Tom Cruise is an American actor and producer born on July 3, 1962, in the United States. Many people in Hollywood look up to him. Tom has won lots of awards for his work, like a special award called the Honorary Palme d’Or and three Golden Globe Awards. He’s also been nominated for the big movie award, the Academy Award, four times.
Tom’s movies have made a ton of money—over $4 billion in the U.S. and over $11.5 billion worldwide! That makes him one of the most successful actors ever. And he gets paid a lot for his work, always ranking among the highest-paid actors in the world.
He started acting in the early 1980s and became famous for movies like Risky Business and Top Gun. Critics loved him in serious movies like “The Color of Money,” “Rain Man,” and “Born on the Fourth of July.” He even won a Golden Globe for one of those roles.
In the 1990s, Tom was the star of big hits like “A Few Good Men,” “The Firm,” and “Jerry Maguire.” He won more awards for his work in Jerry Maguire and Magnolia.
Since then, Tom has become known for his action movies, where he often does his dangerous stunts. You’ve probably seen him as Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible movies. He’s been in a bunch of other action films too, like Minority Report and War of the Worlds.
Tom’s personal life has also been in the spotlight. He’s been named People’s Sexiest Man Alive and one of the Most Beautiful People. He’s been married to three actresses—Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman, and Katie Holmes. He has kids from his marriage to Nicole Kidman and a daughter with Katie Holmes.
Tom Cruise is also known for being a big supporter of the Church of Scientology, which he says helped him overcome dyslexia, a learning disorder.
| Full Name | Thomas Cruise Mapother IV |
| Date of Birth | July 3, 1962 |
| Place of Birth | Syracuse, New York, United States |
| Occupation | Actor, Producer |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Spouse | Katie Holmes (m. 2006–2012), Nicole Kidman (m. 1990–2001), Mimi Rogers (m. 1987–1990) |
| Children | Suri Cruise, Connor Cruise, Isabella Jane Cruise |
| Net Worth | $600 million |
Tom Cruise’s Early Life and Education
Tom Cruise was born on July 3, 1962, in Syracuse, New York. His dad, Thomas Cruise Mapother III was an electrical engineer, and his mom, Mary Lee was a special education teacher. They were both from Louisville, Kentucky, and had a mix of English, German, and Irish ancestry. Tom has three sisters named Lee Anne, Marian, and Cass. He also has a cousin, William Mapother, who’s an actor and has been in movies with Tom.
Tom’s childhood wasn’t easy. His family struggled with money, and his dad wasn’t very nice. Tom once said his dad was like a “bully” and “coward” who would be nice one moment and then mean the next.
Tom went to many different schools—15 in total—while growing up. He even lived in Canada for a while when his dad got a job there. He first got into acting in fourth grade when he and some other boys put on a play at school. His mom eventually left his dad and remarried. Tom tried attending a Catholic school for a bit, thinking he might want to be a priest, but that didn’t last long.
In high school, Tom played football but got kicked off the team for drinking beer before a game. Despite that setback, he starred in the school play and graduated in 1980 from Glen Ridge High School in New Jersey.
Career
Tom Cruise began his acting journey at 18 when he moved from his hometown with his family’s support to New York City. Starting as a busboy he later headed to Los Angeles to pursue TV roles. His big break came when he signed with CAA and started appearing in movies.
His film career kicked off with small roles in “Endless Love” and a standout part in “Taps” the same year. Director Harold Becker expanded Cruise’s role due to his impressive performance. In 1983, Cruise joined the cast of Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Outsiders” followed by starring roles in “All the Right Moves” and “Risky Business” which catapulted him to fame. He also starred in Ridley Scott’s “Legend” in 1985.
By 1986, Tom Cruise solidified his superstar status with “Top Gun.” He continued with notable roles in “The Color of Money” alongside Paul Newman’s “Cocktail” and “Rain Man” where he starred alongside Dustin Hoffman and won acclaim despite mixed reviews.
