tom cruise imdb biography

Actor Tom Cruise is the star of several box-office hits, including Risky Business , A Few Good Men , The Firm , Jerry Maguire , and the Mission: Impossible franchise.

Who Is Tom Cruise?

Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, better known as Tom Cruise, was born on July 3, 1962, in Syracuse, New York, to Mary and Thomas Mapother. Cruise's mother was an amateur actress and schoolteacher, and his father was an electrical engineer. His family moved around a great deal when Cruise was a child to accommodate his father's career.

Cruise's parents divorced when he was 11, and the children moved with their mother to Louisville, Kentucky, and then to Glen Ridge, New Jersey, after she remarried. Like his mother and three sisters, Cruise suffered from dyslexia, which made academic success difficult for him. He excelled in athletics, however, and considered pursuing a career in professional wrestling until a knee injury sidelined him during high school.

At age 14, Cruise enrolled in a Franciscan seminary with thoughts of becoming a priest, but he left after a year. When he was 16, a teacher encouraged him to participate in the school's production of the musical Guys and Dolls . After Cruise won the lead of Nathan Detroit, he found himself surprisingly at home on the stage, and a career was born.

'Taps,' 'The Outsiders'

Cruise set a 10-year deadline for himself in which to build an acting career. He left school and moved to New York City, struggling through audition after audition before landing an appearance in 1981's Endless Love , starring Brooke Shields. Around this same time, he snagged a small role in the military school drama Taps (1981), co-starring Sean Penn .

His role in Taps was upgraded after director Harold Becker saw Cruise's potential, and his performance caught the attention of a number of critics and filmmakers. In 1983, Cruise appeared in Francis Ford Coppola 's The Outsiders , which also starred Emilio Estevez , Matt Dillon and Rob Lowe —all prominent members of a group of young actors the entertainment press dubbed the "Brat Pack." The film was not well received, but it allowed Cruise to work with an acclaimed director on a high-profile project.

'Risky Business'

His next film, Risky Business (1983), grossed $65 million. It also made Cruise a highly recognizable actor — thanks in no small part to a memorable scene of the young star dancing in his underwear.

In 1986, after a two-year hiatus, the budding actor released the big-budget fantasy film Legend , which did poorly at the box office. That same year, however, Cruise's A-list status was confirmed with the release of Top Gun , which co-starred Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards and Meg Ryan . The testosterone-fueled action-romance, set against the backdrop of an elite naval flight school, became the highest-grossing film of 1986.

'The Color of Money,' 'Rain Man' and 'Born on the Fourth of July'

Cruise followed the tremendous success of Top Gun with a string of both critically acclaimed and commercially successful films. He first starred in The Color of Money (1986) with co-star Paul Newman , and then went on to work with Dustin Hoffman on Rain Man (1988). Cruise's next role, as Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic in the biopic Born on the Fourth of July (1989), earned him an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe for Best Actor.

'A Few Good Men,' 'The Firm' and 'Interview with a Vampire'

In 1992, Cruise proved once more that he could hold his own opposite a screen legend when he co-starred with Jack Nicholson in the military courtroom drama A Few Good Men . The film grossed more than $15 million its first weekend and earned Cruise a Golden Globe nomination. He continued to demonstrate his success as a leading man with The Firm (1993) and Interview with a Vampire (1994), which co-starred Brad Pitt.

'Mission: Impossible,' 'Jerry McGuire'

Next, Cruise hit the big screen with two huge hits—the $64 million blockbuster Mission: Impossible (1996), which the star also produced, and the highly acclaimed Jerry McGuire (1996), directed by Cameron Crowe. For the latter, Cruise earned a second Academy Award nomination and Golden Globe for Best Actor.

'Eyes Wide Shut,' 'Magnolia'

Cruise and then-wife Kidman spent much of 1997 and 1998 in England shooting Eyes Wide Shut , an erotic thriller that would be director Stanley Kubrick 's final film. The movie came out in the summer of 1999 to mixed reviews, but that year Cruise enjoyed greater success with the release of Magnolia . His performance as a self-confident sex guru in the ensemble film earned him another Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

'Vanilla Sky,' 'The Last Samurai'

Cruise then starred in the long-awaited smash hit Mission: Impossible 2 in 2000, alongside Anthony Hopkins , Thandie Newton and Ving Rhames. In 2002, he starred in Vanilla Sky , his second collaboration with Crowe, as well as Steven Spielberg 's Minority Report . The following year, Cruise traveled to Australia to shoot the $100 million war epic The Last Samurai, which earned him another Golden Globe nomination.

'War of the Worlds'

Cruise proved he remained a top draw by starring in the Spielberg-directed remake of the science-fiction classic War of the Worlds (2005), which grossed more than $230 million at the box office.

His next effort, Mission: Impossible 3 (2006), also scored well with audiences. However, Cruise was faced with a professional setback in August when Paramount Pictures ended its 14-year relationship with the actor. The company's chairman cited Cruise's erratic behavior and controversial views as the reason for the split, though industry experts noted that Paramount more likely ended the partnership over Cruise's high earnings from the Mission: Impossible franchise.

Cruise quickly rebounded and on November 2, 2006, he announced his new partnership with film executive Paula Wagner and the United Artists film studio. Their first production as a team, the political drama Lions for Lambs (2007), proved a commercial disappointment despite a strong cast that included Meryl Streep and Robert Redford .

'Tropic Thunder'

Taking a break from weighty material, Cruise delighted audiences with his performance in the comedy Tropic Thunder (2008). Despite his relatively small role in a movie that featured Robert Downey Jr. and Ben Stiller , Cruise stood out by obscuring his trademark good looks to play a balding, obese movie studio executive.

'Valkyrie,' 'Rock of Ages'

In December 2008, Cruise released his second project through United Artists. The film, Valkyrie , was a World War II drama about a plot to assassinate German leader Adolf Hitler . Cruise starred as a German army officer who became involved in the conspiracy.

Cruise returned to one of his most popular franchises in 2011 with Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol . Breaking into new territory, he then starred in the 2012 musical Rock of Ages . Although Cruise received some positive reviews for his performance as a rock star, the movie failed to attract much of an audience.

'Jack Reacher,' 'Edge of Tomorrow'

Returning to his mainstream action roots, Cruise starred in the 2012 crime drama Jack Reacher , based on a book by Lee Child. He then headlined a pair of science-fiction adventures, Oblivion (2013) and Edge of Tomorrow (2014). Showing no signs of slowing down, the veteran actor in 2015 delivered his usual high-energy performance for the fifth installment of his blockbuster franchise, Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation .

Latest Movies and Familiar Franchises

In 2016, Cruise reprised the role of Jack Reacher for Never Go Back . He then headlined a reboot of The Mummy (2017), which performed respectably at the box office but was savaged by critics, before earning better reviews later that year for the crime thriller American Made .

2018 brought a return to familiar territory for Cruise, who starred in Mission Impossible —Fallout that summer. Prior to its release, he tweeted a photo to mark day 1 of production on the long-awaited sequel Top Gun: Maverick , scheduled for a June 2020 release.

Scientology and Personal Life

Cruise married actress Mimi Rogers in 1987. It was through Rogers that the actor became a student of Scientology, the religion founded by writer L. Ron Hubbard. Cruise credited the church with curing his dyslexia, and he soon became one of its leading proponents. However, while his spiritual life flourished, his marriage to Rogers ended in 1990. That same year, Cruise made the racecar drama Days of Thunder alongside Kidman. Though the movie was unpopular among critics and fans alike, the two lead actors had real chemistry. On Christmas Eve 1990, after a brief courtship, Cruise and Kidman married in Telluride, Colorado.

Divorce from Kidman

For much of the 1990s, Cruise and Kidman found themselves fiercely defending the happiness and legitimacy of their marriage. They filed two different lawsuits against tabloid publications for stories they considered libelous. In each case, the couple received a published retraction and apology, along with a large monetary settlement which they donated to charity. The couple has two children, Isabella and Connor.

On February 5, 2001, Cruise and Kidman announced their separation after 11 years of marriage. The couple cited the difficulties involved with two acting careers and the amount of time spent apart while working. Following the divorce, Cruise briefly dated his Vanilla Sky co-star Penelope Cruz , followed by a much-publicized relationship with actress Katie Holmes. A month after his ties to Holmes became public, Cruise professed his love for the actress in a now-famous appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, during which he jumped on Winfrey's sofa, shouting "Yes!"

