Tom Cruise has undergone an amazing transformation from a clumsy kid in trouble at school to one of the most famous faces on the planet. His 40 years in Hollywood spawned countless slogans ("Show me money!"). He went on to helm one of the most popular film series ("Mission: Impossible"), and his net worth was estimated at $600 million. While it may seem like he became a big-name actor overnight, that's not the case. Tom Cruise faces the hardships of childhood – not all smooth sailing even as an adult. What sets the star apart is a clear vision of his future. "I've wanted to make movies since I was 4 years old," Tom Cruise told people. He pointed out, "In order to be able to entertain the audience, this is my dream. I am here. Read on to learn about Tom Cruise's biggest twist on becoming one of Hollywood's true superstars.
Tom Cruise has had several hardships growing up
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Thomas Cruise Mapother IV was born on July 3, 1962 in Syracuse, New York, and had a difficult start to life. Syracuse.com noted that the family moved frequently, and he spent time in Ontario, Ohio and New Jersey before he graduated from high school. His mother, Mary Lee, eventually left his electrical engineer father, whose parents divorced When Tom Cruise was 12. Cruise's father didn't have a special place in his heart, and the two may have been separated for a decade when the elder Mapuser died in 1984. "He's a bully and a coward — if something goes wrong, they'll kick you," the star told Parade (by character). "It's a great lesson in my life, how he got you into trouble, made you feel safe, and then, bang!" After the separation, the family struggled to make ends meet, and the young Cruise, who did everything he could to support his mother and three siblings, told Playboy (via CNBC): "I've had paid jobs since I was about 8 years old – mowing grass, rake leaves, paper routes, selling Easter cards and Christmas cards.
Tom Cruise once described himself as "a functional illiterate"
According to the International Dyslexia Association, at the age of 7, Tom Cruise was diagnosed with dyslexia, a neurobiological disorder that "characterizes difficulty in accurate and/or fluent word recognition and poor spelling and decoding skills". As a student, he would dictate his homework to his mother, who would write it out for him so he could copy it in his own hands. Cruise told People magazine, "I'll try to focus on what I'm reading, and then I'll read to the end of the page with little memory of anything I've read." I would become dazed, feeling anxious, nervous, bored, depressed, stupid. I'll be angry. When I study, my legs actually hurt. Regarding his high school days, he described himself as a "functional illiterate." Even after high school, he had problems, and as a young actor he would ask questions about his role during auditions and then mostly improvised conversations. Cruise said he has overcome his disability thanks to Scientology's "learning technology" and is also a founding board member of the Hollywood Education and Literacy Program (H.E.L.P.), which aims to provide free teaching
。 Tom Cruise discovered his love of acting while in Ottawa, Canada
While Tom Cruise's parents were still married, his father landed a job in the Canadian Army and the family moved to Ottawa in 1971. It was here that the future superstar seemed to have tasted acting for the first time. A year after moving, Cruise represented his school, Robert Hopkins, at a local theatre festival. "He had good primordial energy and had to be guided," drama teacher George Steinberg recalled in Andrew Morton's book, "Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography." "You can see that there is some talent. Cruise played multiple roles there, from 8 to 11 years old, each of which was impressive. "He played the sun," Teacher Wendy Santo shared with Ottawa citizens. She added: "I remember when that kid walked up on stage, there was something in his speech and posture. You know he's different.
Venture Business made Tom Cruise a star at the age of 21
Georges De Keerle/Getty Images By the summer of 1983, Tom Cruise had starred in four films, but he was on the verge of becoming a superstar. In "Venture Business," Cruise plays Joel Goodsen, a teenage kid who starts running a brothel at home when his parents aren't home. But before these pranks begin, he drank Chivas Rich and Coca-Cola and tried to eat a frozen TV dinner... Then perform one of the most famous dance routines in the movie. Wearing a buttoned shirt, tights and basic fitness socks, he's mouth-synced with Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock & Roll" – an icon was born. Rolling Stone magazine called it "a series of sexy air guitar supports and a mockingly masculine hilarity that made Cruise beloved by moviegoers." The film grossed as much as $65 million and allowed Cruise to start asking for $1 million per film. Co-star Curtis Armstrong wrote in his memoir Revenge of the Nerd: "I think I can say with certainty that 'Venture Business' was just the last time he was just 'Tom'. Talk about transformation.
