Michael Caine Siblings: Getting to Know Stanley and David Burchell

Actor Michael Caine

Sir Michael Caine, born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite on March 14, 1933, in Rotherhithe, South London, is a celebrated English actor whose career spans over seven decades.

Growing up in a working-class family, his father, Maurice Joseph Micklewhite Sr., worked as a fish market porter, while his mother, Ellen Frances Marie Burchell, was a cook and charwoman.

Caine’s early life was marked by financial hardship, wartime evacuation to Norfolk, and a brief stint in the British Army during the Korean War.

His passion for acting led him to adopt the stage name Michael Caine, inspired by the film The Caine Mutiny, and he went on to become one of cinema’s most recognizable figures.

Siblings

Michael had two known siblings, a younger brother, Stanley Caine, and an older maternal half-brother, David Burchell, whose existence was a family secret until later in Caine’s life.

Stanley Caine, born Stanley Victor Micklewhite in October 1935, was an actor in his own right, though his career was overshadowed by his elder brother’s success.

Stanley is best known for his role as “Coco” in the 1969 classic The Italian Job, in which he starred alongside Michael.

Despite early aspirations to emulate Michael’s stardom, Stanley’s acting career did not flourish, and he later worked at Selfridge’s department store in London, including in furniture delivery.

Struggling with alcoholism, Stanley relied on financial support from Michael, who provided him with an allowance and two houses—one to live in and one to rent for income.

Stanley was diagnosed with leukemia in 2008 and passed away in January 2013 at age 77 in Ruislip, West London.

David Burchell, Caine’s older maternal half-brother, was born out of wedlock to their mother, Ellen, six years before she married Maurice Micklewhite Sr. David’s existence was kept secret from Michael and Stanley until after Ellen’s death in 1989.

For over 40 years, Ellen visited David, whom she referred to as a “cousin,” every Monday at Cane Hill mental hospital, where he resided due to epilepsy and a hip injury from childbirth that confined him to a wheelchair.

In 1991, a tabloid reporter investigating mental health facilities uncovered David’s connection to Caine, informing the actor while he was in Los Angeles.

Caine, shocked but admiring of his mother’s dedication, visited David upon returning to the UK, ensuring his remaining years were more comfortable.

David, who knew of Michael’s fame and proudly shared it with hospital staff, died in 1992.

Caine later buried David’s ashes with their mother’s, reflecting on the discovery as a testament to Ellen’s strength and love.

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Career

Caine’s career began in the 1950s with small roles in television and theater, but his breakthrough came in 1964 with the film Zulu, where he played the aristocratic Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead, defying expectations of being typecast as a working-class character.

This role catapulted him to international attention, followed by iconic performances as Harry Palmer in The Ipcress File (1965) and the titular character in Alfie (1966), which earned him his first Academy Award nomination.

Caine’s ability to portray both gritty, working-class antiheroes and sophisticated figures made him a standout in the 1960s British New Wave cinema.

His filmography includes classics like The Italian Job (1969), Get Carter (1971), The Man Who Would Be King (1975), and later, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy, where he portrayed Alfred Pennyworth.

Despite occasional roles in less acclaimed films, Caine’s performances in Educating Rita (1983), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), and The Cider House Rules (1999) showcased his enduring talent.

By 2017, his films had grossed over $7.8 billion worldwide, cementing his status as one of the highest-grossing actors.

Caine announced his retirement in 2023 after starring in The Great Escaper, leaving a legacy as a versatile and beloved performer.

Accolades

Caine has won two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) and The Cider House Rules (1999).

He is one of only two actors, alongside Jack Nicholson, to be nominated for an Academy Award in every decade from the 1960s to the 2000s.

Caine also received a BAFTA Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award, among others.

In 2000, Queen Elizabeth II knighted him as Sir Maurice Micklewhite in recognition of his contributions to cinema, a tribute Caine accepted to honor his late father.

Additionally, he was awarded a BAFTA Fellowship in 2000 for his outstanding career.

Beyond acting, Caine’s cultural impact is evident in his status as a British icon, with his Cockney accent and catchphrase “Not a lot of people know that” becoming widely imitated and celebrated.