Sir Michael Caine announces he has retired from acting after a stellar career spanning seven decades: ‘You don’t have leading men at 90!’

Sir Michael Caine has confirmed his retirement from acting.

The British actor, 90, confirmed his decision on Friday, after a stellar career spanning seven decades and days after the release of his latest film, The Great Fugitive.

Sir Michael – who has starred in over 180 films – explained that his decision was made after realizing that “you don’t have leading men at 90”.

Confirming the news, the beloved thespian shared BBC Radio 4 Today’s programme: I keep saying I’m going to retire. Well now I am.’

‘I got it, I had a picture where I played the lead and it got amazing reviews… What do I have to do to win this?’

What a career! Sir Michael Caine, 90, has confirmed his retirement from acting

Legend: The veteran British actor confirmed his decision on Friday, after seven decades of stellar career (pictured in 1996 film Alfie)

The Oscar, Golden Globe and Bafta-winning actor has an extensive filmography, including classic films ranging from Zulu and The Italian Job to more recently Interstellar and The Dark Knight franchise, alongside Christian Bale.

In his latest film, The Great Escaper, released on October 6, he plays real-life World War II veteran Bernie Jordan who escapes from a nursing home to attend D-Day celebrations in France.

Speaking about his decision to hang up his boots, Sir Michael – who has used a cane for five years following a fall on ice and spinal surgery – said: ‘The only parts I can get now are 90-year-olds. Or maybe 85.

“They will not be in charge.” You don’t have 90 year old leading men, you will have young hot guys and girls. So I thought I might as well go with all this.’

Sir Michael revealed that he turned down three appearances in The Great Escape before accepting the role because he considered himself retired.

He stars alongside Glenda Jackson, who died in June after the film wrapped.

Sir Michael made the announcement a month before his novel The Deadly Game was scheduled to be published.

Zulu: Played Gonville Bromhead, an upper-class Zulu officer (pictured Zulu 1963)

(Picture at a funeral in Berlin in 1966.

(Pictured in The Italian Job from 1969)

(Pictured in 1971’s Get Carter.)

(Pictured in 1975 The Man Who Would Be King)

The book follows the adventures of Inspector Harry Taylor, a detective who has no respect for bureaucracy or political reputation.

Sir Michael said in June: “It has been my ambition for years to write a thriller. It’s the genre I love to read the most and I really regret working on Deadly Game and teaming up with Hodder to publish it once again.

“I hope readers enjoy getting to know Harry Taylor as much as I did.”

His announcement comes after Sir Michael revealed the secret to a long, happy life is to marry a younger woman, stop snacking between meals – and wear trainers.

In an interview with The Mail on Sunday’s You Magazine, Sir Michael said his longevity advice for “younger women is no snacking and wearing trainers all the time – and you have to be careful not to fall”.

He married model Shakira Baksh in 1973 after seeing her in a TV commercial and finding her. She was 26 and he was 40.

They have a daughter, Natasha, and three grandchildren, who he says also help keep him young, adding: “You want to live forever to see what they do with their lives.”

(Pictured in the 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises)

Last film: In The Great Escape, he plays real-life WWII vet Bernie Jordan who escapes from a nursing home to attend the D-Day celebrations in France (pictured in the 2023 film The Great Escape)