Tom Cruise from seminary to Scientology
Kypros/Getty Images Secondly, as a movie star, Tom Cruise is known for his dedication to Scientology. His first wife, Mimi Rogers, introduced him to the controversial religion, which he has become the most high-profile follower for decades. "It's something I've helped a lot in my life," he told ITV (via E!). Online). "I've been a Scientologist for over 30 years. ... Without it, I wouldn't be where I am now. He called it a "beautiful religion" and noted that he was "immensely proud" of his faith. Although it is hard to believe, Cruise was once a devout Christian and a Roman Catholic from an early age. The shift was one of his most astonishing: According to Newsweek, he even went on track to become a potential cleric, attending St. Francis Theological Seminary in Ohio. "He had a very strong Catholic faith," classmate Shane Dempler told the New York Daily News. "We go to Mass, spend time in church and enjoy listening to priests' stories. We think the way priests live is great, and we are very interested in the priesthood. However, life in the church was clearly not like that, as Tom Cruise seemed to think of more than just gatherings rather than priests. Templer claimed that the two were asked not to go back to school after stealing alcohol from some monks!
In the 1990s, Tom Cruise was arguably Hollywood's biggest star.
Patrick Riviere/Getty Images Tom Cruise roared into the 1990s with Days of Thunder, a film about stock racing he conceived and starred in. The production was fraught with problems and delays, but it was still a success. As the deadline approached, he told Rolling Stone magazine: "We felt the pressure from the start, in August. Since then, it has been stepping on the floor. The same goes for his career. After the movie was released, Tom Cruise didn't catch up with him as he went on to become the hottest star of the decade. His series of successful films spanned a variety of genres, including drama ("A Few Good Guys"), romantic comedy ("Jerry Maguire"), action ("Mission: Impossible"), and erotic thriller ("Eyes Open"). These films were box office successes — and even more strikingly, as Forbes pointed out, most were rated R. Several of the films were also well received, with Tom Cruise receiving three Academy Award nominations for his work between 1989 and 1999.
Tom Cruise combined love and work when he married Nicole Kidman
As narrated by Today, during the filming of Thunder, Tom Cruise fell in love with his co-star, Nicole Kidman, a rising Australian actress at the time. "It's a special connection when you recognize your soul mate," he told Vanity Fair. "She's an understanding person. For me, it was as if a whole new life had begun. The two married in 1990 (via Hello!). It was her first and his second, as he had previously married and divorced his first wife, Mimi Rogers. The couple adopted two children, Isabella and Connor, and collaborated twice in 1992's "Far Away" and 1999's "Open Eyes," the last film of legendary director Stanley Kubrick. According to The Independent, the last film about a couple was plagued by rumors, including troubles in their marriage. But years later, Kidman told The New York Times, "We were happily married that way." We'll go karting races after these scenes. ... I don't know what else to say. But eventually, the real-life couple broke down, and Tom Cruise filed for divorce in 2001.
In the CGI era, Tom Cruise raised the bar for action stunts
When CGI blockbusters rose to fame in the 1990s, Tom Cruise didn't catch up with the trend. Instead, he jumped off the stuff — becoming even more famous for performing most of his own stunts. "It's about storytelling... It allows us to put our cameras where you can't usually do that," he explains on the "Graham Norton Show" (via Screen Rant). For years, he hung on a flying jet, held his breath underwater for more than six minutes, and so on. Director Christopher McQuarrie told The New York Times that he sees the helicopter chase in Mission: Impossible — Fallout as Tom Cruise's "furry" stunt. "Tom went in and out of the canyons and ravines," he explained. "At one point, his rotor blades were only a few feet away from the rock walls on either side. It was like flying over a broom cabinet. Ironically, the star broke his ankle while performing during filming when he told Jimmy Fallon it was an "easy" jump. It's all a lot of fun for Cruise. "The first time any stunt is nerve-wracking, but it's also exhilarating," he told Graham Norton (via NME). "I was told a few times to stop smiling while filming the stunt.
Tom Cruise's relationship with Katie Holmes made headlines
Kevin Winter/Getty Images "TomKat," as the couple is well known in tabloids, began in April 2005 about The Washington Post, when Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes appeared together in Rome. The relationship caught people's attention from the start. First of all, the actress has kept a fairly low profile after starring in the teen TV series "Dawson Creek", and is 26 years old this year, significantly younger than her 43-year-old beauty. According to Vulture, it's a whirlwind romance worthy of the "Bachelor" episode, including a first-day motorcycle ride, a spontaneous trip to Italy, and a marriage proposal at the Eiffel Tower. Before they got married in 2006, she gave birth to their daughter Suri. After she arrived, things stabilized slightly. Tom Cruise later told Oprah Winfrey (via MTV News), "We had dinner on Saturday night, and then the game. We play quick scrabble, and then usually movie nights. Still, despite all the publicly displayed feelings and talk of family happiness, the marriage didn't last long. In 2012, the actress filed for divorce. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the actor's Scientologist is said to have played a role in her departure, but both sides are tight-lipped about what really happened.
