Michael Caine, 92, is pushed in a wheelchair by friend of 30 years Vin Diesel as they film a mystery project

Daily Mail​

10-07-2025

Michael Caine made a rare sighting in this week when he went to lunch at the his favorite hot spot, River Cafe in Hammersmith, London.
The 92-year-old iconic British actor - who is best known for the films Alfie and Batman Begins - looked dapper in a black suit and dark blue shirt with comfortable lace-free black shoes.
By his side was his longtime Hollywood friend, Fast And Furious actor Vin Diesel. It was an early birthday celebration for Vin who turns 58-years-old next week.
The actors have been friends for over 30 years and even starred in the 2015 movie The Last Witch Hunter together.
The lunch was filmed for an upcoming documentary about the legendary talent. A camera could be seen set up on a tripod near the table.
Both had their partners with them for the sit down: Michael is married to Shakira, 78, and Vin's longtime girlfriend is Paloma Jimenez, 41.
Diesel was clad in a powder blue polo shirt, white slacks and sneakers.
Caine was pictured for the first time since transitioning from a Zimmer frame to a wheelchair and appeared in high spirits as Vin lovingly wheeled him around.
The silver fox, who sported a band-aid on his face.
His wife since 1973, Shakira, looked chic in a black lace dress with a nude cropped jacket and black heels as she carried a red structured handbag.
Vince's long-time partner Paloma - who wore a black dress and heels with her hair pulled back - and their two children were also present during the lunch.
Caine, who has said he considers Vin his 'unofficial son,' looked to be thoroughly enjoying himself during the two-hour meal.
The table even sang Happy Birthday Diesel as they enjoyed dessert. After the feast, Vin was seen rubbing his belly, clearly satisfied with the meal.
Vin and Michael are working on an indie project called Mark and Maurice
Diesel announced the project in a June 30 Instagram post, in which he expressed his admiration for Caine, describing their long-standing friendship as 'healing and loving.'
The nature of the project is not yet known, but Vin expressed excitement about sharing more information about it in the future.
Caine is a retired English actor and British cultural icon. He started acting on stage in 1953 and in films in 1956, appearing in many small, uncredited roles.
The thespian gained recognition in the 1960s for his roles in Zulu (1964), The Ipcress File (1965), Alfie (1966), and The Italian Job (1969).
He won Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor for Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) and The Cider House Rules (1999).
It was an early birthday celebration for Vin who turns 58-years-old next week
In March Caine said he was 'terrified' seeing Heath Ledger as The Joker in The Dark Knight.
The screen legend - who played butler Alfred Pennyworth opposite Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne / Batman in the 2008 movie - has reflected on his experience watching Ledger transform into the iconic villain.
He wrote in his memoir Don't Look Back, You'll Trip Over: 'As Alfred says to Bruce, Some men just want to watch the world burn.'
'And that was Heath's version of the character: the smeared make-up, the weird hair, the strange voice.
'It was chilling. Absolutely floored me the first time I saw him in action — I was terrified!'
Caine loved working with 'Brokeback Mountain' star Ledger, who tragically died from an accidental overdose aged 27 in 2008.
He recalled: 'He was a lovely guy, very gentle and unassuming. I wondered how he was going to play the Joker, especially as Jack Nicholson's take had been so iconic.
'Brilliantly, Heath ramped up the character's psychotic side rather than going for one-liners. His Joker was deeply, deeply warped and damaged, though you never find out exactly why, or what he's really looking for.'
Caine also reflected on the close bond between Ledger and Bale on 'The Dark Knight' - which was directed by Christopher Nolan - while the 'Knight's Tale' actor's performance made sure everyone rose to his level.
He said: 'He and Christian [Bale] were good friends and always having fun together. And then he was transformed into this scheming monster, driving a whole city towards mayhem.
'Looking back, I think Heath's excellence made all of us raise our game.
'The psychological battle between the Joker and Batman is completely riveting. Are they in any way the same? What nudges one man to do good, and the other to do evil?
'The Joker wants to torment Bruce by convincing him that they're two of a kind.'
Ledger received a posthumous Academy Award for his performance as the Joker, and Caine has admitted the whole cast and crew on 'The Dark Knight' were pulling for him to secure an Oscar even before his death.
He said: 'The truth is, we'd all hoped he would win an Academy Award and thought he should, even while we were still filming the movie.
'So it was just a very sad thing that he wasn't around to accept it in person.
'It's a performance for the ages, and even though his career was cut short so soon, he'll be remembered as a great actor, I believe.'
Meanwhile, Andrew Garfield - who met Ledger shortly after filming wrapped on 'The Dark Knight' - recalled how immensely proud he was of the project.
Speaking on the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast last year, Garfield said: 'He was so smug about it. I was like, 'How did that go?' and he was like, 'Yeah, it's really good'.'
Last year Caine revealed Tom Cruise came to him for advice when he was starting out in Hollywood.
The 91-year-old screen icon has revealed that around the time of the Hollywood star's standout performance in 1981's 'Risky Business', the 'Mission Impossible' star, 62, picked his brain on how to achieve longevity in the acting business.
Caine quipped that whatever it was that he told him didn't do him 'any harm' and insists he always knew Cruise was destined for big things.
He told The Sunday Times newspaper: 'I turned around and there was this young actor, very polite, asking questions about how not to be just a flash in the pan. That was Tom, probably around the time of Risky Business.
'I can't remember what I said, but it obviously didn't do him any harm! There was something special about him. He had a great attitude, this sense of poise. What interests me is that he is really one of the last true stars in movies. People will go to see a film just because he's in it. Brad Pitt is a star, Morgan Freeman has some of that quality too. There are so few nowadays — not like John Wayne or Humphrey Bogart or Cary Grant.'
The pair have remained friends all these years later, and he was 'very touched when his wife, Shakira, Lady Caine had Tom be a surprise guest at his 90th birthday last March.