Tom Cruise

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20 Feb 2024

Tom Cruise

Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, better known as Tom Cruise, is an American actor widely regarded as a Hollywood icon. His career spans several decades and includes a wide range of roles in various genres, from comedy to drama to action.
Cruise gained recognition in the early 1980s with standout performances in films like "Risky Business" (1983) and "Top Gun" (1986), establishing himself as a leading actor in Hollywood. He received critical acclaim for his roles in dramas such as "The Color of Money" (1986), "Rain Man" (1988), and "Born on the Fourth of July" (1989), the latter of which earned him a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination.

Throughout the 1990s, Cruise continued to impress audiences and critics with his versatility and talent, starring in commercially successful films like "A Few Good Men" (1992), "The Firm" (1993), "Interview with the Vampire" (1994), and "Jerry Maguire" (1996), for which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.
In the late 1990s and beyond, Cruise transitioned into action roles, showcasing his dedication to performing his own stunts in films like the "Mission: Impossible" series, "Minority Report" (2002), "The Last Samurai" (2003), and "Collateral" (2004). His commitment to his craft and willingness to take on challenging roles have solidified his status as one of the highest-grossing box-office stars of all time.

In addition to his acting career, Cruise has been recognized for his looks, being named People's Sexiest Man Alive in 1990 and receiving the honor of "Most Beautiful People" in 1997. He has been married to actresses Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman, and Katie Holmes, and has been an outspoken advocate for the Church of Scientology, crediting it with helping him overcome dyslexia.

Tom Cruise was born on July 3, 1962, in Syracuse, New York, to Thomas Cruise Mapother III, an electrical engineer, and Mary Lee Mapother, a special education teacher. He grew up with three sisters named Lee Anne, Marian, and Cass. Cruise's upbringing was marked by financial struggles and a turbulent relationship with his father, whom he described as a "merchant of chaos" and a "bully" who subjected him to physical abuse.

Cruise attended a total of 15 schools in 14 years, moving frequently due to his father's job and his parents' divorce. Part of his childhood was spent in Canada when his family relocated to Ottawa for his father's work. He first became involved in drama during his time in Ottawa, participating in school productions and displaying a talent for improvisation.
After his parents' divorce, Cruise moved back to the United States with his mother and sisters. He briefly attended a Catholic seminary in Cincinnati with aspirations of becoming a Franciscan priest but left after a year. He continued his education at Glen Ridge High School in New Jersey, where he played football and participated in theater productions.
Despite the challenges he faced growing up, Cruise found solace and success in acting. His early experiences with drama laid the foundation for his future career as one of Hollywood's most iconic actors.

At the age of 18, Tom Cruise moved to New York City with the support of his mother and stepfather to pursue an acting career. After initially working odd jobs like being a busboy, he headed to Los Angeles to audition for television roles. There, he signed with the renowned talent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and began his journey in the film industry.
Cruise's film debut came with a small role in the 1981 film "Endless Love," followed by a more significant supporting role as a military academy student in "Taps" later that year. His performance in "Taps" impressed director Harold Becker, leading to an expansion of his role.

In 1983, Cruise appeared in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Outsiders" as part of an ensemble cast. The same year, he gained widespread recognition for his roles in "All the Right Moves" and "Risky Business," the latter of which catapulted him to stardom. He also starred in Ridley Scott's "Legend" in 1985.
However, it was the 1986 film "Top Gun" that solidified Cruise's status as a superstar. The action-packed movie showcased his charisma and charm, earning him legions of fans worldwide.

Following the success of "Top Gun," Cruise continued to impress audiences and critics alike with his performances. In 1986, he starred alongside Paul Newman in Martin Scorsese's "The Color of Money," receiving praise for his chemistry with Newman. He then appeared in "Cocktail" in 1988, which was commercially successful but received mixed reviews.
Cruise's versatility as an actor was evident in 1988 when he starred in Barry Levinson's "Rain Man" alongside Dustin Hoffman. The film was a critical and commercial success, earning Cruise a nomination for the Razzie Award for Worst Actor but also a Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor.
In 1989, Cruise delivered a powerful performance as Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic in Oliver Stone's "Born on the Fourth of July." The role earned him widespread acclaim, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama and his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
Throughout the late 1980s, Tom Cruise solidified his status as one of Hollywood's leading actors, showcasing his talent and versatility across various genres.

In the early 1990s, Tom Cruise continued his successful career with a string of notable films. "Days of Thunder" (1990) and "Far and Away" (1992), both featuring his then-wife Nicole Kidman as his love interest, showcased Cruise's versatility in different genres. These films were followed by the legal thriller "The Firm," which was both a critical and commercial success.
In 1994, Cruise starred in Neil Jordan's "Interview with the Vampire" alongside Brad Pitt, Antonio Banderas, and Christian Slater. Based on Anne Rice's best-selling novel, the gothic drama/horror film received positive reviews, with Cruise's performance as the vampire Lestat earning particular praise. Despite initial criticism from Rice about Cruise's casting, she later publicly praised his performance after seeing the film.

The following year, Cruise took on the iconic role of superspy Ethan Hunt in the reboot of "Mission: Impossible," which he also produced. Directed by Brian De Palma, the film was a box office success, though it received some criticism regarding deviations from the original television series. However, Cruise's performance was widely acclaimed, with critics praising his portrayal of the charismatic and action-oriented protagonist.
In 1996, Cruise starred in Cameron Crowe's sports drama "Jerry Maguire," playing a sports agent in search of love. The film was a massive financial success and earned Cruise a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, as well as his second Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

In 1999, Cruise reunited with Kidman in Stanley Kubrick's erotic and psychological drama "Eyes Wide Shut." Despite mixed reviews, Cruise's performance received praise for his intense and committed portrayal. The same year, he took on a rare supporting role as a motivational speaker in Paul Thomas Anderson's "Magnolia." Cruise's performance in "Magnolia" garnered widespread acclaim, earning him another Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Throughout the 1990s, Tom Cruise continued to demonstrate his versatility as an actor and his ability to deliver compelling performances across various genres, solidifying his reputation as one of Hollywood's most talented and bankable stars.