A Daredevil
When Cruise came on “Top Gear” in 2010, he claimed the quickest celebrity lap on the scoreboard and nearly flipped his car! Ben Collins, a racecar driver, voted Cruise his favorite contestant, calling his time on the show the “highlight of his career.” On and off-screen, it appears that the actor is surrounded by action, energy, and excitement.
A Daredevil
A Mixed Bag
Tom Cruise’s ancestors are of Irish, German, and English descent. His 840-year-old Irish ancestry includes a distinguished history of knights, lords, and rebels in the Cruise family line. However, he was unable to channel his roots when he attempted an Irish accent in the film “Far and Away,” which made multiple lists of the Worst Accents in Films.
A Mixed Bag
From Priest To Actor
Cruise grew born into a devout Catholic family and attended the Franciscan Seminary as a teen before breaking into the spotlight. But, while on his way to becoming a priest, Cruise decided to pursue acting instead.
From Priest To Actor
A Difficult Start
Cruise’s upbringing was anything from pleasant. He was raised in near-poverty by an aggressive father who frequently moved the family. Cruise was very undersized for his age and was frequently bullied by other children. Cruise overcome his obstacles, and today he draws strength and inspiration from his past, as well as maintaining a close relationship with his mother.
A Difficult Start
An International Star
Cruise is unquestionably committed to his roles. Cruise studied Japanese for three months for his film “The Last Samurai,” in order to accurately deliver some of his lines in Japanese. He has visited Japan so frequently that the country has given him his own “Tom Cruise Day,” which is observed on October 10th.
An International Star
Risky Business
In terms of dedication to his parts, Cruise reportedly refuses to sign on to a film unless the producers let him to perform his stunts. He dangled over the edge of a plane in flight and held his breath for nearly six minutes underwater in “Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation,” While it is riskier for actors to perform stunts (as compared to a dedicated stuntman), he still performs his own stunts, including the upcoming “Mission Impossible 7.”
Risky Business
An Unexpected Turn
So, what prompted a seminary student to pursue a career as an actor? Cruise’s interest in acting was sparked by a rumored knee injury. After being forced to abandon his school’s wrestling team due to a knee injury, Cruise turned to acting in his spare time. He was soon bitten by the acting bug, landing his breakthrough role as Billy in “Endless Love.” As they say, the rest is history.
An Unexpected Turn
A Thousand Watt Smile
Cruise, who did his own stunts before becoming an actor, injured his front teeth as a child while playing hockey and was so self-conscious about them that he avoided photo shoots. He finally decided to have adult braces to correct his grin in 2002, and he wore them for several months, only taking them off when filming. He has also reportedly undergone a number of cosmetic dentistry treatments in order to improve his smile. Along with his passionate, captivating nature, the actor’s thousand-watt smile has become one of his defining attributes.
A Thousand Watt Smile
Almost Iron Man
It may come as a surprise, but Cruise was committed to Marvel’s “Iron Man” as both an actor and producer until opting out in 2004. “As it was lining up, it just didn’t feel like it was going to work,” he subsequently remarked. Despite his decision to follow his instincts, given the popularity of the “Iron Man” movie, Cruise may now ponder what could have been.
Almost Iron Man
Longtime Friends
Genuine friendships can be difficult to find in Hollywood. Before filming “The Outsiders,” Tom Cruise and co-star Emilio Estevez were friends who auditioned for the role together. They attended the same high school in Santa Monica, and Estevez later served as Cruise’s best man in his first marriage to Mimi Rogers.
Longtime Friends
What’s Wrong with 33?
Tom Cruise has been married three times, and each of his wives—Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman, and Katie Holmes—died when he was 33. It’s unknown why they all left his life after the age of 33, but hopefully Cruise’s next love will endure much longer!
What’s Wrong With 33
Born To Ride
Tom Cruise was already preparing to be an action star and thrill seeker at a young age. He spent his funds on a Yamaha motorcycle when he was 10 years old, which he soon crashed between two automobiles! However, a mishap did not discourage Cruise, who has ridden motorcycles in several films during his career.