Marriage to Katie Holmes

In June 2005, after a two-month courtship, Cruise proposed to Holmes in a restaurant at the top of the Eiffel tower. In October, they announced that they were expecting their first child together. The hasty proposal and surprise pregnancy quickly became tabloid gossip. But Cruise made even bigger headlines that year as an outspoken advocate for Scientology. He openly criticized former co-star Brooke Shields for using anti-depressants during her recovery from postpartum depression. He also denounced psychiatry and modern medicine, claiming Scientology held the key to true healing. Cruise's statements led to a heated argument with news anchor Matt Lauer on The Today Show in June 2005, for which Cruise later apologized.

In 2006, Cruise and Holmes welcomed daughter Suri into the world. That year, they were married in an Italian castle, with celebrities Will Smith , Jada Pinkett Smith , Jennifer Lopez and Victoria and David Beckham among those in attendance. However, the storybook romance wouldn't last, and in June 2012, the couple announced their separation.

QUICK FACTS

• Birth Year: 1962
• Birth date: July 3, 1962
• Birth State: New York
• Birth City: Syracuse
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Actor Tom Cruise is the star of several box-office hits, including 'Risky Business,' 'A Few Good Men,' 'The Firm,' 'Jerry Maguire' and the 'Mission: Impossible' franchise.
• Astrological Sign: Cancer

We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us !

CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Tom Cruise Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/actors/tom-cruise
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: March 26, 2021
• Original Published Date: April 3, 2014

The Biography.com staff is a team of people-obsessed and news-hungry editors with decades of collective experience. We have worked as daily newspaper reporters, major national magazine editors, and as editors-in-chief of regional media publications. Among our ranks are book authors and award-winning journalists. Our staff also works with freelance writers, researchers, and other contributors to produce the smart, compelling profiles and articles you see on our site. To meet the team, visit our About Us page: https://www.biography.com/about/a43602329/about-us

Watch Next .css-smpm16:after{background-color:#323232;color:#fff;margin-left:1.8rem;margin-top:1.25rem;width:1.5rem;height:0.063rem;content:'';display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;}

Famous Actors

Did You Know George Clooney Is a Director?

Get to Know ‘Bridgerton’ Star Nicola Coughlan

George Takei

Jackie Chan

Jason Momoa

Michelle Yeoh

Constance Wu

Biography: Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise has achieved extraordinary success as an actor, producer, and philanthropist in a career spanning over three decades.

Tom Cruise has achieved extraordinary success as an actor, producer, and philanthropist in a career spanning over three decades.  He is a three-time Academy Award ® nominee and three-time Golden Globe Award winner whose films have earned in excess of eight   billion dollars worldwide—an incomparable accomplishment.  Seventeen of Cruise’s films have grossed more than 100 million dollars in the United States alone, and 18 have grossed over 200 million dollars globally.

Since he first appeared on screen in the 1981 films Endless Love and Taps , Cruise’s versatility has been evidenced by the varied films and roles he chooses.  He has made 34 films, had a producing role on 17, and worked with a remarkable list of acclaimed film directors, including Harold Becker, Francis Ford Coppola, Paul Brickman, Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Martin Scorsese, Barry Levinson, Oliver Stone, Ron Howard, Rob Reiner, Sydney Pollack, Neil Jordan, Brian de Palma, Cameron Crowe, Stanley Kubrick, Paul Thomas Anderson, John Woo, Steven Spielberg, Michael Mann, J.J. Abrams, Robert Redford, Ben Stiller, Bryan Singer, James Mangold, Brad Bird and Adam Shankman .

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol opened to critical acclaim in December 2011 and went on to gross close to 700 million dollars, making it the biggest box office success of Cruise’s career.  Combined, the Mission: Impossible franchise has brought in more than two billion dollars worldwide since Cruise conceived the idea for the films and began producing them, also starring in all four films as the legendary spy Ethan Hunt.

Following Rock of Ages , Cruise stars this December in Christopher McQuarrie ’s suspense thriller based on the Lee Child book One Shot , from his hugely successful series about Jack Reacher , a former military policeman-turned-drifter.  Cruise is now filming Joseph Kosinski ’s Oblivion , to be released in April 2013.  Later this year, he will begin work on the sci-fi thriller All You Need is Kill , to be directed by Doug Liman .

In 2010, Cruise starred with Cameron Diaz in the romantic action-comedy Knight and Day .  Two years earlier, Cruise portrayed German officer Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg in the critically acclaimed worldwide hit Valkyrie , an historical thriller about the attempted assassination of Adolf Hitler during World War II, which grossed $200 million globally, making it one of the top five WWII-themed films of all time.  Cruise also appeared in Ben Stiller ’s comedy smash Tropic Thunder , as the hip hopping, foulmouthed Hollywood movie mogul Les Grossman .  This performance, based on a character he created, earned him praise from critics and audiences, as well as his seventh Golden Globe Award nomination.

Cruise received Academy Award ® nominations for Best Actor for Born on the Fourth of July and Jerry Maguire , in addition to a Best Supporting Actor Oscar ® nomination for Magnolia .  He also garnered three Golden Globe Awards, including Best Actor wins for Born on the Fourth of July and Jerry Maguire , and one for Best Supporting Actor for Magnolia , as well as nominations for his roles in Risky Business , A Few Good Men, and The Last Samurai .  In addition, Cruise has earned acting nominations and awards from BAFTA, the Screen Actors Guild ® , the Chicago Film Critics Association, and the National Board of Review.

His list of memorable credits also includes such diverse films as Collateral, Minority Report, Interview with the Vampire, The Firm, Rain Man, The Color of Money and Top Gun .

Cruise has also been honored with tributes ranging from Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Man of the Year Award, to the John Huston Award from the Artists Rights Foundation, and the American Cinematheque Award for Distinguished Achievement in Film.

While  continuing  to  explore  new  artistic  challenges,  Cruise  has  used  his professional success as a vehicle for positive change, becoming an international advocate, activist and philanthropist in the fields of health, education and human rights. He has been honored by the Mentor-LA organization for his work on behalf of the children of Los Angeles and around the world, and in May 2011, he received the Simon Wiesenthal Humanitarian Award.  This June, he will receive the Entertainment Icon Award from the Friars Club for his outstanding accomplishments in the entertainment industry and in the humanities.  He is the fourth person to receive this honor after Douglas Fairbanks, Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra.

This biography/filmography of Tom Cruise is courtesy of Warner Brothers and the film, Rock of Ages

Related Posts

J.K. Simmons on the Roles He Plays and How Being a “Team Player” Can Help Your Career

Watch: Linda Cardellini’s ‘Freaks and Geeks’ Audition

“it is fun to explore these kick-butt characters,” says liam neeson, albert brooks on his ‘drive’ role: “first and foremost, the part was something i thought i could do and was different than i had played before”, leave a reply cancel reply.

• Overview ↓
• Filmography ↓
• Awards ↓

Biography by Wikipedia

Thomas Cruise is an American actor and film producer. He has received several accolades for his work, including three Golden Globe Awards and nominations for three Academy Awards. Cruise is one of the best-paid actors in the world, and his films have grossed over $4 billion in North America and over $10.1 billion worldwide, making him one of the highest-grossing box-office stars of all time.

Movie Highlights

Additional Information

All subgenres.

• Get Featured
• Our Patreon
• Biographies

Tom Cruise: Biography, Success Story, American Actor

Tom Cruise is an American actor and producer. Tom Cruise’s biography reads like a blockbuster movie script, filled with critical acclaim, box-office triumphs, and a journey of relentless ambition and resilience. From his humble beginnings to becoming one of Hollywood’s most iconic figures, Cruise’s success story showcases his talent, hard work, and dedication to his craft. His roles in genre-defining films and commitment to performing his own stunts have cemented his place in cinema history.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Tom Cruise, an iconic Hollywood figure born on July 3, 1962, skyrocketed to fame in the 1980s with hits like Risky Business and Top Gun . His career, spanning action to drama, includes acclaimed roles in Rain Man , Born on the Fourth of July , and Jerry Maguire , earning him several Golden Globes and Academy Award nominations. Known for performing his own stunts, especially in the Mission: Impossible series, Cruise has become synonymous with action and sci-fi films. As one of the highest-grossing actors globally, his movies have earned over $11.5 billion. Cruise, also known for his advocacy for the Church of Scientology and overcoming dyslexia, has three children from his marriage to Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes.

