Michael Caine, 88, Retires from Acting after ‘Spine Problem’

The British cinema icon is best known for The Italian Job and, more recently, Dark Knight movies as Batman’s butler Alfred Pennyworth. And now, at 88 years old, Sir Michael Caine has announced his retirement from acting. The film legend has one more movie to go, and then that’s probably it, he says, due to health problems and a lack of offers.

Caine plays alcoholic Harris Shaw opposite Aubrey Plaza in the new comedy-drama Best Sellers, which sees “a cranky author take part in a book tour to save his publishing boutique.”

Speaking with Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review on BBC Radio 5 Live, Caine said: “Funnily enough, it has turned out to be my last part.

“Because I haven’t worked for two years, and I have a spine problem which affects my legs, so I can’t walk very well, so….”

The 88-year-old also pointed out he’s more of a writer than an actor nowadays, having published his 2018 memoir Blowing The Bloody Doors Off: And Other Lessons in Life.

Caine continued: “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 start writing without leaving the bed!”

Host Simon Mayo asked: “So you’re saying this is your last picture?”

The Italian Job star replied: “I think it would be, yeah.”

Caine added: “There haven’t been any offers honestly for two years because nobody’s been making any movies I’d wanna do.

“Also, you know I’m 88. There’s not exactly scripts pouring out with a leading man that’s 88, you know?”

It would be a shame for the acting legend to retire, giving the likes of 91-year-old Clint Eastwood are still going.

Before he died this year, fundraising war hero Captain Sir Tom Moore said he’d like to see Caine play him in a biopic.

The movie on the 100-year-old who raised over £33 million for NHS Charities Together was announced last September.

Fred Films and Powder Keg Pictures won a bidding war for the life rights of Captain Tom.

Commenting on the announcement at the time, the war hero said: “I don’t know of any 100-year-old actors, but I’m sure Michael Caine or Anthony Hopkins could do a wonderful job if they were prepared to age up!”

Best Sellers will be released in the US on September 17, and a UK release is set for digital download on October 18, 2021.

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