--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite…" description: "\"I was born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite. Imagine signing that autograph! You'd get a broken arm. So I changed my name to Michael Caine after Humphrey Bog..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/michael-caine-1152_bogart_i-was-born-maurice-joseph-micklewhite-im_1837694.jpg" --- # I was born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite. Imagine signing… ![“I was born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite. Imagine signing that autograph! You'd get a broken arm. So I changed my name to Michael Caine after Humphrey Bogart's 'The Caine Mutiny,' which was playing in the theater across from the telephone booth where I learned that I'd gotten my first TV job.” quote by Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/michael-caine-1152_bogart_i-was-born-maurice-joseph-micklewhite-im_1837694.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/michael-caine-1152_bogart_i-was-born-maurice-joseph-micklewhite-im_1837694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e7/michael-caine-1152_bogart_i-was-born-maurice-joseph-micklewhite-im_1837694.jpg) > “I was born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite. Imagine signing that autograph! You'd get a broken arm. So I changed my name to Michael Caine after Humphrey Bogart's 'The Caine Mutiny,' which was playing in the theater across from the telephone booth where I learned that I'd gotten my first TV job.” [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He changed his name to avoid a humorous mishap and to craft a memorable stage identity. **In simple terms:** He renamed himself for practicality and fame. Key Takeaway Consider how names shape perception. Themes identity branding humor Mood reflective lighthearted Type anecdotal inspirational When to use this quote - acting auditions - public speaking - online presence Key Concepts personal branding celebrity culture Questions to Reflect On - Does your name affect how others treat you? - What would you change about your own identity? A Different Perspective A name change may not guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Mutiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutiny/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) ## Related quotes > [The films of The Caine Mutiny and Marjorie Morningstar always seemed to me mere thin skims of the story lines, and I never did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-wouk/the-films-of-the-caine-mutiny-and-marjorie-morningstar-always-seemed/) [Herman Wouk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-wouk/) > [My whole world changed when Michael Jackson brought out the Bad album when I was about eight or nine. He took over my whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/my-whole-world-changed-when-michael-jackson-brought-out-the-bad-album/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [People wanted to move to America because of Michael Jackson. Industry changed, the music industry changed, because of Michael Jackson. That's a gift to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-snipes/people-wanted-to-move-to-america-because-of-michael-jackson-industry/) [Wesley Snipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-snipes/) > [“I told him that the lawyers were always saying 'You can't say that you'll get sued.' He said to me, 'Write fiction Michael, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-told-him-that-the-lawyers-were-always-saying-you-can-t-say-that-you/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [Let me put it this way: If you're sitting in a movie and you're watching me, and you say, 'Isn't that Michael Caine a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/let-me-put-it-this-way-if-you-re-sitting-in-a-movie-and-you-re/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [The three actors I admire the most are all dead. Humphrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy and the French actor, Jean Gabin. They're all very natural,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/the-three-actors-i-admire-the-most-are-all-dead-humphrey-bogart/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [In college, I was teetering on the edge: Do I want to be an actor? Do I not want to be an actor? And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jenkins/in-college-i-was-teetering-on-the-edge-do-i-want-to-be-an-actor-do-i/) [Richard Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jenkins/) > [I had a growing career as a model and an actress in London - I had starred opposite Michael Caine and Sidney Poitier in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/persis-khambatta/i-had-a-growing-career-as-a-model-and-an-actress-in-london-i-had/) [Persis Khambatta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/persis-khambatta/) > [I read Michael Caine's biography. It was about him growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lampard/i-read-michael-caine-s-biography-it-was-about-him-growing-up/) [Frank Lampard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lampard/) > [I'm in New Mexico making a movie called "Granite Mountain." I'm playing the head of the organization called Statesman, which is the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/i-m-in-new-mexico-making-a-movie-called-granite-mountain-i-m-playing/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [I really loved working with Michael Caine. He's a really skilled and experienced actor. I learn something from everybody, but when you work with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mcgill/i-really-loved-working-with-michael-caine-he-s-a-really-skilled-and/) [Bruce McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mcgill/) > [I'm a Michael Caine fan. He was so nice to me and he didn't have a reason to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-harmon/i-m-a-michael-caine-fan-he-was-so-nice-to-me-and-he-didn-t-have-a/) [Mark Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-harmon/) > [Michael Caine is a movie star, but he's also a great actor. I can't say that about every movie star. It's the concentration he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/michael-caine-is-a-movie-star-but-he-s-also-a-great-actor-i-can-t-say/) [Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/) > [I grew up with Jilly and Tamsin driving Volvos. But I wasn't one of them... I always felt more comfortable with Cockney and working-class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-ullman/i-grew-up-with-jilly-and-tamsin-driving-volvos-but-i-wasn-t-one-of/) [Tracey Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-ullman/) > [I got Michael Caine's book, Acting In Film, and I read it on the plane, desperately trying to glean information from him about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/i-got-michael-caine-s-book-acting-in-film-and-i-read-it-on-the-plane/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) ## More by Michael Caine > [That to me is what my idea of film acting should be. There shouldn't be any acting. You should just be watching a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/that-to-me-is-what-my-idea-of-film-acting-should-be-there-shouldn-t/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [Theater acting is an operation with a scalpel, movie acting is an operation with a laser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/theater-acting-is-an-operation-with-a-scalpel-movie-acting-is-an/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [If you're a leading actor you don't work with another actor. You work with a lady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/if-you-re-a-leading-actor-you-don-t-work-with-another-actor-you-work/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [“Be a