In 1989, Cruise delivered a powerful performance as Vietnam vet Ron Kovic in “Born on the Fourth of July” earning him his first Academy Award nomination. He followed this success with films like “Days of Thunder,” “Far and Away,” and “The Firm”.
In 1994, Tom Cruise starred in “Interview with the Vampire” alongside Brad Pitt and Antonio Banderas receiving praise for his portrayal. Two years later he launched the “Mission: Impossible” franchise combining his role as Ethan Hunt with producing duties. The film was a commercial success setting a trend for sequels.
Cruise’s versatility shone in 1996’s “Jerry Maguire” where he played a sports agent and in Stanley Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut” opposite Nicole Kidman. His performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Magnolia” earned him more accolades showcasing his range as an actor.
Throughout his career, Tom Cruise has evolved from a promising young actor to a versatile superstar consistently delivering memorable performances across various genres.
In 2000, Tom Cruise returned as Ethan Hunt in “Mission: Impossible 2” directed by John Woo. The movie was a big hit making $547 million worldwide although critics had mixed feelings about it. Cruise won an MTV Movie Award for his role.
After that Cruise starred in several successful films. In 2001 he was in the thriller “Vanilla Sky” with Cameron Diaz and Penélope Cruz. Then in 2002, he played in “Minority Report” a sci-fi action film directed by Steven Spielberg.
In 2003, Tom Cruise was in “The Last Samurai” earning a Golden Globe nomination. He also impressed critics in 2004’s “Collateral” as Vincent. In 2005, he reunited with Spielberg for “War of the Worlds” a hit based on H.G. Wells’ novel.
In 2006, Cruise returned as Ethan Hunt in “Mission: Impossible III” which did better with critics than the earlier films. He took a supporting role in 2007’s “Lions for Lambs” and a memorable turn in 2008’s “Tropic Thunder” which got him a Golden Globe nomination.
Cruise starred in “Valkyrie” in 2008 and in 2010 he appeared in “Knight and Day” with Cameron Diaz. He returned as Ethan Hunt in “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” in 2011 which was a huge success.
Cruise received a humanitarian award in 2011 and starred in “Rock of Ages” in 2012 which wasn’t as successful. He played Jack Reacher in “One Shot” and starred in “Oblivion” in 2013. In 2014, he was in “Edge of Tomorrow” another hit.
In 2015, Tom Cruise returned as Ethan Hunt in “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” which he also produced. He starred in “The Mummy” in 2017 followed by “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” in 2018 his biggest commercial success at the time.
Cruise announced plans in 2020 to film in space and 2021 returned to his Golden Globe Awards due to controversy surrounding the HFPA. In 2022 he starred in “Top Gun: Maverick” earning critical praise and becoming his highest-grossing film.
In 2023, Cruise returned as Ethan Hunt in “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning” which critics liked but faced tough competition at the box office. Looking ahead Cruise will star in a new film directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu marking his return to Warner Bros. Pictures after 10 years.
In February 2024, it was announced that Cruise would be in a new movie directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. This is his first time working with Warner Bros. Pictures in a decade.
Net Worth
Tom Cruise has an estimated net worth of $600 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The main source of Tom Cruise’s net worth comes primarily from his successful career as an actor and producer in Hollywood.
He has starred in numerous blockbuster films that have performed well at the box office worldwide, earning him substantial salaries and bonuses. Cruise is known for his dedication to his craft, often performing his own stunts, which adds to his appeal and earnings.
Additionally, he has been involved in producing several of his films through his production company, which allows him to earn not only as an actor but also as a key player behind the scenes. Combined with endorsements and other business ventures, Tom Cruise has built a significant net worth estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Personal Life
Tom Cruise divides his time between homes in Beverly Hills California; Clearwater Florida; and the South of England where he’s lived in places like Central London Dulwich East Grinstead and Biggin Hill.
In the early to mid-1980s Cruise dated Melissa Gilbert, Rebecca De Mornay, Patti Scialfa, and Cher.
Tom Cruise married actress Mimi Rogers on May 9, 1987, but they divorced on February 4, 1990. Rogers who grew up in Scientology met Cruise when he became her client. In a 1993 interview, Rogers mentioned Cruise’s consideration of becoming a monk as a factor in their split. She later clarified her comments.