In a series of disastrous interviews, Tom Cruise nearly ruined his career.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images In 2005, Tom Cruise fell in love with actress Katie Holmes, who, according to many, lost his mind. First, couch jumps seen around the world in May. Tom Cruise appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," waving his fists in the air, kneeling down, and of course, jumping onto the couch several times. "I'm in love," he sighed, oprah Winfrey kept repeating, "I've never seen you like this." Eventually, she was surprised to answer simply, "You're gone." That's how it feels to be watched at home. Subsequent interviews did not erase the idea. In June, he chatted with Matt Lauer on the Today Show and doubled down on his criticism of actress Brooke Shields for using antidepressants after childbirth. "There's misinformation that she doesn't understand the history of psychiatry," Cruise said, noting that "psychiatry is a pseudoscience." He also had a brief conversation with the Australian 60 Minutes reporter during a personal question, telling him to "put your mannerisms back in the air". The actor's image was soon tarnished. According to The Guardian, Paramount was even considering halting the production of a third Mission Impossible movie. Eventually, Cruise bounced back — but his star had never shone so brightly.
In the late 2000s, Tom Cruise revealed a side we've never seen before.
After his reputation took a hit, Tom Cruise seemed willing to take some risks to win back the audience. To that end, he says "yes" to two outrageous characters who allow him to show off his less serious and downright stupid side. The first is the character of Les Grossman in the action comedy Tropical Thunder. The character is a noisy, unattractive, disgusting movie studio executive. It's a small role, not the kind of role that such superstars would normally play. But, as The Observer points out, it allows people to talk in a better way. Then, in 2012, Cruise appeared in the musical. He played Stacee Jaxx, a feminine hair metal singer, in "Rock of Ages." "It's so different. I've been looking for different things to do and working with [director] Shankman on musicals, and he really knows these musicals," Cruise said at the film's premiere, according to MTV News. The performance is ridiculous and excessive, but that's the point. "Tom Cruise's Axl Rose genre as a headscarf would make you the purest genius of this man's entire film career," SFGate said.
People have spoken out about Tom Cruise's generosity
Tom Cruise doesn't just play heroes in movies: he often transcends himself for friends and strangers. For example, at a gala in New York, actor Bill Hader told the story of how the star arranged for him to be safely transported home from Los Angeles to his wife and children in Manhattan after an attempted bombing in New York. The two were filming a promo for the 2010 MTV Awards, but after hearing the news, Hader said he had a "full panic attack", and Tom Cruise made sure they ended a few days early and bought him a ticket (via vulture). Director Cameron Crowe told Deadline how the star kept in touch with the child actor who originally starred in Jerry Maguire: "I thought, wow, I didn't know Tom Cruise was doing that. However, the tastiest cruise stories are truly sweet. He reportedly regularly sends a piece of white chocolate coconut cake from Don's Bakery in California to celebrity friends. According to Yahoo, the winners include Jimmy Fallon, Kirsten Dunst and Henry Cavill.
Over the years, Tom Cruise has gained fame for his intense performances on the set
In December 2020, Tom Cruise was once again making headlines for losing his cool. During the filming of Mission Impossible 7 in the UK, the actor ridiculed the crew members who violated COVID-19 safety protocols. "Thanks to us, they're now back in Hollywood making movies. We're creating thousands of jobs," the American Sun reported, and in the recording leaked from the set, he could be heard shouting, throwing profanities and threatening jobs. While shooting during the pandemic was definitely a secret of stress, this wasn't the first time Cruise had been nervous on set. Actress Thandie Newton, one of his co-stars in Mission Impossible II, called the tough day she filmed with him a "nightmare." She told Harper's Bazaar, "I'm so scared of Tom. He was a very dominant man. He works very hard to be a good person. But stress. He took on a lot. I think he feels that way and only he can do his best.
Is Tom Cruise trying to take back some of the glory from his youth?
Eamon McCormack - UEFA/Getty Pictures Tom Cruise's latest project is highly anticipated... But it also seems quite familiar. The first is "Top Gun: Maverick," a sequel to the 1986 hit song "Top Gun." "There's never been an aerial shot shot shot this way," the actor told Empire, teasing the cool stunts shot for the film. "Honestly, I don't know if I'll ever come again. Then appearing on his IMDb page are the seventh and eighth installments of the wildly popular "Mission Impossible" series. There are also rumors that his 2014 sci-fi film Edge of Tomorrow will have a sequel. "It's one of them, if Tom, Emily and I say, 'We're going to pull the trigger on this script,' this is Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, the film is done,"director Doug Leeman told Collider in early 2021. Then again, as Cruise's astonishing transformation shows, he was never a self-contained man. In May 2020, it was confirmed that the star would work with NASA to shoot a film on the International Space Station. According to CNET, Elon Musk's Space X program is also involved. The big question now is: Can he run in outer space?