Early Life and Education

Thomas Cruise Mapother IV was born on July 3, 1962, in Syracuse, New York, into a family with roots in Louisville, Kentucky. His early life was marked by mobility and hardship, attending 15 schools in 14 years amidst a challenging family environment. Cruise’s father, an electrical engineer, and his mother, a special education teacher, provided a diverse English, German, and Irish ancestry. Despite the familial strife, including a complicated relationship with his father, Cruise found solace and passion in acting from a young age, initially getting involved in drama during fourth grade in Canada.

The family moved to Canada in 1971 due to his father’s job, where Cruise first discovered his interest in drama and performed in school productions. After his parents’ separation, Cruise returned to the U.S., where his continued interest in performing arts led him to participate in high school theater productions, laying the groundwork for his acting career. Despite a brief stint in a seminary with aspirations of priesthood, Cruise’s true calling was acting, which he pursued fervently after graduating in 1980 from Glen Ridge High School in New Jersey. This early experience in drama and the challenges of his upbringing shaped Cruise into the versatile and determined actor he is known today.

1980s: The Beginnings

Tom Cruise embarked on his acting journey at 18, moving to New York City with aspirations of carving out a career in acting and later transitioning to Los Angeles. He quickly made his mark, debuting in the 1981 film Endless Love , followed by a significant role in Taps the same year, expanding from a minor to a central role due to his impressive performance. By 1983, Cruise had already become a notable figure in Hollywood, featuring in The Outsiders , All the Right Moves , and Risky Business , the latter securing his status as an icon for Generation X and establishing him as a leading man in Hollywood. His role in Legend (1985) further showcased his acting versatility.

Cruise’s career skyrocketed with the release of Top Gun in 1986, solidifying his superstar status. He starred alongside Paul Newman in The Color of Money that same year , earning critical acclaim for their on-screen chemistry. Despite a setback with Cocktail in 1988, which critics panned, Cruise’s performance in Rain Man alongside Dustin Hoffman received widespread acclaim, contributing to the film’s Best Picture Oscar win. Cruise’s portrayal of Ron Kovic in Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July (1989) was a career-defining role, earning him a Golden Globe, the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor, and his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. His early career showcases his dynamic range and ability to captivate audiences, setting the stage for a legendary career in Hollywood.

1990s: Cruise’s Dramatic Ascendancy

Throughout the 1990s, Tom Cruise solidified his position in Hollywood through a series of dramatic roles that showcased his versatility as an actor. He opened the decade with Days of Thunder (1990) and Far and Away (1992), featuring Nicole Kidman as his love interest. He then captivated audiences with his role in the legal thriller The Firm (1993), a critical and commercial hit. In 1994, Cruise starred in Interview with the Vampire, alongside Brad Pitt and Antonio Banderas, a film adaptation of Anne Rice’s novel that received widespread acclaim despite initial controversy over Cruise’s casting.

Cruise then transitioned into the action genre with Mission: Impossible (1996), playing Ethan Hunt and serving as a producer. Despite mixed reviews for the film’s deviation from the original TV series, Cruise’s performance was highly praised. That same year, he starred in Jerry Maguire , a sports drama that was a box-office triumph. For his performance, Cruise won a Golden Globe Award and received his second Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

Cruise ended the decade with two notable films in 1999: Eyes Wide Shut , directed by Stanley Kubrick, and Magnolia , directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. In Eyes Wide Shut , Cruise delivered a performance that was met with critical praise, especially for his dedication and vulnerability. His role in Magnolia as a motivational speaker earned him yet another Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination, with critics lauding his portrayal of a complex character. These roles highlighted Cruise’s acting range and his ability to delve into complex emotional territories, cementing his status as one of the leading actors of his generation.

2000s: Career Evolution

Tom Cruise’s career significantly developed in the 2000s, starting with his role as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible 2 (2000), directed by John Woo. Despite mixed reviews, the film grossed $547 million worldwide and was that year’s highest-grossing film. Cruise’s performance won him an MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance.

Cruise starred in a series of critical and commercial hits throughout the decade. In 2001, he appeared in the romantic thriller Vanilla Sky alongside Cameron Diaz and Penélope Cruz. The following year, he led the dystopian action film Minority Report , directed by Steven Spielberg . His portrayal in The Last Samurai (2003) earned him a Golden Globe nomination. Cruise’s role as Vincent in Collateral (2004) was widely praised, and in 2005, he reteamed with Spielberg for War of the Worlds , which became one of the year’s highest-grossing films. He was nominated for seven Saturn Awards from 2002 to 2009, winning one, and nearly all of his films during this period achieved significant box office success.

In 2006, Cruise reprised his role as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible III , which was well-received by critics. He then took on a supporting role in Lions for Lambs (2007), which did not do well commercially. However, his comedic turn as Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder (2008) was a hit, earning him a Golden Globe nomination. He ended the decade with a leading role in the historical thriller Valkyrie (2008), a box-office success.

2010s: Action Stardom and Versatile Roles

In the 2010s, Tom Cruise solidified his status as an action star while exploring various roles showcasing his versatility. The decade began with Cruise completing the action-comedy Knight and Day alongside Cameron Diaz, released in June 2010. He then confirmed his role in Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol (2011), which became a critical and commercial success and marked his biggest hit then.

Cruise was recognized for his philanthropic efforts in May 2011 with a humanitarian award from the Simon Wiesenthal Center. In 2012, he took a musical turn with Rock of Ages , portraying the rock star Stacee Jaxx, a role that received praise despite the film’s lukewarm box office performance. That same year, Cruise ventured into the thriller genre as Jack Reacher in the film adaptation of Lee Child’s novel One Shot , which was well-received and successful at the box office.

In the following years, Cruise appeared in the sci-fi films Oblivion (2013) and Edge of Tomorrow (2014), the latter of which earned critical acclaim and solid box office returns. He continued his Mission: Impossible saga with Rogue Nation in 2015, again to high praise and financial success. However, his 2017 reboot of The Mummy was met with negative reviews and disappointing box office results.

Cruise bounced back with Mission: Impossible – Fallout in 2018, which received positive feedback from critics and became his most commercially successful film unadjusted for ticket price inflation. This era underscored Cruise’s enduring appeal as a leading man in Hollywood, capable of drawing audiences worldwide to his high-octane performances.

2020s: A New Frontier

Entering the 2020s with a spirit of innovation, Tom Cruise announced in May 2020 an ambitious project to star in and produce a movie filmed in outer space under Doug Liman’s direction and co-production. The venture involves traveling to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon 2 spacecraft, showcasing Cruise’s continual push for cinematic boundaries.

In a notable stand against the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in May 2021, Cruise returned his three Golden Globe Awards, criticizing the organization’s lack of diversity and ethical issues. Despite this, his career milestones continued to soar.

2022 marked a pinnacle with the release of Top Gun: Maverick , reprising his iconic role as Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, where Cruise was honored with an Honorary Palme d’Or, the film eclipsed his previous box office records by grossing over $1 billion worldwide, asserting Top Gun: Maverick as his highest-grossing film to date. His earnings from the film, including salary and revenue shares, topped $100 million.

2023 saw Cruise returning as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning , met with critical praise but overshadowed in box office returns by the concurrent release of Oppenheimer and Barbie , in a cultural clash referred to as “Barbenheimer.” Despite this, Dead Reckoning was lauded for its action sequences and narrative satisfaction.

Looking ahead, February 2024 brought news of Cruise’s next venture, a collaboration with acclaimed director Alejandro G. Iñárritu in a Warner Bros. Pictures project, marking his return to the studio after a decade. This new chapter signifies Cruise’s unwavering influence and innovation in Hollywood.

Hollywood Producer and Powerhouse

Tom Cruise is also a powerhouse behind the scenes. Co-founding Cruise/Wagner Productions in 1993, he has produced a series of successful films, including the Mission: Impossible series, which debuted his producer role. His skill securing blockbuster deals has cemented him as one of Hollywood’s most influential figures.

