classics, and he is supremely funny! Not a lot of people know that!

[@robbie_]

Wonderful interview. Very interesting man isn't he.

[@anastasia10017]

When I was little, all the grown up women were swooning over Michael Caine. I never thought he was handsome or attractive and I really thought people were nuts to be swooning over him. Many many years later, I saw an older Michael Caine walking down the sidewalk with his wife and let me tell you - that man is soooo attractive !!! Very tall, very well dressed and OMG so attractive. I finally got it !! And his wife was with him and she was seriously drop dead gorgeous.

[@aqualady0]

Now watch a Harry Palmer movie

[@PhilMacVee]

My favourite actor. Amazingly wonderfully entertaining. One of the best. He is/was so humble and then so successful.

[@SimonDavies-kb6yj]

a man thats done so much thank you for beining in my life ..so much respect

[@EASYTIGER10]

I like his story about when a starstruck fan met him in the street and said: "...it's you!....you're HERE" and he replied "well I've got to be bloody somewhere aint I"

[@ericmalone3213]

That''s a Spike Milligan line from when he played Eccles on The Goon Show:: "Everybody's got to be somewhere!"

[@yvonnewratten5855]

Michael caines book is brilliant .the autobiography .well worth reading .rags to riches

[@user-du6kk7ju4s]

I have always Michael Caine and loved the film Alfie.

[@iansandersVortech500]

Absolutely Epic human being 🤩💯

[@lindahill130]

just love him

[@Chrille5782]

*Happy 90th Birthday Michael* 🍾🍾🍾

[@timwright4263]

I watch so much crap on KZbin. Michael Caine is so open and honest and entertaining; I could listen for hours. One final thought: "You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!"

[@MrRea112]

Michael Caine is one of the greatest raconteurs of all time

[@williamdeoradesilva9444]

Brilliant. Thank you Michael

[@YahooMurray]

My all time favorite person I wish I had gotten to meet, who also happens to be a great actor.

[@katharinebuckman2815]

I listened to 30% of one of his earlier autobiographies.

[@xl51956]

Wonderful as always Mr Caine 😂😂

[@walterbuchanan5556]

Just found this you tube video. Long time since i have laughed so much. These days are filled with violence and woke filled discussions.

[@susanacuratolo1200]

GREAT INTERVIEW !

[@jimpix8019]

What a beautiful interesting and funny interview.

[@halinatomaszczyk3254]

Entertaining and clever with a sense of humour. I feel I want to watch the films mentioned here.

[@colt45acp1000]

Loved him in Second Hand Lions with Robert Duvall! Impeccable American accent!

[@chrissimon8368]

I looked it up. I can't believe it was 2003 it seems like I just saw it a few years ago I think it's worth another go.

[@user-yz6gz5ux2y]

Highest class actor

[@AGGD767]

Great stuff Michael Caine is a gem, excellent interviewer as well, she knew exactly how to make the most of this

[@adamstar7516]

Wow. I was thinking exactly the opposite about her. She’s in well over her head. Michael is driving this. When he loses his train of thought about Bogart she doesn’t even go back to it. He wanted to say that John Hughes wanted to do the Man Who WBK before with Bogart but he died and Michael was thrilled that he was going to play his idols part in a Hughes film. That was why he started the story. She was nervous and didn’t ask any revealing questions or follow up on anything.

[@bruceboome]

Not only is Michael a great actor, but a first rtae raconteur. I can hear him telling a story I;ve heard many times before, knowing exactly what he's going to say, abd yet I burst out laughing every time.

[@dcanmore]

The Graham Greene story he filmed but couldn't remember is The Honorary Consul, aka Beyond the Limit (1983).

[@andrewhopkin8264]

Wonderful guy amazing actor Love you Michael Caine

[@truesonic669]

Love this man and Donald Sutherland

[@MrDaiseymay]

I can't believe how quickly. Michael Caine aged. I saw a picture of him recently ( August 2023) and now i see him here, which confirms it. Maybe I forgot his true age. BUT, he's still a great person to listen too. Thanks Mike for all the great entertainment.

[@normanbell-br7nf]

looks pretty good for around 90 !

[@dutchaslieker-hersant332]

One does have to remember the difference between a 90-year-old man in real life and the actor with lots of makeup shot, from the most favorable camera angles. And he is still sharp with a great wit!

