How Is Nicolas Cage Related To Francis Ford Coppola?

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The Coppola dynasty has branches in all corners of Hollywood. Not only is director Francis Ford Coppola a prominent fixture in the film scene, but his offspring have enshrined themselves in the industry through their own respective projects. Two of Francis' kids, Sophia Coppola and Roman Coppola, followed in their father's footsteps, while their niece, Gia Coppola, the daughter of Francis' late son Gian-Carlo, has become a budding star in the directorial business. There are actors in the family, too; one famed thespian you may have never known was a Coppola.

You probably recognize Nicolas Cage as the man who stole the Declaration of Independence in 2004's "National Treasure," or the hunky punk in the 1983 film "Valley Girl." But if it weren't for his name change, Cage would be grouped into his family's fame. The Hollywood legend is the son of Joy Vogelsang and August Coppola, Francis' brother — making Cage the nephew of the famed screenwriter. Cage changed his name partly to avoid allegations of nepotism, but he has also revealed that teasing on the set of 1982's "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" had something to do with it.

He told Wired: "I was still Nicolas Coppola, and people would not stop saying things like, 'I love the smell of Nicolas in the morning,' because of [Francis'] 'Apocalypse Now,' and Robert Duvall saying, 'I love the smell of napalm in the morning,' and it made it hard to work and I said, 'I don't need this,' and changed it to Cage." According to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the name "Cage" was drawn from the Marvel superhero, Luke Cage.

All families have their fair share of turbulent relationships, but when you get Hollywood involved, the scales multiply. While Nicolas Cage and Francis Ford Coppola aren't necessarily battling for the last seat at the table — their similar fame grants them both a chair — some stories suggest a film family feud was once brewing between them. In the biography, "How Coppola Became Cage," author Zach Sconfeld wrote that Cage once acknowledged his subtle competition with his uncle. "He was lighting a cigar and I just said it: 'You were great, Francis, but I hold the mantle now.' He got upset and flustered," Cage purportedly said, coming off his "Valley Girl" fame.

Coppola seemingly got him back for that snide comment when he didn't cast his nephew in "The Godfather Part III." In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Cage cringingly reminisced on the time he was rejected by Coppola, despite begging for a role. "I said, 'I really think I ought to be in your movie, Uncle,'" Cage recalled, noting that he thought he would be the best fit for the role of Vincent Corleone, who was ultimately played by Andy Garcia. "It just wasn't going to happen." Still, it seems as though Coppola has been supportive of Cage's career from the get-go, including backing Cage's action choices on his film "Peggy Sue Got Married," despite it being a point of contention on the set.