Despite facing challenges, such as the 2006 split with Paramount over controversies that questioned his market value, Cruise showcased resilience by finding alternative funding and taking bold steps like taking over United Artists in 2006. His return to Paramount with Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol proved successful, and he continued to produce hits, including the Jack Reacher series.

In 2024, Cruise embarked on a new chapter with Warner Bros. Discovery, developing original and franchise films, underscoring his enduring impact and adaptability in Hollywood’s dynamic industry.

Personal Life

Marriages and relationships.

Tom Cruise leads a life filled with notable relationships and residences across Beverly Hills, Clearwater, and England. In the ’80s, he was linked with Melissa Gilbert, Rebecca De Mornay, Patti Scialfa, and Cher. His first marriage was to Mimi Rogers on May 9, 1987, ending in divorce on February 4, 1990, with Rogers introducing him to Scientology. Cruise’s second marriage to Nicole Kidman on December 24, 1990, followed their meeting on Days of Thunder . They adopted two children before their 2001 separation.

Afterward, Cruise dated Penélope Cruz and was rumored to have undergone a Scientology-arranged “audition” process for a new partner, briefly dating Nazanin Boniadi. His relationship with Katie Holmes began in April 2005, leading to a highly publicized marriage in November 2006 at Italy’s Odescalchi Castle. The marriage, speculated by some as arranged by Scientology, ended in Holmes filing for divorce in 2012 to reportedly protect their daughter Suri from the organization, highlighting Cruise’s intertwined personal and public life.

Legal Battles

Tom Cruise has been involved in multiple legal disputes, notably defending his reputation and privacy. In 1998, he won a case against the Daily Express for falsely claiming his marriage was a sham. In 2001, Cruise sued Chad Slater and Bold Magazine for alleging an affair and questioning his sexuality; both claims were retracted, with Slater ordered to pay $10 million in damages. Cruise also successfully reclaimed the TomCruise.com domain from a cybersquatter in 2006 and had a wiretapping allegation dismissed in 2009. His 2012 defamation lawsuit against In Touch and Life & Style magazines for reporting he “abandoned” his daughter Suri was settled out of court. These legal actions underscore Cruise’s efforts to protect his personal and professional image.

Scientology

Tom Cruise, introduced to Scientology by Mimi Rogers in 1986, has been a prominent supporter, especially from the 2000s onwards. His public acknowledgment came after a 1990 leak by Star tabloid, followed by a 1992 interview with Barbara Walters. Cruise credits Scientology, notably Study Tech, with overcoming dyslexia. He developed a close relationship with Scientology leader David Miscavige in the ’80s. Despite initially stepping back after learning about Scientology’s secretive aspects while filming Eyes Wide Shut , Marty Rathbun persuaded him to deepen his involvement on Miscavige’s request.

Cruise’s advocacy has stirred controversy , notably for promoting Scientology’s detoxification therapy for 9/11 rescue workers, criticized by medical experts and firefighters. In 2004, Miscavige awarded him the Scientology Freedom Medal of Valor for his efforts. Allegations have surfaced from ex-Scientologist Paul Haggis about Cruise’s attempts to convert celebrities like James Packer and Will Smith to Scientology. Since 2008, Cruise has limited discussions regarding Scientology in interviews.

Personality Traits

Tom Cruise is a figure who exemplifies a blend of talent, tenacity, and a tireless work ethic, making him one of Hollywood’s most enduring stars. His career, spanning over four decades, showcases his longevity, versatility, and dedication to his craft.

• Resilience is a hallmark of Cruise’s career. Despite the ups and downs typical of the entertainment industry, he has remained a bankable star, constantly reinventing himself and choosing projects that challenge him and excite audiences.
• His adventurousness is legendary, particularly his willingness to perform daring stunts himself, from hanging off the side of a plane in “Mission: Impossible” to scaling the Burj Khalifa. This risk-taking spirit translates into powerful, memorable performances that have become a signature aspect of his films.
• Cruise’s charisma is undeniable. His magnetic screen presence and ability to connect with audiences have made his films must-watch events. Whether he’s playing a charming rogue, a determined action hero, or a complex character grappling with inner turmoil, Cruise brings a compelling depth that captivates viewers.
• His dedication to his roles is evident in his meticulous preparation, whether learning to fly a fighter jet for Top Gun: Maverick or mastering samurai sword fighting for The Last Samurai . This commitment extends beyond his acting roles to his personal beliefs and practices, underlining his integrity and depth of character.
• Professionalism is a trait consistently attributed to Cruise by his co-stars and directors. Known for his punctuality, respect for crew members, and collaborative spirit, Cruise’s professional demeanor sets a standard in the industry.
• Beyond the screen, Cruise’s philanthropy reflects his commitment to making a positive impact. His involvement in various humanitarian causes, from disaster relief to advocating for health and education, demonstrates a generous spirit that complements his on-screen persona.

In conclusion, Tom Cruise embodies a rare combination of traits that have cemented his status as an iconic figure in cinema and endeared him to fans and colleagues alike. His resilience, adventurous spirit, charisma, dedication, professionalism, and philanthropy are the threads that weave together the tapestry of his distinguished career and personal life, making him a multifaceted individual whose impact extends far beyond the silver screen.

Awards and Legacy

Tom Cruise, recognized for his unmatched influence in Hollywood, has received numerous accolades and is prominent in entertainment history. In 2006, Premiere magazine named him Hollywood’s most powerful actor, and Forbes echoed this sentiment, declaring him the world’s most powerful celebrity the same year. The founder of CinemaScore in 2016 highlighted Cruise and Leonardo DiCaprio as exceptional talents capable of uplifting the box office performance of films regardless of their quality.

Japan celebrated “Tom Cruise Day” on October 10, 2006, honoring him for his affection and strong connections with the country. Film critic Roger Ebert identified a distinct “Tom Cruise Picture” formula in Cruise’s filmography, characterized by consistent elements such as a mentor figure, a craft to master, and a journey of self-discovery, present in movies from Days of Thunder to The Last Samurai .

Cruise’s passion extends beyond acting to aviation, where he is an accomplished aerobatic pilot. His contributions to aviation earned him recognition as a Living Legend of Aviation in 2010, along with the Aviation Inspiration and Patriotism Award. Among his prized possessions is a P-51 Mustang, showcasing his deep enthusiasm for flying.

In conclusion, Tom Cruise’s biography is not just a chronicle of personal and professional milestones; it’s a narrative of a man who defied the odds to become a symbol of enduring success in the competitive world of cinema. His journey from an aspiring actor to a global superstar underscores the power of perseverance, making his biography an inspiring success story for generations to come.

Similar Posts:

• Temuera Morrison: Biography, Success Story, Star Wars
• John Boyega: Biography, Success Story, Star Wars
• Ahmed Best: Biography, Success Story, Star Wars
• Will Smith: Biography, Success Story, American Actor
• Hayden Christensen: Biography, Success Story, Anakin Skywalker

Related posts

Antoninus pius: biography, roman emperor, constantine the great: biography, roman emperor, vespasian: biography, facts, roman emperor, marcus aurelius: biography, roman emperor.

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Link to Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
• Young Woman and the Sea Link to Young Woman and the Sea
• Jim Henson Idea Man Link to Jim Henson Idea Man

New TV Tonight

• Ren Faire: Season 1
• Star Wars: The Acolyte: Season 1
• Clipped: Season 1
• Queenie: Season 1
• Sweet Tooth: Season 3
• Mayor of Kingstown: Season 3
• Criminal Minds: Season 17
• Becoming Karl Lagerfeld: Season 1
• Power Book II: Ghost: Season 4
• Erased: WW2's Heroes of Color: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• Eric: Season 1
• Dark Matter: Season 1
• Evil: Season 4
• Tires: Season 1
• Outer Range: Season 2
• Star Wars: Ahsoka: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Star Wars: The Acolyte: Season 1 Link to Star Wars: The Acolyte: Season 1
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

All 73 Disney Animated Movies Ranked

All Harry Potter (and Fantastic Beasts ) Movies Ranked

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

The Acolyte First Reviews: A Familiar but New Vision of Star Wars , Packed with Stunning Action

Pride Month Programming Calendar 2024: TV and Streaming Shows and Movies Celebrating LGBTQ+ Voices

• Trending on RT
• The Acolyte First Reviews
• Vote: 1999 Movie Showdown
• Bad Boys: Ride or Die

