[2] He studied at the University of Oxford, receiving his bachelor's degree after writing on slavery and secession in the United States.

[1][5] Caine headed and maintained several Africa-focused organizations and initiatives, including the Royal African Society, London's Africa Centre (for which he chaired the council of management from 1995),[6] the African Emerging Markets Fund, Africa '95 (chairing the executive committee)[7] and the United Kingdom Council for Overseas Students.

Together they had a foster son, Amar Kanim, who was rescued from Iraq after surviving a napalm attack during the 1991 uprisings there.

The phone would ring in the middle of the night, and there would be these inebriated women calling from Los Angeles saying, 'I'm coming over, I'm on the next plane, get my room ready.

'"[4] On 8 January 1999, Caine underwent an operation for colorectal cancer at the private King Edward VII's Hospital in London.