Born To Ride
A Historical Figure
Cruise portrayed Colonel von Stauffenberg in the World War II drama “Valkyrie,” who once attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler. It was later stated that Cruise took the role in the film because he saw an image of the real-life Colonel and believed they looked a lot alike. The parallels in appearance captivated Cruise, who thought assuming the job would be a wonderful career move.
A Historical Figure
A Cure
Tom Cruise struggled with dyslexia as a child and claimed to be functionally illiterate until he learned to read as an adult using Hubbard’s Study Technology learning method. Cruise is a devout Scientologist who says that the Church of Scientology’s study classes helped him overcome dyslexia. Going from dyslexic to a huge movie star is undeniably a triumph, as Cruise makes his money by reading scripts!
A Cure
Lucky Number Five
Tom Cruise was the first actor to feature in five consecutive films that made more than $100 million, which is unheard of for any performer. “A Few Good Men,” “The Firm,” “Interview with a Vampire,” “Mission: Impossible,” and “Jerry Maguire.” were the flicks. All of these films benefited Cruise’s career and propelled him to legendary status.
Lucky Number Five
A Tale Of Two Awards
In 1988, Tom Cruise became the first actor to appear in both the Oscar-winning Best Picture and the Razzie Award-winning Worst Picture. The Best Picture Oscar that year went to “Rain Man,” which is still a classic film today, while the Razzie Awards went to his film, “Cocktail,” which was named the worst of the year. Even the biggest Hollywood celebs have their ups and downs!
A Tale Of Two Awards
Where’s Tom?
While many celebrities’ personalities have been turned into dolls or action figures, Cruise has refused to lend his appearance to toys and has never even starred in a video game. His character in the video game “Minority Report” was intended to look so dissimilar to him that the figure was even rendered with blond hair.
Where’s Tom
The Love Seat
Despite his many films, Tom Cruise is best known for his couch-jumping act on the Oprah Winfrey show. Cruise was so ecstatic about his then-relationship with Katie Holmes that he decided to announce his love on set by leaping up and down on Oprah’s couch. The bizarre performance was named the “#1 Most Surprising Moment on TV” in 2005 and is still remembered today.
The Love Seat
A Comedian
Cruise’s versatility as a performer demonstrated that he is also a successful humorous actor. He helped shape his part as Les Grossman in “Tropic Thunder.” He even suggested physical characteristics of the character to enhance the humour.
A Comedian
Just Dance
Improv requires extra talent as an actor and isn’t for everyone, but Tom demonstrated that he has what it takes to add to a scene outside of the script’s boundaries. Cruise’s famed dancing steps in “Risky Business,” the film that showcased his abilities as a young actor, were entirely improvised yet created an unforgettable sequence.
Just Dance
Male Model Of The Year?
In 1994, Cruise was honored with the Hasty Pudding Club’s “Man of the Year” award at Harvard. The club is notorious for a play that features Harvard men in drag, and Cruise, ever the entertainer, presented the award while wearing a bra and heels. This man understands how to make a statement.
Male Model Of The Year?
Working Hard
To get their big break, many performers have to labor outside of the entertainment world, and Tom was no exception. While waiting for his big break in Hollywood, he supported himself by working odd jobs like a busboy and a porter. Today, it’s evident that Cruise’s hard work and perseverance behind the scenes paid off.
Working Hard
Soldier On
Overall, Tom has avoided being typecast, yet he has played a soldier nine times on screen. The first time was in the 1981 film “Taps” and it has since appeared in films such as “Top Gun,” “The Last Samurai,” and many others. “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back.” is his most recent military role.
Soldier On
Waiting To Win
To far, nine of Cruise’s co-stars have gotten Academy Award nominations for their work with him, while four of his films have been nominated for Best Picture (with one win). Surprisingly, despite the success of his co-stars and films, Cruise has never received an Academy Award. Hopefully, this will change for the Hollywood veteran shortly.