Highest Rated: 97% Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)

Lowest Rated: 9% Cocktail (1988)

Birthday: Jul 3, 1962

Birthplace: Syracuse, New York, USA

Tom Cruise rose quickly to become one of the best-known American actors in the world. Born in Syracuse, New York, he moved around throughout his childhood, including a period in Canada. After graduating from high school in New Jersey, he moved first to New York and then to Los Angeles to pursue acting. He made his film debut in the Brooke Shields vehicle "Endless Love" (1981). His next role as an aggressive military cadet opposite Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn in "Taps" (1981) caught people's attention. He joined another group of young stars, including Patrick Swayze and Rob Lowe, in Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of the S.E. Hinton novel "The Outsiders" (1983). His starring role as schoolboy-turned-pimp Joel in "Risky Business" broke him as one of Hollywood's newest celebrities. The long shoot schedule of Ridley Scott's fantasy epic "Legend" (1985) briefly took him out of the public eye, but he bounced back with one of the iconic roles of the 1980s. Playing Navy fighter pilot Maverick in Tony Scott's "Top Gun" (1986) turned Cruise into a superstar. He began branching into roles with more heft at the same time when he joined Paul Newman for "The Color of Money" (1986). He continued in that vein during the next several years, working with high profile directors and co-stars in prestige projects. He partnered with Dustin Hoffman for "Rain Man" (1988), Oliver Stone for "Born on the Fourth of July" (1989), and Jack Nicholson for "A Few Good Men" (1993), the first two of which were Oscar-winners for Best Picture. The actor picked up his first Academy Award nomination for "Born on the Fourth of July." While it didn't garner the same level of critical acclaim, his role as Anne Rice's vampire Lestat opposite a young Brad Pitt in "Interview with a Vampire" (1994) became as well-remembered as any of the actor's roles. His 11-year marriage to Nicole Kidman saw the couple partner on three films including Ron Howard's "Far and Away" (1992) and Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut" (1999). By the '90s, he had his pick of roles and began mixing in big-budget populist fare like "Mission: Impossible" (1996), based on the '60s television show of the same name. His role as secret agent Ethan Hunt proved popular enough for a series of sequels that would extend for more than two decades. Cruise also notched a second Oscar nomination for his role as a sports agent gaining a conscious in Cameron Crowe's "Jerry Maguire" (1996). He worked with another rising filmmaker when he played motivational speaker Frank Mackey in Paul Thomas Anderson's "Magnolia" (1999), a role that earned him another Academy Award nomination. After the turn of the century, Cruise bounced between effects-heavy fare like "Minority Report" (2002) and "War of the Worlds" (2005) to dramas such as "Lions for Lambs" (2007) with Robert Redford and Meryl Streep. He also proved himself willing to puncture his own inflated image, with comedic cameos in "Austin Powers in Goldmember" (2002) and "Tropic Thunder" (2008), and his musical turn in "Rock of Ages" (2012). He similarly adopted a self-effacing posture when fans began noticing that there was a scene of the actor running in nearly all his films. Over the years, he found himself a magnet for the tabloids thanks to his close ties to the Church of Scientology and his celebrity marriages to Kidman and Katie Holmes. Cruise added another action franchise to his resume when he jumped into the role of Lee Child's literary tough guy "Jack Reacher" (2012). He would reprise the role in "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back" (2016). After starring in the big-budget reboot of "The Mummy" (2017) and the drama "American Made" (2017), he returned to the role that once cemented his superstar status. More than 20 years after the original, Cruise climbed back into the cockpit to revive Maverick for a sequel to his 1986 hit "Top Gun: Maverick" (2020).

Highest rated movies

Filmography.

12 Things You Might Not Know About Tom Cruise

By jake rossen | may 28, 2024.

Defining movie star is somewhat subjective. If it’s a combination of charisma, audience interest, and box office success, then one of the few performers that continue to meet the definition is Tom Cruise. The actor, who has been on screens for over 40 years, regularly makes movies that are considered appointment viewing in theaters even in the era of streaming. His Mission: Impossible series alone has brought in over $1.3 billion domestically.

Part of Cruise’s appeal is his enigmatic public persona. He rarely lets his guard down, preferring to let his work speak for him. Nonetheless, there’s still plenty to know about his life and career.

Tom Cruise started doing stunts early on.

He was a pretty good high school wrestler., cruise auditioned for risky business with a chipped tooth., he didn’t love cocktail ., cruise directed an episode of television., cruise took heat for two adaptations., cruise could have been in the shawshank redemption ., cruise was involved in one of the longest film shoots of all time., he has a cousin who is also an actor., cruise rescued multiple people from maritime disaster., he asked to be included in a photo with some famous directors., cruise gifts colleagues with hundreds of holiday cakes..

Born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV on July 3, 1962, in Syracuse, New York, Cruise seemed to be drawn to physical activity and danger from an early age. In 2022, the actor recalled that when he was around 4 years old, he thought it would be a good idea to jump off the roof of his childhood home while using a sheet as a parachute. "It’s that moment when you jump off the roof and you go, ‘This is not gonna work,’” he said. “’This is terrible. I’m gonna die.’ And I hit the ground so hard. Luckily, it was wet … And I saw stars in the daytime for the first time, and I remember looking up, going, ‘This is very interesting.’”

Cruise’s mother, Mary, separated from his father, Tom Senior, in 1976, when Cruise was 14. (The actor would later allege that Senior had been abusive toward him.) The family moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and Cruise also spent some time in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he briefly considered becoming a Franciscan priest. Eventually, he rejoined his family and they settled in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, where he joined the varsity high school wrestling team as a junior and senior. During the 1979-1980 year, the team went 14-4-1.

The wrestling may have indirectly played a role in his career choice. After a leg injury prevented him from continuing, he decided to investigate acting and signed up for a role in a school production of Guys and Dolls . “All of a sudden, I felt like I knew what I was doing,” he said in 1983. “And I got all this attention, and it just felt right. So I came to New York. I wanted to try [acting].”

In 1981, Cruise appeared in a small role in Endless Love and as a military cadet in Taps . Two years later, he appeared in the teen sex comedy Losin’ It and the football drama All the Right Moves . Cruise also scored a role as a street punk in The Outsiders . It was during filming of The Outsiders that Cruise auditioned for Risky Business , which cast him as a preppy kid who runs amok when his parents leave town. “I told them, ‘I can't afford to tamper with my Outsiders character because I have to work tonight,’” he said in 1983. “’I can't take a shower, even.’ I was all greasy, had a chipped tooth and a tattoo, and an Okie drawl. And they cast me for this clean-cut boy.”

Risky Business was considered Cruise's true breakout role. It also made Cruise synonymous with Ray-Ban sunglasses, which he later wore to great effect in 1986’s Top Gun .

The mid- to late-1980s was a period where Cruise was able to demonstrate his dramatic chops with prestige directors in films like 1985's Legend (Ridley Scott), 1986’s The Color of Money (Martin Scorsese), 1988’s Rain Man (Barry Levinson), and 1989’s Born on the Fourth of July (Oliver Stone). In the middle of this impressive run came Cocktail (1988), a relatively lightweight drama about a bartender who relocates to Jamaica. It was “not a crowning jewel,” he told Rolling Stone in 1992. The film earned a Golden Raspberry Award, or “Razzie,” for Worst Picture, the same year that Rain Man won the Oscar for Best Picture.

Given his collaborative nature and intense interest in filmmaking, it’s somewhat surprising Cruise has yet to helm a feature film. But he has gotten behind the camera. In 1993, Cruise directed an episode of the Showtime series Fallen Angels , an anthology set largely in 1940s and 1950s Los Angeles. In the episode, titled “The Frightening Frammis,” a con man (Peter Gallagher) has the misfortune to cross paths with a femme fatale named Babe (Isabella Rosellini). The series was produced by Sydney Pollack, who had just directed Cruise in the 1993 film The Firm .

When Cruise was cast as the vampire Lestat in 1994’s Interview With the Vampire , the book’s author, Anne Rice, was a vocal critic, saying she preferred someone like Daniel Day-Lewis for the role. After seeing Cruise in the part, Rice changed her mind, calling him “wonderful.” Cruise had a similar experience in 2012’s Jack Reacher , where fans of the Lee Child book series found him smaller in stature compared to Child’s towering protagonist. The film did well, however, meriting  a 2016 sequel, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back .

