Sir Michael Caine uses walking stick at premier of what is ‘probably’ his last film

Sir Michael Caine has spent 73 years on our screens. He has starred in iconic films like Educating Rita and The Dark Knight and is loved across the generations. On Tuesday 19 September, he attended the premier of what he has said is likely his last film, The Great Escaper.

He was using a walking stick, though he seemed in good spirits as he posed for photos with his wife Shakira and two daughters, Dominique, 67 and Natasha, 50.

Sir Michael Caine’s health issues

This is a rare public appearance for Caine, who is now 90 years old. His wife told the Daily Mail in March 2022 that ‘he had a back operation quite recently. He had spinal stenosis’.

According to the NHS, this is a condition that narrows the spinal canal and can cause pain in the back and legs when walking.Caine has been seen in public using a walking stick since 2018 after he broke his ankle from a fall.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Caine rightfully pointed out:

Everybody’s going to die - at least I’ve lived to f - - - ing 90.

The actor said he was very pleased to have done The Great Escaper, but that he was ‘sort of retired now’:

With COVID and all that, I hadn’t done a picture for three years, and I thought I was finished. And I suddenly did it – and had such a wonderful time

I am bloody 90 now, and I can’t walk properly and all that.

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Caine’s last film

The film is about the real-life story of the British WWII veteran Bernard ‘Bernie’ Jordan who broke out of his nursing home and crossed the channel to attend the 70th anniversary D-Day commemorations in France. His dissapearance sparked a police search and media frenzy.

The film has been nominated for a BAFTA and Caine says he was ‘so happy’ to have done it:

I just loved the character of Bernie. I thought he was incredible, and it’s so beautifully written.

The story resonated with Caine. He told The Telegraph, ‘Oh blimey, yes. I could have been him’. Caine has previously attributed his good health to the lessons he learnt about nutrition during WWII. As a young boy during this time, he didn’t eat much sugar but had lots of fish - when he was evacuated from London to the countryside, he even learnt how to catch rabbits and other animals. He says this experience stayed with him and helped to keep him healthy.

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Sources used:

Mirror: Sir Michael Caine, 90, uses walking stick after heartbreaking admission

The Telegraph: Michael Caine interview: ‘Everyone’s going to die - at least I’ve lived to f - - - ing 90’