Waiting To Win
Monkeying Around
Tom has earned more creative flexibility in his parts after working as an actor for so long. When he played Stacee Jaxx in “Rock of Ages,” he requested a monkey sidekick from director Adam Shankman. After viewing the baboon’s audition, Cruise decided on the moniker “Hey Man” for the ape’s role. Though it was an unusual request, it undoubtedly enhanced the character’s flamboyance and excitement.
Monkeying Around
A Special Date
Filmmakers sometimes have fun inserting phrases or props with hidden meanings into their films. The audience in the film “Rain Man,” can see the number 3762 on the car’s windscreen. The numbers represent Cruise’s birth date: July 3, 1962.
A Special Date
Stepping Into the Spotlight
Cruise was born to be in the spotlight, especially at such a young age. A high school instructor pushed him to participate in the school performance of “Guys and Dolls.” when he was younger. After landing the major part of Nathan Detroit, Cruise recognized that being on stage was where he wanted to be.
Stepping Into The Spotlight
A Goal Setter And A Go-Getter
Pursuing a career as an actor can be difficult and impossible for some, but Cruise had a plan and a timeframe in place. He had only $500 to his name when he began his acting career in New York. He allowed himself ten years to flourish as an actor in order to strike a balance between pursuing his aspirations and being practical. Fortunately for Cruise, his diligence, tenacity, and preparation paid off.
A Goal Setter And A Go Getter
A Familiar Face
Disney is known for drawing inspiration from a variety of sources, and “Aladdin” was no exception. Animators stated that they utilized Cruise’s face as a model for Aladdin’s primary character. Given Aladdin’s dynamic, action-loving personality, it was a natural option to model him after Cruise.
A Familiar Face
Inspiration In The Skies
Cruise has demonstrated an adventurous attitude in his work, through his choices, and in his personal life. In 1994, motivated by his experiences while filming “Top Gun,” he obtained his pilot’s license. Surprisingly, he holds both a commercial and a private license and even flies his own private jets.
Inspiration In The Skies
A Real Tough Guy
In 2017, while filming “Mission: Impossible 6” Cruise attempted to leap from rigging onto a structure. But he slipped on the landing and broke his ankle! He had to take seven weeks off from filming to properly heal, but when he returned, he was ready to take on the stunts alone.
A Real Tough Guy
Dedication
Actors normally devote a significant amount of time to their parts, learning their lines and getting to know their characters, but Cruise took preparation to a whole other level. He practiced for five hours every day for his role in “Rock of Ages,”! He acknowledged that the job was scary because it was his first musical and needed dancing and singing. But he also saw the film as a personal challenge to overcome, and he even sang in it, much to the delight of fans.
Dedication
Humble Beginnings
Tom Cruise has spoken openly about growing up poor, which resulted in other difficulties in his upbringing. But Cruise is no longer a victim of poverty. Tom is estimated to be worth $570 million in 2020. As a child, he could never have anticipated the life he had for himself as a great actor.
Humble Beginnings
A Heroic Heart
Tom Cruise may perform all of his stunts on set, but did you know he has a large heart behind all of that action? He watched a woman being hit by a car in 1996 and escorted her to the hospital. When he found out she didn’t have insurance, he opted to pay her $7,000 hospital bill in full. That’s a genuine action hero.
A Heroic Heart
Edge Of Disaster
During the filming of “The Last Samurai,” Cruise narrowly avoided serious harm (or death) when a sword was swung within an inch of his neck! The close incident was caused by a malfunctioning safety machine. Hiroyuki Sanada, Cruise’s co-star, was able to prevent the blade from striking the Hollywood star’s neck. What a spontaneous moment!
Edge Of Disaster
Front And Center
In the film, “Taps,” Cruise was originally only scheduled to portray a minor part. Nonetheless, director Harold Becker was so impressed with Cruise’s performance as a military student during rehearsals that he offered him the role of David Shawn. This shift in casting mirrored the actor’s ability to stand out on set and helped him propel his career forward.
Front And Center
Speed Demon
Tom Cruise developed his love for racing in “Days of Thunder,” but his instructor, Roger French, stated that he neglected correct technique and safety considerations and instead drove exceedingly fast. His reckless driving earned him the moniker “See Cruise Crash Again.” Given that information, we can only hope he never races professionally.