Cruise met his second wife Nicole Kidman on the set of their movie Days of Thunder in 1990. They adopted two children Isabella Jane and Connor Antony. They separated in 2001 and finalized their divorce later that year with Cruise citing irreconcilable differences. Kidman clarified misinformation about a reported miscarriage early in their marriage.
Following his split from Kidman Cruise dated Penélope Cruz his co-star in Vanilla Sky until 2004. Reports suggested Scientology leaders arranged “auditions” for potential partners resulting in a brief relationship with Nazanin Boniadi who later left Scientology amid controversy.
Tom Cruise began dating Katie Holmes in 2005 famously declaring his love for her on The Oprah Winfrey Show. They had a daughter named Suri and were married in 2006 in a ceremony at Odescalchi Castle in Italy. They divorced in 2012 and it was speculated that Scientology played a role in their separation.
Cruise has been involved in several legal battles over the years including lawsuits against tabloids and individuals making false claims about him as well as disputes over domain names and privacy issues.
Cruise became a Scientologist in 1986 influenced by his first wife Mimi Rogers. He has been vocal about his beliefs in Scientology crediting it with helping him overcome dyslexia. Cruise’s involvement in the organization has been controversial with incidents like promoting controversial therapies and attempting to convert other celebrities to Scientology.
Ex-Scientologist Paul Haggis says Tom Cruise tried to get other celebs like James Packer, the Beckhams, Jada Pinkett, Will Smith, and Steven Spielberg into Scientology. Since 2008, Cruise has avoided questions about Scientology in interviews.
He has also been active in lobbying efforts to gain recognition for Scientology as a religion in various countries and promoting its educational methods in the United States.
Controversies
In January 2004, Tom Cruise sparked controversy by saying he believed psychiatry should be banned. He also criticized actress Brooke Shields in 2005 for using Paxil an antidepressant to recover from postpartum depression. Cruise claimed there’s no such thing as a chemical imbalance and that psychiatry isn’t based on real science. Shields fired back arguing that women dealing with postpartum depression should choose their treatments.
Medical experts criticized Cruise for reinforcing the stigma around mental illness which can deter people from seeking help. Cruise later apologized to Shields for his remarks. His views on psychiatry stem from his affiliation with Scientology which opposes mainstream psychiatric practices and drugs.
Cruise’s comments have also reportedly strained his relationships including with director Steven Spielberg who was upset when Scientologists protested outside a doctor’s office Spielberg had recommended. These controversies have been highlighted in media and documentaries like “Going Clear” which delve into Cruise’s role within Scientology and its practices including allegations about his personal life and the treatment of Scientology members.
Cruise known for avoiding alcohol remains a polarizing figure due to his outspoken views on mental health and Scientology’s beliefs.
Awards
Back in 2006, Tom Cruise was a big deal in Hollywood. He was ranked as the most powerful actor by Premiere magazine and Forbes said he was the most powerful celebrity in the world. People thought he could make any movie successful, even if it wasn’t that great.
Japan even declared a special day just for him on October 10, 2006, calling it “Tom Cruise Day” because he liked Japan.
A famous movie critic, Roger Ebert noticed that a lot of Tom Cruise’s movies from the 1980s were kinda similar. He even gave it a nickname: the “Tom Cruise Picture”. He said these movies had nine main things in common like the main character being played by Cruise, a mentor character, a strong woman, and so on. Even some of Cruise’s later movies, like “A Few Good Men” and “The Last Samurai,” followed this formula.
There’s this website called Widescreenings that talks about how Cruise’s characters in different movies were different. They compared his character in “A Few Good Men” to his character in “Top Gun.” In “A Few Good Men,” Cruise’s character needed to let go and trust himself more, while in Top Gun, he needed to be more disciplined.
Outside of acting, Tom Cruise is also a pilot. He got a cool award in 2010 for his contributions to aviation. He even owns a P-51 Mustang plane along with some other aircraft.
