Nicolas Cage is separated from his wife Alice Kim ... guaranteeing they won't get a dirty dozen under their belts.

TMZ confirmed Nic and Alice actually separated in January. They would have celebrated their 12th anniversary this summer. The couple met in 2004 when she was a waitress at an L.A. restaurant, and got engaged 2 months later. They have a 10-year-old son, Kal-el.