Speed Demon
Made In The Shades
In the film “Risky Business,” Cruise’s character is frequently seen wearing Ray-Bans. The name was so well-known that the product placement was a huge success for the sunglasses company. Indeed, when “Risky Business” was released in 1983, the specific design of Ray-Ban sunglasses worn by Cruise raised the brand’s sales by 40%.
Made In The Shades
A Big Apology
In the film adaption of “Interview with a Vampire.” Cruise played the vampire Lestat. Unfortunately, the author was not pleased with Cruise’s casting. After seeing the film, writer Anne Rice had to eat her words after publicly criticizing the actor who was cast in the part. She was so impressed with his performance that she purchased a two-page ad in “Daily Variety” to apologize to Cruise.
A Big Apology
The Dark Side
Universal, like Marvel and DC, has been building its “The Dark Universe” mini-franchise, which will feature historical villains such as Frankenstein’s monster, the Wolf Man, Dracula, and The Invisible Man. When Cruise starred in “The Mummy.” in 2017, he became a member of the franchise as well.
The Dark Side
He Has Moves
Long before learning the choreography for “Rock of Ages,” Tom Cruise practiced his moves on the dance floor. He believed that boys who could dance might attract girls, so he taught himself to dance by memorizing routines from “Soul Train.” Though it’s unclear whether it worked on the girls, it did benefit him later in his acting career.
He Has Moves
Bona Fide Booty
In the film “Valkyrie” Cruise had a fairly revealing moment, which piqued the interest of one Twitter user, who speculated that Cruise was wearing a prosthetic buttock. The post quickly went viral, but the actor refuted the claim, writing, “I do my own mooning.” Fans are still divided on whether the butt was genuine.
Bona Fide Booty
It Runs In The Family
Tom was raised by three sisters, one of whom (Lee Anne) worked as his publicist in 2004. Previously, he was represented by the well-known Pat Kingsley. Unfortunately, Lee Anne was fired from her post as publicist after only one year, but the two appear to be on excellent terms.
It Runs In The Family
Adventuring
Tom enjoys scuba diving and skydiving in addition to obtaining his pilot’s license and racing. Is there any physical activity that the star will not engage in? Along with engaging in thrilling activities, these outdoor pursuits keep the action actor fit and ready for his next part.
Adventuring
Behind The Scientology
Despite growing up Catholic, Cruise is now a devout Scientologist. Mimi Rogers, his first wife, was the one who brought him to the religion. Since his debut, Cruise has become open about his Scientology beliefs, devoting much of his life to its rituals. David Miscavige, the leader of the Church of Scientology, was even the best man during his wedding to Katie Holmes in 2006.
Behind The Scientology
Almost A Mobster
One part Cruise has never played is a gangster, but he came very close. Following the “Godfather” flicks, “Goodfellas” is one of the most well-known mafia pictures, and any actor would have jumped at the chance to work with filmmaker Martin Scorcese. Cruise was almost cast as the iconic film’s lead, Henry Hill, but lost out to Ray Liotta.
Almost A Mobster
It Takes One To Know One
Though many actors work together and are familiar with one another, it is always interesting to observe which celebs form long-lasting friendships. Tom has maintained friendships with Will Smith, David Beckham, Adam Sandler, Jamie Foxx, and Stephen Spielberg.
It Takes One To Know One
A Family Man
Tom has two adopted children, Connor and Isabella, with ex-wife Nicole Kidman, in addition to his biological daughter, Suri, with ex-wife Katie Holmes. After a couple of miscarriages, the couple decided to adopt when they married. Connor and Isabella were apparently born into Church of Scientology families but were unable to remain with their birth relatives. The two children are now young adults who remain close to their father.
A Family Man
A Ladies’ Man?
Though Cruise has been married three times and his current relationship status is unknown, he has dated a number of women before to and between his marriages. To name a few, he has been associated to Melissa Gilbert, Sofia Vergara, Penelope Cruz, and Heather Locklear. He also appears to have a taste for older ladies, and he dated Cher briefly.