The list of movies Cruise has been offered (or at least had discussions about doing) is long, and the list of movies he’s turned down is likely even longer. Among them: Footloose , Edward Scissorhands , and The Shawshank Redemption . Director and writer Frank Darabont, who adapted the Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption for the screen in 1994, said that producer Rob Reiner offered to acquire the script so he could direct and his A Few Good Men star Cruise could step into the role of Andy Dufresne. Darabont was tempted, but ultimately decided to make the movie himself. He cast Tim Robbins as Dufresne.

Cruise and then-wife Nicole Kidman agreed to star in director Stanley Kubrick’s 1999 film Eyes Wide Shut , which examines the complicated marriage of a young couple tempted by forces outside their union. Kubrick ( 2001: A Space Odyssey ), a notorious perfectionist, shot the film for an astounding 15 months, far beyond the typical four- to six-month shoot of many films. Guinness World Records recognizes it as the longest continuous production in cinema history. (Interrupted shoots are a different story: Richard Linklater’s coming-of-age drama Boyhood shot for 39 days over a window spanning from 2002 to 2013.)

Eyes Wide Shut was met with a tepid reception, though it proved bountiful for Cruise. While on set, he met with director Paul Thomas Anderson, who cast him as a motivational speaker in 1999’s Magnolia . That part earned Cruise an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He had previously been nominated for Born on the Fourth of July and for Jerry Maguire (1996), though he has yet to win.

Cruise wasn’t the only member of his family to get into acting. His fraternal cousin, William Mapother, is also in the business and has shared several of Cruise’s film sets. Mapother was a production assistant before getting parts in Magnolia (1999) and in 2002’s Minority Report , playing a desk clerk who is threatened by Cruise’s distressed protagonist. Mapother might be best known as Ethan Rom, a character of dubious intentions on ABC’s drama Lost .

In 1996, Cruise and then-wife Nicole Kidman were aboard a yacht near Capri, Italy, when they came upon a family floating in a lifeboat whose own yacht had caught on fire. They climbed aboard Cruise’s vessel until the Coast Guard arrived.

A decade prior, it was Cruise himself who needed a hand. While filming Top Gun , he was dragged underwater by parachute lines. According to United Press International, Navy swim school instructors rushed to pull him out.

Shooting The Last Samurai with Cruise in 2003, director Ed Zwick was surprised to see several A-list directors dropping by the set to see Cruise. When the actor learned that David Fincher ( Fight Club ), Cameron Crowe (who directed Cruise in Jerry Maguire ), and others posed for a group photo with Zwick while he was busy, he asked that he be retroactively placed in the image.

To work with Tom Cruise is to risk being sent a cake every holiday for the rest of your life. (Or his.) Each year, the actor orders white chocolate coconut Bundt cakes from Doan’s Bakery in Los Angeles and has them sent to a list of recipients, including former co-stars. According to former talk show host James Corden, Cruise himself has never tried the cake. (Other stories, however, have him tasting it as part of a “cake-off” while Cruise’s then-wife Katie Holmes and Diane Keaton were making a film together in 2008. The cake was reportedly Keaton’s favorite.)

Read More Articles About Celebrities:

• Voice actors
• American people
• Touchstone Pictures
• People from New York
• Lizzie McGuire
• The Santa Clause
• Hannah Montana
• 20th Century Studios
• View history

For Disney , he played Vincent Lauria in the 1986 Touchstone Pictures film The Color of Money and Brian Flanagan in Cocktail . He was also mentioned in the Lizzie McGuire episodes " Misadventures in Babysitting " and " In Miranda Lizzie Does Not Trust ", The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause , the Hannah Montana episode " Wherever I Go ", and the What If...? episode " What If... Thor Was an Only Child? ".

Cruise has also been attached to the long-in-development film Bob the Musical . [1]

• 4 References
• 5 External links

• Cruise was considered to voice the role of Jim Hawkins in Treasure Planet , but turned it down due to his busy schedule. Thus, Joseph Gordon-Levitt was cast instead.
• He was the physical inspiration for the title character in Aladdin .
• Cruise was originally going to produce and star in the role of Tony Stark/Iron Man in Iron Man during its early years of development. He ultimately dropped out due to delays, and Robert Downey Jr. was cast in the role instead when it was finally produced. [2] Despite this, Cruise claimed that he was "not close" to the role. [3]
• He was considered for the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace . However, Ewan McGregor was cast in the end.
• ↑ " Tom Cruise set to star in Disney comedy Bob the Musical ". The Guardian ( April 24 , 2015 ).
• ↑ " A Complete List of All the Actors Originally Considered for Roles in the Marvel Universe ". Pajiba ( Apr 5 , 2018 ).
• ↑ " Tom Cruise Talks Almost Being Iron Man, Praises Robert Downey Jr. ". ComicBook.com ( Apr 26 , 2018).

External links

• 1 Inside Out 2

TOM CRUISE is a global cultural icon who has made an immeasurable impact on cinema by creating some of the most memorable characters of all time. Having achieved extraordinary success as an actor, producer and philanthropist in a career spanning over three decades, Cruise is a three-time Oscar® nominee and three-time Golden Globe Award® winner whose films have earned over $10 billion in worldwide box office—an incomparable accomplishment. Eighteen of Cruise’s films have grossed over $100 million domestically, and a record 23 have made more than $200 million globally. His latest film, Mission: Impossible – Fallout has made over $775 million worldwide becoming Cruise’s most successful film to date.

Cruise has starred in numerous legendary films such as Top Gun, Jerry Maguire, Risky Business, Minority Report, Interview with the Vampire, A Few Good Men, The Firm, Rain Man, Collateral, The Last Samurai, Edge of Tomorrow, The Color of Money and the Mission: Impossible series, among many others. Combined, the Mission: Impossible franchise has brought in over $3.5 billion since Cruise conceived the idea for a film adaptation of the classic television series and produced the first in 1996. He is currently in production on the long-awaited sequel to Top Gun.

A consummate filmmaker involved in all aspects of production, Cruise has proven his versatility with the films and roles he chooses. He has made 43 films, contributing in a producing role on many of them, and collaborated with a remarkable list of celebrated film directors including Francis Ford Coppola, Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Martin Scorsese, Barry Levinson, Oliver Stone, Ron Howard, Rob Reiner, Sydney Pollack, Neil Jordan, Brian De Palma, Cameron Crowe, Stanley Kubrick, Paul Thomas Anderson, Ed Zwick, Steven Spielberg, Michael Mann, J.J. Abrams, Robert Redford, Brad Bird, Doug Liman and Christopher McQuarrie.

Cruise received Academy Award® nominations for Best Actor for Born on the Fourth of July and Jerry Maguire. He was a Best Supporting Actor nominee for Magnolia and won Golden Globes (Best Actor) for Born on the Fourth of July and Jerry Maguire, in addition to a Best Supporting Actor prize for Magnolia. He also received Golden Globe nominations for his roles in Risky Business, A Few Good Men and The Last Samurai. Cruise has earned acting nominations and awards from BAFTA, the Screen Actors Guild, the Chicago Film Critics Association and the National Board of Review.

Cruise’s previous few films include the critically acclaimed American Made, The Mummy, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Oblivion and the suspense thriller Jack Reacher, which earned $218 million worldwide. Prior to that, he made a memorable appearance in Ben Stiller’s comedy smash Tropic Thunder, as the foul-mouthed Hollywood movie mogul Les Grossman. This performance, based on a character Cruise created, earned him praise from critics and audiences as well as his seventh Golden Globe nomination.

Cruise has been honored with tributes ranging from Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Man of the Year Award to the John Huston Award from the Artists Rights Foundation and the American Cinematheque Award for Distinguished Achievement in Film. In addition to his artistic contributions, Cruise has used his professional success as a vehicle for positive change, becoming an international advocate, activist and philanthropist in the fields of health, education and human rights. He has been honored by the Mentor LA organization for his work on behalf of the children of Los Angeles and around the world. In 2011 Cruise received the Simon Wiesenthal Humanitarian Award and the following year he received the Entertainment Icon Award from the Friars Club for his outstanding accomplishments in the entertainment industry and in the humanities. He is the fourth person to receive this honor after Douglas Fairbanks, Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra. Empire magazine awarded Cruise its Legend of Our Lifetime Award in 2014. Most recently, Cruise was the first actor to receive The Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation’s Pioneer of the Year Award in 2018.

