Sir Michael Caine confirms retirement from acting, saying: ‘You don’t have leading men at 90’

British actor Sir Michael Caine has confirmed he has retired from acting after the release of his latest film.

The Oscar, Golden Globe and Bafta-winning actor has made the announcement after appearing in more than 160 films over his seven-decade career.

His final film, The Great Escaper, which was released on 6 October, sees Sir Michael star alongside Glenda Jackson, who died in June after the completion of the film.

He plays real-life Second World War veteran Bernie Jordan, who escaped from a care home to attend D-Day celebrations in France.

“I keep saying I’m going to retire. Well, I am now,” Sir Michael told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“I’ve figured, I’ve had a picture where I’ve played the lead and had incredible reviews… what am I going to do that will beat this?”

“The only parts I’m liable to get now are 90-year-old men. Or maybe 85.

“They’re not going to be the lead. You don’t have leading men at 90, you’re going to have young handsome boys and girls. So, I thought, I might as well leave with all this.”

The veteran actor initially said he was close to giving up acting in 2021, having just appeared in the film Best Sellers alongside Aubrey Plaza.

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He told film critic Mark Kermode that he expected Best Sellers to be his last film because he had a spine problem which was affecting his walking and “there haven’t been any offers for two years”.

While he stopped short of formally retiring, he has since revealed that he turned down The Great Escaper three times before eventually accepting the role.

Sir Michael’s announcement comes a month before the release of his debut novel, Deadly Game.

The 90-year-old said in June: “It’s been my ambition for years to write a thriller. It’s the genre I most love to read and I’ve really got a buzz out of working on Deadly Game and teaming up with Hodder once again to publish it.

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

The novel follows the adventures of DCI Harry Taylor, a detective “with no respect for red tape or political reputations”.