duck, remain calm on the surface and paddle like hell underneath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/be-a-duck-remain-calm-on-the-surface-and-paddle-like-hell-underneath/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I try to make everyone around me feel comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-try-to-make-everyone-around-me-feel-comfortable/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [You can see all sorts of things in film acting if you know where to look and what to look for. One thing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/you-can-see-all-sorts-of-things-in-film-acting-if-you-know-where-to/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I was a repertory actor, which meant that I did a play every week. I was a different character every week; for a year,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-was-a-repertory-actor-which-meant-that-i-did-a-play-every-week-i/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [You start pretending to have fun, you might have a little by accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/you-start-pretending-to-have-fun-you-might-have-a-little-by-accident/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [If you held a pistol at my head, I couldn't tell you who they're going to vote for Best Actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/if-you-held-a-pistol-at-my-head-i-couldn-t-tell-you-who-they-re-going/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I wear a baseball cap all the time, which I would never normally wear, and I walk very fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-wear-a-baseball-cap-all-the-time-which-i-would-never-normally-wear/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I've always loved reprehensible people because they're so much more interesting to play on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-ve-always-loved-reprehensible-people-because-they-re-so-much-more/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I want to stick around with the big boys. I don't want to be in the old folks home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-want-to-stick-around-with-the-big-boys-i-don-t-want-to-be-in-the/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I've been on movies where I literally couldn't hear what the other actor was saying. It's very awkward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-ve-been-on-movies-where-i-literally-couldn-t-hear-what-the-other/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [My father was a fish market porter. So I grew up on fish, because he used to steal one a day, I grew up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/my-father-was-a-fish-market-porter-so-i-grew-up-on-fish-because-he/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [The trouble with women? Elbows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/the-trouble-with-women-elbows/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) [Explore all 282 Michael Caine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) ## More Bogart quotes > [Writing is getting killed by too many chefs. Back in the Bogart days, it started with great scripts. You had a writer, and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/writing-is-getting-killed-by-too-many-chefs-back-in-the-bogart-days/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [It was the kind of town that made you feel like Humphrey Bogart: you came in on a bumpy little plane, and, for some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/it-was-the-kind-of-town-that-made-you-feel-like-humphrey-bogart-you/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [He named me. He liked the sound of it. And I said, well, all right. I felt a little odd about it. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-bacall/he-named-me-he-liked-the-sound-of-it-and-i-said-well-all-right-i-felt/) [Lauren Bacall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-bacall/) > [When you're a writer, the question people always ask you is, "Where do you get your ideas?" Writers hate this question. It's like asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-willis/when-you-re-a-writer-the-question-people-always-ask-you-is-where-do/) [Connie Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-willis/) > [I watched what I ate for a bit and did a bit of exercise. I wanted to look alright because I knew I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-spall/i-watched-what-i-ate-for-a-bit-and-did-a-bit-of-exercise-i-wanted-to/) [Rafe Spall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-spall/) > [“What future is there for a female child who aspires to being Humpfrey Bogart?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-russ/what-future-is-there-for-a-female-child-who-aspires-to-being-humpfrey/) [Joanna Russ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-russ/) > [“As students of the silver screen recall, Bogart's admonition about future regret led Bergman to board the plane and fly away with her husband.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gilbert/as-students-of-the-silver-screen-recall-bogart-s-admonition-about/) [Daniel Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gilbert/) > [I think all those actors from that generation, like Bogart - they were wonderful actors. They didn't act. They just came on and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-think-all-those-actors-from-that-generation-like-bogart-they-were/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [I'm an incurable romantic, and 'Casablanca''s one of the most romantic pictures I've ever seen - the combination of Bogart and Bergman is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-adam/i-m-an-incurable-romantic-and-casablanca-s-one-of-the-most-romantic/) [Ken Adam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-adam/) > [The three actors I admire the most are all dead. Humphrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy and the French actor, Jean Gabin. They're all very natural,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/the-three-actors-i-admire-the-most-are-all-dead-humphrey-bogart/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [One of the fine moments in 1940s film is no longer than a blink: Bogart, as he crosses the street from one bookstore to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-farber/one-of-the-fine-moments-in-1940s-film-is-no-longer-than-a-blink/) [Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) > [I made so many films which were more important, but the only one people ever want to talk about is that one with \[Humphrey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-bergman/i-made-so-many-films-which-were-more-important-but-the-only-one/) [Ingrid Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-bergman/) > [I've always been skeptical of people who say they lose themselves in a part. Someone once came up to Spencer Tracy and asked, "Aren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/i-ve-always-been-skeptical-of-people-who-say-they-lose-themselves-in/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [The old movie stars like Bogart, James Cagney, Jimmy Stewart, they weren't this gorgeous, striking six-foot man who's rippled with muscles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-huston/the-old-movie-stars-like-bogart-james-cagney-jimmy-stewart-they-weren/) [Jack Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-huston/) > [Bogart was like Henry Fonda - proud and happy to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/bogart-was-like-henry-fonda-proud-and-happy-to-be-an-actor/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) Browse all 51 Bogart quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite. Imagine signing that autograph! 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