A Ladies’ Man
A Friend Of His Fans
The most endearing aspect of Tom Cruise is that he appears to really enjoy meeting and connecting with his admirers. He has made a point of greeting fans individually at premieres and taking time for autographs and photos. When a fan was unable to attend an event to see the actor, he called her to say hi. With all of the privileges that come with being a celebrity, Cruise has recognized that being kind, sincere, and approachable means far more to fans than any film he has done. That is a lasting legacy.
A Friend Of His Fans
Acting Stays In The Family
Did you know that Cruise’s father is also an actor? No, we’re not referring to his ex-wives, Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman, and Katie Holmes, all of whom are actors. We’re actually referring to his cousins. Cruise has three cousins: William Mapother, Katherine Mapother, and Amy Mapother. William has been on shows such as “Lost” and “The Mentalist.”
Acting Stays In The Family
Historic Win
Tom has seen and earned a variety of titles over his career. Some might argue that he holds practically every possible title. Let us add one more to the list. The actor was named one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in Film History by Empire magazine. Not just in a certain year or decade, but throughout film history. Can you believe it?
Historic Win
A Change Of Heart
When Tom was working on the film “The Color of Money” in 1986, he met a man who transformed his life. Paul Newman, his co-star, was that man. The politically active Newman and the ignorant Cruise had numerous political discussions. This, in turn, influenced Tom’s views on some issues, as well as the types of films he chose to star in. In 1989, Cruise appeared in “Born on the Fourth of July” a film with a strong anti-war message.
A Change Of Heart
A Risk That Paid Off
Those who follow Cruise’s career are aware that he received approximately $75 million for his performance in “Mission: Impossible II” in 2000. What few people realize is that he took a significant risk in order to make those millions. He opted to decline any form of advance pay. Instead, he requested a 30% cut of the film’s gross income. According to popular belief, the larger the risk, the higher the pay.
A Risk That Paid Off
Missing The Matrix
“The Matrix” released in 1999, was a cultural phenomenon unlike any other. The film is still talked about and remembered as a very impactful film to this day. We all know that Keanu Reeves played the starring role, but few people realize that Tom Cruise was considered for the role of Neo. What else can we say? Tom has had other career-defining events, so you can’t have it all.
Missing The Matrix
Cruz & Cruise
Despite the fact that the two never married, Cruise had a high-profile relationship with his “Vanilla Sky” co-star, Penélope Cruz. Cruise was still married to Kidman when the two met. Cruz and Cruise fell in love and dated from 2001 to 2004. The relationship ended due to the strains of Tom’s faith as well as his ex-wife and children, who did not get along with Penélope.
Cruz & Cruise
The 2002 Academy Awards
Cruise was chosen to open the Academy Awards in 2002. He did his job well enough, but after he was finished, he left. Why? Cruise, like any other father, needed to be with his children. It turns out that the day of the Academy Awards was also Tom’s turn to look after the kids. He, like the rest of us, watched the rest of the event on TV.
The 2002 Academy Awards
All About His Parents
With such a brilliant career and three actor cousins, you’d assume Cruise was pushed to become an actor by something in his DNA. But his parents’ jobs were as remote from that as one could imagine. His father, Thomas Mapother III, was an electrical engineer who was born in 1934. His mother, Mary Lee Pfeiffer, was a special education teacher who was born in 1936.
All About His Parents
No Action For Tom
If you think about some of your favorite celebrities, especially those who are part of huge franchises, you’ll probably recall seeing their visage in a video game. Perhaps you even have an action figure of them. However, there is a very low possibility that you possess anything that resembles Cruise or have ever seen his face in a video game. Why is this the case? It’s because he refuses to allow his image to be exploited in video games or action figurines!
No Action For Tom
The Playhouse
If you’ve ever wondered what made Tom the brilliant performer that he is, there’s a good chance we have the answer. In New York City, Cruise studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse. While there, he had the privilege of learning from some of the best, including the famed Sanford Meisner and acclaimed acting coach Phil Gushee.
The Playhouse