[@linmonash1244]

So... A Movie Star is a self important PIA and a Character Actor is all about their Craft?!😆 I love that response to being told 'not to get ideas above your station'.. I was told this once, by, yes, a British Citizen, who was working over here in Australia, in a mental health unit, as a Senior Nurse. I was working as a Nurses Aide, but was studying P/T for a degree in Psychology. I'm not sure if she knew that and was threatened by it, or not, but she said to me; "You get above yourself and don't stay in your place", as if this was a 'criminal act'. I wish I'd been as quick off the mark in reply as Michael! This was in the 1980's and I was absolutely gobsmacked. Literally speechless, (which anyone can tell you is a very unusual state for me! ) Fortunately, the Sen. Psychiatrist on the Unit was a colleague who used to bend my ear about his marital challenges, and so I bent his ear about this incident and she was cautioned to 'pull her head in'. Which she did, but I was the recipient of many black looks and attempts are character sabotage thereafter (otherwise known as 'workplace bullying'). Aaah memories... Michael's career is stellar. Like many who come from less than privileged backgrounds he gives 110% to everthing he does, never takes anything or anyone for granted and is always so appreciative of the things that are meaningful and give value to life. Lovely interview.

[@nicholasgibbons6757]

Pure magic

[@m.a.gomes-fernandesfernand5215]

I love Michael Caine❤

[@pico2260]

UK has the official king and then there is the real king; and of course, Sean Connery was the King of Scotland. I could even imagine them leading their armies against each other. That would be a hell of a movie.

[@tango6nf477]

Some youth of today will probably dismiss him as "an old man" and as we know to some anything old is no longer of worth. But this old man is an example of how someone born into extremely humble beginnings, who had a difficult life, can be intelligent, extremely professional, and work his way to the top and at the same time remain grounded, kind and totally decent. A human being.

[@williamanderson8932]

Sold him self out to the Tory party her in Britain he expected A knighthood from the blood stained royal family Michael the anti russian Cain and did war crimes in Korea that killed over 2million Korean's facts.

[@doctornov7]

Let's assume that's all fair (I don't, but let's). Since you've acknowledged his failures how about recognising his successes? Or do you just go around slating people without caring about the good they've done? Or even less, learn from his mistakes and improve yourself by learning from the great things he's done for himself and his family. He singlehandedly raised his entire extended family out of poverty through hard work, resilience and professionalism.@@williamanderson8932

[@Zacharia503]

Oh, go back to sleep.@@williamanderson8932

[@Joe-ym6bw]

He's a very elderly gentleman

[@tennisbum3686]

​​@williamanderson8932 take a dirt nap😮

[@alexanderbchoek9607]

Fantastic

[@squamish4244]

"On my last legs." Lol he just retired this year, 13 years later. Well done, Sir Michael.

[@DanaX09]

I’ve never understood why people feel so bad about mentioning people they know who are famous. If you only met one famous person and you mentioned it every chance you got, I would think that might be a big braggy. But if you are in the industry, of course you will know or associate with many other famous people. It’s the same in every industry.

[@marionmason1350]

Oh my goodness. Best film. Mr. BROWN.

[@allanb52]

Wouldn't I like to be Michael Caine, he seems to have life sorted and so many friends, a real likable chap.

[@dennisleeds]

Sir Michael did his NS in Korea and took part in bayonet charges against the Chinese which I am sure made him the perfect actor for war films and Zulu of course.

[@joeyfotofr]

Sir Michael, If you want to write a book about someone who can't sue you. The book I'd look forward to reading is about "Yesterday's witness." We're about the same age and the people whose memories I counted on to trigger my memories are all gone. Reaching back through the fog of war & time, would offer a great setting for a story, about what can be recalled through the mists of time... maybe the most important true things....jt

[@HansDelbruck53]

Orson Welles' speech was misquoted. He mentioned 400 years of peace and prosperity in Switzerland, not Italy, producing nothing but the cuckoo clock. But Orson got that wrong. The cuckoo clock was from Germany, not Switzerland.

[@anastasia10017]

Michael Caine imitating John Wayne made me laugh out loud !!

[@dadodydo]

Great interview.

[@helentaylor1222]

What a great fella.True Englishman. God bless you .

[@pieropasset2246]

Indeed, who pissed off when taxes were too high😂and a bloody brexiter too!!!

[@johnbecker5213]

forever harry palmer to me. he is really fantastic!

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

That was awesome, rich and organic history from one of the most loved actors on the screen 👍