The Strange Encounter Nicolas Cage Had With A Home Intruder

Nicolas Cage is, simply put, a national treasure. The world-renowned actor has had quite the whirlwind of a career. Best known for movies such as "Face/Off," "The Rock," and the "National Treasure" series, Cage has established an onscreen presence unlike almost any other with his iconic roles and recognizable aura. As a result, Cage has amassed numerous awards — including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild award all for 1996's "Leaving Las Vegas" — amongst a plethora of nominations for other films.

When asked why he works so much, Cage told The New York Times, "That's me speaking to my golden-age heroes," while also citing "the concept of supply and demand." He continued, "... by design, with video on demand, I felt that if I made more movies, not only was it good for me financially, people would be able to tune in at home and go, 'What's the next movie that Nick made?'"

Offscreen, the actor has had a bustling personal life. Cage has been married five times and has two children: black metal musician Weston, whom he shares with ex-girlfriend Christina Fulton, and son Kal-El (yes, like Superman) with ex-wife Alice Kim. In January, Cage and his current wife Riko Shibata announced that they are expecting their first child together. Like any actor of his caliber, Cage's personal life is more than susceptible to outside intrusion — like his strange encounter with a trespasser in the late 2000s.

Yep, you read that headline right. In 2011, ironically before the release of his film "Trespass" (which also dealt with home invasion), Nicolas Cage revealed he had a strange encounter with an intruder in his home. And as funny as it may sound, it was nothing but terrifying for Cage in the moment.

Speaking at the Toronto International Film Festival, Cage said, "It was two in the morning. I was living in Orange County at the time and was asleep with my wife," while his 2-year-old son Kal-El "was in another room," per Reuters. "I opened my eyes and there was a naked man wearing my leather jacket eating a Fudgesicle [sic] in front of my bed."

Cage recounted the experience to Extra (via CinemaBlend) in 2020, saying, "I know it sounds funny ... but it was horrifying." The actor revealed he did not attack the perpetrator physically, but rather with "Verbal Judo," saying, "... I just said, 'Get out of my house.'" And the man did. Cage ultimately opted not to press charges as the intruder suffered from mental problems.

Breaking and entering isn't the only crime Nicolas Cage has found himself on the wrong end of. Talking to The New York Times, Cage spoke on personal investments and revealed that his hobby of collecting comic books had gone sour after one of his rare gems went missing. "The good investments came from personal interest and my honest enjoyment of the history," he said. "For example, Action Comics No. 1: I bought that for $150,000. Then it was stolen."

Cage ultimately "got it back [in 2011] and sold it for $2 million," adding, "But that was a good thing to have, because I had an interest that was sincere." Stephen Fishler, who sold Cage the comic in the mid-1990s, told ABC News, "It's the most important and valuable comic book. Before this book was published, there was no such thing as a super hero," he said. "It really created the comic industry."

Interestingly enough, the outlet notes the comic was found in a storage locker located in the San Fernando Valley. Detective Donald Hrycyk, who worked the case since the day Cage filed the theft report in 2000, said, "Consistent with people who lose things, they would much rather have the object than insurance money," which Cage initially received. However, no amount of money could replace the book's sentimental value. "He's very eager to get it back," Hrycyk added.