• Top Gun: Maverick (2021)
• Mission: Impossible Fallout (2018)
• American Made (2017)
• The Mummy (2017)
• Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)
• Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation (2015)
• Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
• Oblivion (2013)
• Jack Reacher (2012)
• Rock of Ages (2012)
• Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
• Knight and Day (2010)
• Valkyrie (2008)
• Tropic Thunder (2008)
• Lions for Lambs (2007)
• Mission: Impossible 3 (2006)
• War of the Worlds (2005)
• Collateral (2004)
• The Last Samurai (2003)
• Minority Report (2002)
• Vanilla Sky (2002)
• Mission: Impossible 2 (2001)
• Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
• Magnolia (1999)
• Jerry Maguire (1996)
• Mission: Impossible (1996)
• Interview with the Vampire (1994)
• The Firm (1993)
• A Few Good Men (1992)
• Far and Away (1992)
• Days of Thunder (1990)
• Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
• Rain Man (1988)
• Cocktail (1988)
• The Color of Money (1986)
• Top Gun (1986)
• Legend (1985)
• Risky Business (1983)
• All the Right Moves (1983)
• The Outsiders (1983)
• Losin’ It (1983)
• Taps (1981)
• Endless Love (1981)

Tom Cruise Biography

Versatile actor known for both the wide range of roles he has played and his boyish good looks. One of Hollywood's biggest stars, Cruise burst onto the scene in Risky Business (1983) and has enjoyed critical acclaim in movies such as Rain Man (1988) while also surviving critical bombs such as Cocktail (1988). His other films include Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Jerry Maguire (1996), Magnolia (1999), appearances in Mission: Impossible (1996) and the sequel Mission: Impossible 2 (2000). He was married to actress Nicole Kidman (1990–2001), with whom he starred in Far and Away (1992) Days of Thunder (1990) and Eyes Wide Shut (1999).

Here are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

Glen Powell Spent 6 Hours Watching a Tom Cruise Video ‘Breaking Down Everything He’s Learned About Filmmaking,’ Says Chris Pratt Helped Open the Door For His Success

By Zack Sharf

Digital News Director

• Whoopi Goldberg Reunites ‘Sister Act 2’ Kid Actors After 30 Years to Recreate ‘Oh Happy Day’ and ‘Joyful, Joyful’ Choir Scenes, Breaks Down in Tears 2 hours ago
• Taylor Swift Supports Lady Gaga Amid ‘Invasive’ Pregnancy Rumors: ‘It’s Irresponsible to Comment on a Woman’s Body’ 4 hours ago
• Martin Lawrence Addresses Health Concerns and Says ‘Stop the Rumors’ After ‘Bad Boys 4’ Premiere Sparked Fan Worry: ‘I’m Healthy as Hell’ 5 hours ago

Glen Powell told some of his best Tom Cruise stories as part of a cover story interview with GQ UK magazine . The two actors became close friends during the production of “Top Gun: Maverick.” Powell originally auditioned for the role of Rooster, but he was beat out by Miles Teller. Cruise liked Powell and offered him the role of Hangman, but Powell had some notes.

Related Stories

Layoff surge highlights disconnect between job volume, success at gaming companies, comcast reveals pricing for netflix, peacock, apple tv+ bundle, popular on variety.

“Tom goes ‘oh no, oh no,’ and he starts dropping the helicopter over London,” Powell said. “I was like, ‘Am I about to be the unnamed guy that dies with Tom in a smoking hole in the middle of London?’”

Another memory is when Cruise sent Powell to a theater in Los Angeles to show him a “film school” video that Cruise had put together for his friends.

“Powell expected to be among a crowd – but no, it was just him alone, in an empty theater. For  six hours ,” GQ UK reports. “Watching Tom Cruise speak directly to the camera, breaking down everything he’s learned about filmmaking over the years. According to Powell, Cruise has no intention of putting it out into the public sphere.”

“He said, ‘This is just for my friends’,” Powell said. “[In the video Cruise] is like: ‘Do we all agree that this is what a camera is? This is the difference between a film camera and a digital camera…’ The funniest part is on flying. It was like he put together this entire flight school. So he would literally go, ‘Ok, this is what a plane is. Here’s how things fly. Here’s how air pressure works.’”

Powell is finally becoming one of Hollywood’s go-to leading men. He scored a box office hit last year with Sony’s rom-com “Anyone but You” and is front and center as a co-lead in this summer’s tentpole “Twisters.” It’s been a long time coming for the actor, who told GQ UK he screwed up auditions to play Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Han Solo in the “Star Wars” prequel “Solo.”

“I can joke about it now,” Powell said of his “Solo” casting process. “[But] I blew that final audition.”

Powell is no longer interested in superhero roles, although he did say that Batman would most likely be the only one worth his time.

“I was always a Batman guy,” Powell said. “I would have a wild take on Batman. It definitely would not be like a Matt Reeves tone – it’d probably be closer to [Michael] Keaton. 

According to Powell, Hollywood became a lot more favorable on him thanks to the success of actors like Chris Pratt in “Guardians of the Galaxy” and Chris Hemsworth in “Thor.”

“I really do feel like a lot of Hollywood is which actors are in vogue,” Powell said. “What everybody does is end up writing to that thing. All of a sudden, when Robert Pattinson pops off, they’re like, ‘We want a brooding Robert Pattinson type.’ You see it in every script.”

Once Pratt found blockbuster success with “Guardians,” Hollywood became more interested in goofier leading men and not just the brooding, self-serious type.

“These guys can take a punch and sell a joke,” Powell said of Pratt and Hemsworth. “I feel like that’s when I started catching friction on the sidewalk.”

Head over to GQ UK’s website to read Powell’s profile in its entirety.

More from Variety

Anamaria vartolomei talks ‘being maria,’ fighting for change within the entertainment industry at cannes, what warner bros. discovery and disney stand to gain from streaming bundle partnership, hungary production boom builds on ‘special film dna’ in magyar industry: ‘there is a huge tradition’ of cinema in the central european country, as ‘the apprentice’ seeks cannes sale, trump team sends cease and desist letter to block film’s release (exclusive), what netflix learned from ‘fallout’ success apparent in new synced-up games & unscripted strategy, palm dog award won by canine star of ‘dog on trial’ while ‘anatomy of a fall’ breakout messi looms large over cannes, more from our brands, ivan cornejo announces new album ‘mirada’, jessica chastain’s musically pedigreed n.y.c. apartment is up for grabs, ai video firm spiideo lands $20m venture capital investment, the best loofahs and body scrubbers, according to dermatologists, the morning show casts marion cotillard as a ‘savvy operator’ in season 4, verify it's you, please log in.

Tom Cruise’s Massive Impact on One MCU Superhero’s Career Shows He Never Really Needed Marvel Movies to be a Cinematic God

T om Cruise is one giant movie star who has influenced many actors who have worked with him and taught them various necessary skills to get on in the industry. Fans have heard many stories about his co-stars talking about how he is a people pleaser and is a big supporter of movies and filmmaking. The actor is also always ready to shower advice on anyone who needs any kind of guidance.

Cruise worked with Jeremy Renner in two Mission Impossible films. Renner experienced the dedication of Cruise and his prep for the death-defying action sequences. The Avengers star was inspired by Cruise in action filmmaking and learned a lot from him about taking care of one’s body to prepare for intense stuntwork.

Tom Cruise Had a Big Impact on Jeremy Renner On Action Filmmaking And Physical Fitness

No one is as daring in Hollywood as Tom Cruise when it comes to death-defying stunts and his insistence on practical action filmmaking. The actor has broken boundaries and shocked audiences with his amazing feats with the Top Gun and Mission Impossible franchises, and his co-stars over the years have nothing but great things to say about him.

Harrison Ford Lost the Opportunity of a Lifetime By Turning Down a $106 Million Cult-classic Film With Director Who Kicked Off Tom Cruise’s $4 Billion Franchise

His Mission Impossible co-star Jeremy Renner is also one the people in awe of Cruise and his incredible work ethic. The Avengers star has witnessed him prepare for his stints and how he trains his body to be able to execute those feats. In an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Renner stated that Cruise has been a major inspiration in how he approaches action in films.

Highest-Rated ‘Mad Max’ Film Starring Mel Gibson Has a Stunt That Can Rival Tom Cruise’s Ankle-Breaking Scene in ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’

Renner revealed that Cruise changed the game for him with regard to the physical aspect of action films. Cruise’s methods taught him his body awareness, how much his body would be able to do, and how to use it as an instrument. The Hawkeye actor carried his learnings to his action films in the MCU and The Bourne Legacy. Renner said,

Tom did a lot, especially with the action stuff. The way he approached the physical aspect of action film. So, he really changed the game for me there, but also the narrative. I learned my body awareness, I learned that this is an instrument, you had to train like a professional athlete, and had to treat my body as such I gotta take that for The Bourne Legacy and all the Avengers films, you gotta use that mindset…to really get into it and take it seriously. 

Cruise’s impact on Renner is one of many anecdotes about the actor being a huge support for his co-stars and other actors in the industry. Timothée Chalamet and Glen Powell have also talked about Cruise’s advice to them in navigating the industry. Cruise is a mentor to them and is ever-ready if anyone needs his help.

Jeremy Renner Was Planned For More Appearances In The Mission Impossible Franchise

Jeremy Renner played William Brandt in Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol and Rogue Nation . However, he surprisingly did not return for 2018’s Fallout. The films required him to be overseas for a big chunk of time, and he had to sacrifice it to be a family man and be with his daughter.

One Forgotten Clint Eastwood R-Rated Thriller Becomes Next Weapon in Tom Cruise’s Arsenal as He Looks to Film a Remake of “The Gnarly Movie”

In an interview with Collider , he revealed the shooting schedules didn’t work out, and he didn’t return. However, as his daughter has grown up now, he would be open to a return to the franchise as he loved working with Tom Cruise and the crew on those films. The actor said,

Yeah. I had to leave that. I was supposed to do more with them. I love those guys. I love Tom [Cruise] so much. We had so much fun, and I love that character a lot. It requires a lot of time away. It’s all in London. I had to go be a dad. It just wasn’t gonna work out then. Maybe now that my daughter is older that could happen. I’d always jump into a Mission: Impossible anytime and back into Brandt. It’s great.

Renner is back stronger than ever after his tragic snowplow accident last year and is excited to continue being an actor. It remains to be seen if he is called back into the franchise. The actor recently landed a role in the upcoming third film in the Knives Out franchise.

Russian disinformation group—known by Microsoft as Storm-1679—uses fake Tom Cruise Netflix documentary to disrupt Paris Olympics 

A pro-Russian propaganda effort is using artificial intelligence as part of a vast operation to suggest that violence is likely to occur at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, according to Microsoft Corp. findings  released Sunday .

One disinformation group used fake AI-generated audio to make it appear as if actor Tom Cruise had narrated a video titled  Olympics Has Fallen , modeled after the 2013 action movie  Olympus Has Fallen , researchers found. The video, which spread in the fall of 2023, presented itself as a Netflix Inc. documentary, including with the use of Netflix’s signature introduction that the company uses on all of its streaming videos. 

The video also included falsified endorsements from well-known media outlets including the New York Times and the BBC.

In fact, the influence campaign was the work of a pro-Russian propaganda group that Microsoft calls Storm-1679, the company said. The video represented one example of a rapidly growing pool of suspected Russian operators who are working now to denigrate the image of the Olympics and France, the Games’ host country, after the International Olympic Committee prohibited Russian athletes from competing under the country’s flag.

In addition to disinformation, hackers probably began first probing IT systems linked to the Games for weaknesses about a year ago and then began ramping up actual attacks 4 months before the Games to try and disrupt them, he says.

The aim of the Russian-affiliated groups appears to be to deter people from attending the games, according to the report. Microsoft’s researchers said they expect the activity will intensify ahead of the July kickoff, with the Russian groups adding additional languages and harnessing generative artificial intelligence to expand their reach. 

“We think this is the number one security threat to the Games,” said Dale Buckner, a 24-year US Army veteran and chief executive officer of Global Guardian. The potential impact of disinformation and hacking at the Olympics could lead to disruptions and unrest at the event, said Buckner, whose company provides security to Fortune 1000 executives and will do so in Paris.

“With AI now you’re going to have a level of disinformation we haven’t seen before.”

The IOC and Paris 2024 organizers didn’t immediately return a request for comment. A representative for the Kremlin didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Researchers determined that pro-Russian groups also impersonated France24, a French media outlet, in a video which falsely claimed that 24% of Olympic ticket-buyers had sought refunds amid fears of terrorism in Paris. Terrorism has haunted Paris in recent years, including a murder in 2023 and the 2015 Islamic State attacks in which 130 people died and hundreds more were injured. 

Safety concerns have arisen amid the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said in May, adding that the IOC has “full confidence” in France’s ability to keep the Games secure. Authorities are instituting  special anti-terrorism measures , enforcing increased background checks and  cutting the number  of spectators allowed to watch the opening ceremony along the Seine River.

The promotion of such misinformation comes amid growing scrutiny of Russian propaganda in Europe, where European Union officials have taken issue with the way that propaganda groups use the messaging app Telegram to broadcast their messaging. 

Such posts typically fail to generate much attention on social media. The extent to which such misinformation operations impact public perceptions remains an open question. Instead, national security officials and internet researchers have pointed to propaganda efforts as indicators of a country’s geopolitical interests.

Falsified local news outlets currently are a major focus of digital operatives. One disinformation campaign, known as Doppelganger,  recently has portrayed itself as German media outlets to inflame anti-immigration sentiment in that country, and sought to undercut support for Ukraine via English-language  posts,  according to the cyber firm Recorded Future Inc . Doppelganger also posed as an outlet called Reliable News Network to warn of potential violence at the Olympics, Microsoft found. 

Russian-based hackers have been implicated in an attack on the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea and a 2016 hack on the World Anti-Doping Agency that released the private medical information of several athletes. 

Correction: June 5, 2024: A previous version of this article contained a misspelled Dale Buckner .

Latest in Tech

Virgin Media is suing Irish scallop fishers for $870,000 for allegedly damaging an underwater cable 9 years ago

With over 1.7 million employees, the U.K.’s NHS has become a ‘rinse-and-repeat target’ for cybercriminals

As Shein’s IPO approaches, what will it mean for the ultra-cheap online retailer and for London?

Airbus CEO blames global trade wars on the U.S. rather than China, citing old subsidy spat with Boeing

Volkswagen to develop affordable EVs priced at $21,696—a ‘very good’ move says Germany’s Scholz

Most popular.

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch, 93, ties the knot for the 5th time, marrying the ex-wife of a billionaire energy investor and Russian politician

Traders who scooped up Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway shares at a massive $620,000 discount during glitch will have their deals canceled by the NYSE

Housing, work, love: Gen Zers and young millennials don’t stand a chance in the face of the modern quarter-life crisis

Elon Musk can’t just ask ‘his brother and his besties’ at Tesla to pay him $46 billion, NYC comptroller says

25-year-old Anthropic employee says she may only have 3 years left to work because AI will replace her

Fortune 500

• Cast & crew

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part Two

The 8th entry in the long running Mission Impossible franchise. The 8th entry in the long running Mission Impossible franchise. The 8th entry in the long running Mission Impossible franchise.

• Christopher McQuarrie
• Bruce Geller
• Erik Jendresen
• Hannah Waddingham
• Hayley Atwell

• The White Widow

• Secretary Of Defence Bernstein

• Jasper Briggs

• Luther Stickell

• Eugene Kittridge

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

New and Upcoming Action Movies & Series

More like this

Did you know

• Trivia Production on the 7th and 8th installments were planned to be filmed back to back. This changed after the 7th completed filming, due to Tom Cruise having to leave to do promotion for the Top Gun sequel, " Top Gun: Maverick (2022) ".
• Connections Follows Mission: Impossible (1996)
• Soundtracks The Mission: Impossible Theme Written by Lalo Schifrin
• When will Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part Two be released? Powered by Alexa
• May 23, 2025 (United States)
• United States
• United Kingdom
• Official Franchise Site
• Mission Impossible 8
• South Africa
• Paramount Pictures
• Skydance Media
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Dolby Atmos

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed.