cruise tom cruise

Actor Tom Cruise has starred in the box-office hits Risky Business , Top Gun , Jerry Maguire , and the Mission: Impossible franchise.

1962-present

Tom Cruise Now: Mission Impossible Star Performs Skydiving Stunt at Olympics Closing Ceremony

The 62-year-old then appeared in a previously filmed video clip that showed Cruise driving through the streets of Paris and boarding a plane headed to Los Angeles, symbolizing the passing of the torch from the Paris Games to the Los Angeles Olympics in summer 2028. Cruise put on skydiving gear and jumped out of the plane, soaring through Los Angeles and past the Hollywood sign, which he redesigned to feature the Olympic rings in place of the two Os at the end of Hollywood .

Cruise is famous for doing many of his own stunts in his movies, including the Mission: Impossible and Top Gun franchises. Ahead of the release of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One in July 2023, he told Entertainment Tonight that his most dangerous stunt took years of practice to perfect: “You have to be razor sharp when you do something like that.”

Quick Facts

Young tom cruise and parents, scientology, ex-wives: katie holmes, nicole kidman, and mimi rogers, who is tom cruise.

Actor Tom Cruise has been one of the most prominent movie stars in Hollywood dating back to the 1980s. After developing an interest in acting during high school, he rocketed to fame with his turns in Risky Business and Top Gun . Cruise has since become an action movie veteran, counting the Mission: Impossible franchise, Edge of Tomorrow , and Top Gun: Maverick among his many successes. The four-time Oscar nominee has also earned acclaim for his performance in Born on the Fourth of July , Jerry Maguire , and Magnolia. Off the silver screen, Cruise is one of the most high-profile members of the Church of Scientology and has been married to fellow actors Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes .

FULL NAME: Thomas Cruise Mapother IV BORN: July 3, 1962 BIRTHPLACE: Syracuse, New York SPOUSES: Mimi Rogers (1987-1990), Nicole Kidman (1990-2001), and Katie Holmes (2005-2012) CHILDREN: Isabella, Connor, and Suri ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Cancer

Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, better known as Tom Cruise, was born on July 3, 1962, in Syracuse, New York. The third of four children, Tom was the only son of Mary Lee South and Thomas Cruise Mapother III. Cruise’s mother was an amateur actor and schoolteacher, and his father was an electrical engineer. His family moved around a great deal when young Tom was a child to accommodate his father’s career.

Tom’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.

Early Roles in Taps and 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, where he struggled 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 movie wasn’t well received, but it allowed Cruise to work with an acclaimed director on a high-profile project.

Breakout Role in Risky Business

His next movie, Risky Business (1983), grossed $65 million and become one of the most profitable movies at the box office that year. 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.

Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick

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 movie of 1986.

Decades later, Cruise returned to his role as fighter pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in the action-packed sequel Top Gun: Maverick (2022), which picks up more than 30 years after the original. Critics heaped praise on the movie, and in addition to becoming the second highest-grossing film of the year, it earned an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.

Cruise is set to star in a third movie, Top Gun 3 , which doesn’t yet have a release date.

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

Cruise followed the tremendous success of the original Top Gun with a string of both critically acclaimed and commercially successful films. First up was The Color of Money (1986) with co-star Paul Newman , then Cruise worked 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 movie grossed more than $15 million its first weekend and earned Cruise another Golden Globe nomination. He continued to demonstrate his success as a leading man with The Firm (1993) and Interview with the Vampire (1994), which co-starred Brad Pitt.

Mission: Impossible Franchise

Next, Cruise hit the big screen with another huge action hit: the $64 million blockbuster Mission: Impossible (1996). In addition to starring in the movie, Cruise also served as a producer. The movie’s popularity spawned another action franchise for Cruise.

The long-awaited smash hit Mission: Impossible 2 arrived in 2000 followed by the also popular Mission: Impossible 3 in 2006. However, Cruise was faced with a professional setback that 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 the actor’s high earnings from the Mission: Impossible franchise.

Ultimately, Cruise and Paramount patched up their relationship and have continued adding films to the franchise. That includes Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol (2011), Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation (2015), Mission: Impossible —Fallout (2018), and most recently, Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning (2023).

Jerry McGuire , Eyes Wide Shut , and Magnolia

The same year as the first Mission: Impossible movie, Cruise landed another hit with the highly acclaimed Jerry McGuire (1996), directed by Cameron Crowe. The star secured a second Academy Award nomination and won his second Golden Globe for Best Actor.

Cruise and then-wife Nicole Kidman spent much of 1997 and 1998 in England shooting Eyes Wide Shut , an erotic thriller that was director Stanley Kubrick ’s final film. The movie came out in the summer of 1999 to mixed reviews, but that same 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 and The Last Samurai

In 2002, Cruise starred in Vanilla Sky , his second collaboration with director Cameron 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 Steven Spielberg –directed remake of the science-fiction classic War of the Worlds (2005), which grossed more than $230 million at the box office.

The third Mission: Impossible movie added to his list of credits in May 2006, but three months later, his partnership with Paramount Pictures, the franchise’s studio, ended. Cruise quickly rebounded with an announcement early that November: He had a 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 and 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.

Breaking into new territory after another entry in the Mission: Impossible franchise in 2011 , Cruise 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 , and The Mummy

Returning to his mainstream action roots, Cruise anchored 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 Mission: Impossible franchise .

In 2016, Cruise reprised the role of Jack Reacher for Jack Reacher: 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 .

Cruise is one of the most prominent celebrity members of the Church of Scientology . He became a student of the religion, founded by writer L. Ron Hubbard, through his first wife, Mimi Rogers. Cruise credited the church with curing his dyslexia, and he soon became one of its leading proponents.

In 2005, Cruise made headlines as an outspoken Scientologist. He openly criticized his former Endless Love 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.

Cruise has been married three times, all to fellow actors, and has three children.

He first wed Mimi Rogers in 1987 but their union ended three years later. Cruise wasn’t single for long.

Also in 1990, he connected with Nicole Kidman , his co-star in the racecar drama Days of Thunder . The movie was unpopular among critics and fans alike, but the two lead actors had real chemistry. On Christmas Eve 1990, after a brief courtship, Cruise and Kidman married in Telluride, Colorado.

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. During the first half of their marriage, the couple adopted 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 actor Katie Holmes . A month after his ties to Holmes became public, Cruise professed his love for Holmes in a now-famous appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, during which he jumped on Winfrey’s sofa, shouting “Yes!”

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.

In 2006, Cruise and Holmes welcomed their daughter, Suri. That November, 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 didn’t last, and in June 2012, Holmes filed for divorce.

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Tom Cruise performs 'epic stunt' at Olympics closing ceremony

The Olympics closing ceremonies have always served as a nice sendoff for one of the world's biggest sporting events. However, this year's formalities had something extra special on display as well: Tom Cruise.

Earlier this week, it was reported that the legendary actor and stuntman would be performing an "epic stunt" as part of the closing ceremonies.

According to reports , Cruise would rappel into Paris' Stade de France , during the closing ceremonies. That would be followed by a pre-recorded video of Cruise skydiving onto the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles. That report is accurate now in hindsight.

Cruise, 62, is known for taking stunts to the next level, and given that Los Angeles will be hosting the 2028 Olympics , it was assumed that someone representing the city would be in attendance to take the Olympic flag, as is tradition. Here's how the stunt went down live.

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Cruise's stunt

The 62-year-old rappelled down from the top of the Stade de France, greeting Olympians after landing safely.

We then witnessed a surprise appearance from Simone Biles at the closing ceremony, playing a part in the passing of the Olympic flag from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

The two gave the Olympic flag to Cruise who rode a motorcycle in a pre-filmed sequence that ended with the actor soaring above Los Angeles in a skydiving stunt.

Internet reacts to Cruise's stunt

Has cruise done anything like this before.

Yes, actually.

In 2004, Cruise participated in the Olympics' opening ceremonies, helping carry the Olympic torch through Los Angeles as it made its way around the world before resting in Athens, Greece, where the games were taking place that year.

Thomas Schad contributed to this report

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)

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How tom cruise’s olympics stunt was inspired by… conan o’brien.

Producer Ben Winston goes deep on that starry Closing Ceremony flag hand-off, reveals where he had to pivot and talks about how it was all slightly informed by a 15-year-old talk show bit.

By Mikey O'Connell

Mikey O'Connell

TV Features Editor

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Ben Winston might soon lose count of how many times he’s sent Tom Cruise up in the air.

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The original plan was for a balaclava-clad stunt person to do most of the heavy lifting, but Cruise would have none of it. “I don’t think there’s anybody like him in the world,” says Winston, who served as creative director and executive producer under the Fulwell 73 Productions banner. “There is no better collaborator.”

Speaking the afternoon after the live Paris jump and the starry beachside concert featuring The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, Winston revealed how he and Cruise kept most of their plan under wraps for as long as they did, what changed in the planning and the unlikely roots of the Olympic flag’s pre-taped journey from France to the U.S.

Are you just a glutton for logistics?

It feels a little bit like having a baby. You’re up all night, it’s all really stressful and you’re changing nappies, and they’re sick on you. Then, when they get to three years old, you’re like, “Oh, they’re so cute and lovely. I think I want another one.” You forget what a nightmare it was. I feel like live television might be that. You forget how much you go through.

Plenty has been revealed and speculated about in the wake of this stunt. How long have you actually been working on this? 

My first meeting was January 2022 when I sat down with Casey Wasserman at LA28. I haven’t been working on it since then, but I had the idea more like 20 months ago when they’d told me there’s this tradition of a 12-minute show that the next nation does in the closing ceremony. Within the first five minutes, I was like, “Well, it would be the coolest thing if we snatched the flag, and we could get Tom Cruise to do it.”

I’ve seen lots of handovers where the country that takes over does something in the stadium, and they’ve been great, but I wanted to do something different. I like to be able to control everything. So I was thinking if we did it in Los Angeles, I’d be able to control all the elements a little bit more. I liked the idea of doing the bulk of it in Los Angeles but with an amazing open in Paris. This is such a weird reference, but remember when Conan O’Brien started on The Tonight Show and moved from New York to Los Angeles? He did a really fun sketch going cross country. That has always stuck with me. So I was like, “How do Tom Cruise and all these incredible athletes take that flag from Paris to L.A.?” It’s a weird inspiration. 

No, I remember that. I can see the through-line.

Yeah. Then, I pitched it to Tom. He was the first pitch I had. If he hadn’t gone with it, I can’t really think who else would work. Who else is synonymous with action and an American hero? When we got Tom, I felt like the whole thing would work — so we went from there. But it’s been over a year and a half to achieve that. 

How’d you pitch it to Tom? This is the third time you’ve put him in a plane after the Late Late Show segments with Corden .

Some things leaked , but you filmed the skydive and the Hollywood sign back in March. How’d you keep it secret for as long as you did? 

When we were filming with Tom , he was never actually holding the Olympic flag. He always was holding a white flag. So, whenever we were photographed with him, the press always said we were filming Mission Impossible . Everyone wonders what was faked and what wasn’t. Interestingly, one of the only things that was faked was the flag. I was disappointed that little things leaked over the last couple of weeks. Suddenly, more and more people need to know what you’re doing when you’re rehearsing in the Stade de France and booking venues.

Such a big deal is made about Tom and the lengths he goes to execute a stunt on his own. I understand who insures him in a movie like Mission Impossible , but what about here, is that your purview? You are putting a very famous man in a risky situation. 

I’m not qualified to answer that. ( Laughs .) There will be a team of lawyers on my production team and his team that would know about that. But you’re right. It was definitely a consideration when we were doing the Top Gun stuff for The Late Late Show . It was like, “Well, who does the liability lie with — the show or Tom?” I still don’t know the answer on this one.

It’s funny because I’ve seen reports about what was live and what wasn’t live. Not everybody’s a 100 percent right on everything, and I don’t want to comment either way. It’s not fair on some artists to say some were live and some weren’t or whatever. But I think there was a lot more live-in there than people think. Will Rogers Beach was the plan a year ago — and, due to something out of my control, that had to change. With four weeks to go, we didn’t have a venue. That was a stressful moment. Ultimately we got there and I was so pleased with the concert element of it.

Did you ever attempt to actually redecorate the Hollywood sign? 

I did look at doing the Hollywood sign for real. We had engineers up there quite a long time, working out how we could do it. I decided against it because I wanted it to be a surprise. In the end, I think we could have done it, but then in March, the whole world would have seen pictures of the Hollywood sign covered in the Olympic rings. So we did it with CGI. The Tom bit is real. He was up there. He climbed up the sign.

You booked Snoop Dogg, a national treasure and someone so synonymous with Los Angeles, a long time ago — yet his stock has risen even more in the last two weeks. Were you psyched watching him become one of the stars of the Olympics? 

Well, I hope you get a bit of a break.

No. ( Laughs .) This week we’re filming Ellen DeGeneres’ stand-up show . Really excited about that. And then it’s on to the Paralympics closing. But I did have like 13 hours of sleep last night. I went to bed at 9 o’clock.

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• Born July 3 , 1962 · Syracuse, New York, USA
• Birth name Thomas Cruise Mapother IV
• Height 5′ 7″ (1.70 m)
• In 1976, if you had told fourteen-year-old Franciscan seminary student Thomas Cruise Mapother IV that one day in the not too distant future he would be Tom Cruise, one of the top 100 movie stars of all time, he would have probably grinned and told you that his ambition was to join the priesthood. Nonetheless, this sensitive, deeply religious youngster who was born in 1962 in Syracuse, New York, was destined to become one of the highest paid and most sought after actors in screen history. Tom is the only son (among four children) of nomadic parents, Mary Lee (Pfeiffer), a special education teacher, and Thomas Cruise Mapother III, an electrical engineer. His parents were both from Louisville, Kentucky, and he has German, Irish, and English ancestry. Young Tom spent his boyhood always on the move, and by the time he was 14 he had attended 15 different schools in the U.S. and Canada. He finally settled in Glen Ridge, New Jersey with his mother and her new husband. While in high school, Tom wanted to become a priest but pretty soon he developed an interest in acting and abandoned his plans of becoming a priest, dropped out of school, and at age 18 headed for New York and a possible acting career. The next 15 years of his life are the stuff of legends. He made his film debut with a small part in Endless Love (1981) and from the outset exhibited an undeniable box office appeal to both male and female audiences. With handsome movie star looks and a charismatic smile, within 5 years Tom Cruise was starring in some of the top-grossing films of the 1980s including Top Gun (1986) ; The Color of Money (1986) , Rain Man (1988) and Born on the Fourth of July (1989) . By the 1990s he was one of the highest-paid actors in the world earning an average 15 million dollars a picture in such blockbuster hits as Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) , Mission: Impossible (1996) and Jerry Maguire (1996) , for which he received an Academy Award Nomination for best actor. Tom Cruise's biggest franchise, Mission Impossible, has also earned a total of 3 billion dollars worldwide. Tom Cruise has also shown lots of interest in producing, with his biggest producer credits being the Mission Impossible franchise. In 1990 he renounced his devout Catholic beliefs and embraced The Church of Scientology claiming that Scientology teachings had cured him of the dyslexia that had plagued him all of his life. A kind and thoughtful man well known for his compassion and generosity, Tom Cruise is one of the best liked members of the movie community. He was married to actress Nicole Kidman until 2001. Thomas Cruise Mapother IV has indeed come a long way from the lonely wanderings of his youth to become one of the biggest movie stars ever. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Tom McDonough, Grant failor
• Spouses Katie Holmes (November 18, 2006 - August 20, 2012) (divorced, 1 child) Nicole Kidman (December 24, 1990 - August 8, 2001) (divorced, 2 children) Mimi Rogers (May 9, 1987 - February 4, 1990) (divorced)
• Children Isabella Jane Cruise Suri Cruise Connor Cruise
• Parents Thomas Mapother III Mary Lee Pfeiffer
• Relatives William Mapother (Cousin) Amy Mapother (Cousin) Katherine Mapother (Cousin) Lee Anne De Vette (Sibling)
• Often plays romantic leading men with an edge
• Often plays characters caught up in extraordinary circumstances
• Frequently plays intelligent yet laidback and likeable characters
• Beaming smile and intense eye contact
• Boundless off-stage energy
• His acting idol is Paul Newman . Much to the delight of Cruise, they became good friends during work on The Color of Money (1986) . Newman got him into racing, and Cruise ultimately raced on his team.
• Stopped to help a hit and run victim and paid her hospital bills. The victim was aspiring Brazilian actress Heloisa Vinhas (1996).
• Insists on performing many of his own stunts in his films, including climbing the exterior of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, during the filming of Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) , and driving during the car chases in Jack Reacher (2012) .
• Cruise earned roughly $75 million for Mission: Impossible II (2000) . He did this by turning down any upfront salary, for instead taking a back-end deal that landed him 30% of the film's gross for both his producing and acting duties.
• He did not stay for the remainder of the 2002 Academy Awards after opening them because it was his turn to look after his and ex-wife Nicole Kidman 's children. He reportedly left the Kodak Theatre by a back door after opening proceedings and dashed home to watch the rest of the event on television with his kids Connor and Isabella.
• The thing about filmmaking is I give it everything, that's why I work so hard. I always tell young actors to take charge. It's not that hard. Sign your own checks, be responsible.
• [to Jay Leno regarding his topless Vanity Fair cover shoot] I don't drink but I had a beer that night and they only did one setup like that. I'm a cheap date. What can I say?
• [on Eyes Wide Shut (1999) ] We knew from the beginning the level of commitment needed. We felt honored to work with Stanley Kubrick . We were going to do what it took to do this picture, whatever time, because I felt - and Nic [ Nicole Kidman ] did, too - that this was going to be a really special time for us. We knew it would be difficult. But I would have absolutely kicked myself if I hadn't done this.
• I have cooked turkeys in my day but when Mom's around I let her do it.
• I was 18 when I saw Akira Kurosawa 's Seven Samurai (1954) . After about 30 seconds, I realized that this was not just a cultural thing, it was universal. Years later, I read Bushido. It talked about many things that I strive for in my own life: loyalty, compassion, responsibility, the idea of looking back on your life and taking responsibility for everything you've ever done. I'm fascinated by the samurai and the samurai code - it's one of the main reasons I wanted to make The Last Samurai (2003) .
• Mission: Impossible 8 (2025) - $13,000,000 + % of back end
• Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) - $13,000,000 + % of back end
• Top Gun: Maverick (2022) - $13,000,000 + % of back end
• The Mummy (2017) - $13,000,000 + % of gross
• Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) - $12,500,000 + % of back end

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(Photo by DreamWorks/courtesy Everett Collection. Collateral.)

All Tom Cruise Movies, Ranked By Tomatometer

Collateral celebrates its 20th anniversary!

From his teen idol days in the early ’80s to his status as a marquee-lighting leading man today, Tom Cruise has consistently done it all for decades — he’s completed impossible missions, learned about Wapner time in Rain Man , driven the highway to the danger zone in Top Gun , and done wonders for Bob Seger’s royalty statements in Risky Business , to offer just a few examples. Mr. Cruise is one of the few honest-to-goodness film stars left in the Hollywood firmament, so whether you’re a hardcore fan or just interested in a refresher course on his filmography, we’re here to take a fond look back at a truly impressive career and rank all Tom Cruise movies.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018) 97%

Top Gun: Maverick (2022) 96%

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) 96%

Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation (2015) 94%

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) 93%

Risky Business (1983) 92%

Edge of Tomorrow (2014) 91%

Minority Report (2002) 89%

Rain Man (1988) 88%

The Color of Money (1986) 88%

Collateral (2004) 86%

Born on the Fourth of July (1989) 84%

American Made (2017) 85%

A Few Good Men (1992) 84%

Jerry Maguire (1996) 84%

Magnolia (1999) 82%

Tropic Thunder (2008) 82%

The Firm (1993) 76%

War of the Worlds (2005) 76%

Eyes Wide Shut (1999) 76%

Mission: Impossible III (2006) 71%

The Outsiders (1983) 70%

Taps (1981) 68%

Mission: Impossible (1996) 65%

The Last Samurai (2003) 66%

Jack Reacher (2012) 64%

Interview With the Vampire (1994) 63%

All the Right Moves (1983) 61%

Valkyrie (2008) 62%

Top Gun (1986) 58%

Mission: Impossible II (2000) 56%

Oblivion (2013) 54%

Knight and Day (2010) 52%

Far and Away (1992) 50%

Vanilla Sky (2001) 43%

Rock of Ages (2012) 42%

Legend (1985) 41%

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016) 38%

Days of Thunder (1990) 38%

Lions for Lambs (2007) 27%

Losin' It (1982) 18%

The Mummy (2017) 15%

Cocktail (1988) 9%

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Tom Cruise Jumps Off Stadium Roof to Pass Baton to Los Angeles

Cruise, one of Hollywood’s most well-known movie stars, rappelled down into the Stade de France, and the crowd of Olympians went wild as Paris handed over to the next Summer Games, in Los Angeles.

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By Alissa Wilkinson

• Aug. 11, 2024

No, it wasn’t a scene from “Mission: Impossible.” Tom Cruise, one of Hollywood’s most well-known movie stars, rappelled down into the Stade de France as H.E.R. played guitar, and the crowd of Olympians went wild as Paris handed over to the next Summer Games, in Los Angeles. He accepted the Olympic flag, shook a lot of hands, jumped on a motorcycle, and drove right out of the stadium and into prerecorded footage.

It’s hard to imagine a more apt melding of the Olympics’ awe-inducing athleticism and Hollywood’s showy sensibility than Cruise, who, at 62, still famously loves to perform as many of his own “Mission: Impossible” stunts as feasible in the film series. At the 2022 Cannes Film Festival , ahead of the release of “Top Gun: Maverick,” he was asked about his penchant for death-defying feats, which he might reasonably be expected to delegate to a stunt person. “No one asked Gene Kelly, ‘Why do you dance?’” he quipped.

Cruise’s carefully choreographed acrobatics (and selfies with athletes) were fit for this closing ceremony’s vibes — especially the showmanship behind them. The details of what exactly was going to happen had been kept quiet, although People reported that back in March he had filmed the segment in which he sky-dives to the iconic Hollywood sign. Nobody quite knew until now what he’d do on live television in Paris. But it’s Tom Cruise: He lives, and occasionally defies death, to give us a good time.

Alissa Wilkinson is a Times movie critic. She’s been writing about movies since 2005. More about Alissa Wilkinson

Tom Cruise, Billie Eilish lead star-studded handoff at Closing Ceremonies

Cruise dropped into the Stade de France, before Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg performed in L.A.

Star power took over the 2024 Olympic Closing Ceremonies on Sunday evening, which featured Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg performing from Los Angeles, the band Phoenix rocking the Stade de France, and Tom Cruise rappelling down from the top of the 80,000-seat stadium and riding a motorcycle through Paris to close out the Games.

The celebration set the stage for what’s to come for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

Cruise embodied the action heroes he plays on screen with the eye-catching stunt. After he landed on the stadium floor, he was swarmed by athletes. He was then handed the Olympic flag by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who was joined by Simone Biles. Cruise then hopped on a motorcycle and appeared to zoom out of the arena.

The Style section

The television broadcast then cut to a previously recorded video of Cruise heading through the streets of Paris to an airplane, where he brought the flag from France to the United States. Then, Cruise sky-dived to the Hollywood sign which had a new look — the Olympic rings were overlaid. Once he landed, Cruise handed the flag to other Olympians as they ran through the city to Venice Beach. America, everybody!

Once at the beach, the prerecorded concert started off with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, with Anthony Kiedis in a mesh shirt which he lifted over his head as the band performed their 2002 hit, “Can’t Stop.” Eilish performed a more recent hit, “Birds of a Feather,” from a nearby lifeguard stand, before Snoop Dogg, who dominated this Olympics, was joined by Dr. Dre.

The closing ceremonies kicked off on Sunday afternoon from the Stade de France. French singer Zaho de Sagazan opened the closing ceremonies with a rendition of Édith Piaf’s “Sous le ciel de Paris.”

The ceremony — which took place on an abstract stage shaped like the world map, but was reminiscent of the Aggro Crag from the ’90s Nickelodeon show “Guts” — featured plenty of electronic music, including songs by the French house band Justice and “Midnight City” by M83. Athletes and attendees sang along as Queen’s “We are the Champions” played in the booming stadium.

The bulk of the presentation displayed French artistry, music and choreography, including a segment where acrobatic gray figures helped raise the five Olympic rings to the stadium ceiling. French President Emmanuel Macron watched on as commentators marveled at the “unreal” spectacle. “God, the French are cool,” said one NBC commentator.

Phoenix kicked off their set from France with “Lisztomania” surrounded by hundreds of athletes who had rushed the stage. Announcers in the stadium kindly asked the athletes to leave the stage — repeatedly. The band was later joined at by Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend. The early aughts nostalgia continued throughout the program, as Kavinsky, who performed the song “Nightcall” (the track was featured prominently in “Drive,” starring Ryan Gosling).

Though many, presumably exhausted, Olympic athletes sat as the Closing Ceremonies wore on throughout the three-hour-program, they appeared to go off without much of a hitch. Wrapping up the ceremonies was the president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, who put it plainly: “And that’s it!”

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Entertainment | After Tom Cruise once denied ‘abandoning’ Suri,…

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Entertainment | tesla’s fremont car factory: blockbuster racism lawsuit to go before a jury next year, entertainment, entertainment | after tom cruise once denied ‘abandoning’ suri, she seems to get the last word, cruise’s absence from his daughter’s high school graduation last weekend has again sparked questions and criticism about his alleged choice to not have a role in her life.

In a September 2013 deposition for the case, the Hollywood mega-star explained his objections to reports by In Touch that said he had cut ties with a then-7-year-old Suri after Holmes divorced him in 2012. He took issue with the publication claiming that he, a top celebrity member of Scientology, had chosen the church over his daughter “for good.”

“‘Abandoned by Daddy,'” Cruise said angrily in the deposition, referring to the headline of the story. “I mean, come on, that is absolutely disgusting. That is absolutely disgusting.”

But as Queen Elizabeth II once famously said about “recollections,” definitions of “abandonment” also may vary in this situation. In a report this week, The Sun quoted insiders who said that Cruise has not seen his daughter in 11 years.

Allegations of “abandonment” returned last weekend as Cruise let himself be photographed at one of Taylor Swift’s sold-out “Eras Tour” performances at Wembley Stadium in London. The “Top Gun” actor was seen exchanging friendship bracelets, hanging out with NFL star Travis Kelce and dancing to Swift’s music in the VIP seats.

But the night before, Cruise very publicly missed a major milestone in Suri’s life: her graduation from the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City.

Cruise’s absence from Suri’s graduation made headlines. And then came more headlines about the 18-year-old dropping her father’s surname for the ceremony. She instead used the name “Siri Noelle.”

Sources told Page Six that the new name was a tribute to her mother. Noelle is Katie Holmes’ middle name, and Holmes has essentially raised Suri as a single parent in New York City since her divorce from Cruise.

It’s not clear whether Suri has gone to court to make the name change official, Page Six said. A source told the publication that Suri dropped her father’s surname because she wants her “own identity” and to “start fresh at college.”

But Suri’s new name choice also could be seen as a rebuke of her famous father — a sign that she has, in her way, abandoned him.

Tony Ortega, a journalist who covers Scientology, called Cruise out this week for “abandonment,” following reports about the actor going to Swift’s concert but not his daughter’s graduation. In an email newsletter for his Underground Bunker newsletter, Ortega said that choices Cruise has made over the past 12 years show that his “abandonment” of his daughter is “even worse than most people realize.”

Cruise and Holmes began dating in 2005, became parents to Suri in the spring of 2006 and married later that year in a ceremony at an Italian castle that was  attended by a number of high-profile Scientologists, including church leader David Miscavige.

Early in the marriage, Holmes was very involved in the church, which is said to exert a cult-like control over its members, Ortega said. But her interest in building her life around Scientology teachings cooled over the next six years, Ortega said. As Holmes was raising Suri, she also was getting to know Cruise’s older children, Isabella and Connor, whose mother is Nicole Kidman. Like Holmes, Kidman was initially very involved in the organization, but the Oscar winner’s interest similarly waned before her split from Cruise in 2001.

Isabella and Connor ended up living with Cruise following the divorce, where they were home-schooled and taught that Kidman was a “suppressive person,” or an SP, someone who is viewed as hostile to Scientology, according to a 2012 investigative story by Vanity Fair.

Holmes would have become aware that Scientology’s indoctrination for Suri would begin after her sixth birthday, Ortega reported. It’s no coincidence that Holmes decided to leave Cruise in 2012, around the time Suri turned six, The Sun also reported.

Cruise admitted he “didn’t expect” Holmes to file for divorce; the divorce proceeded quickly with the ex-spouses reaching a settlement within 11 days. The Sun reported that Cruise was granted sole custody of Suri. Under the terms of the settlement, Cruise also was required to pay $400,000 a year to help with her upbringing. There’s been no reporting that Cruise didn’t fulfill this obligation.

Holmes’ decision to leave the marriage, seek primary custody of Suri and enroll their daughter in private school caused “a massive public relations disaster” for Cruise and for Scientology, according to Ortega and Vanity Fair.

Holmes’ actions “would be automatic grounds for disconnection” from the church and Scientology members “if she were married to any other Scientologist,” Vanity Fair reported. But Cruise was given the option to maintain ties with his daughter, because of his celebrity status within the church, according to Ortega and Variety Fair.

To what extent Cruise maintained a relationship with his daughter became the chief source of contention in the actor’s lawsuit against In Touch and its owner, Bauer Publishing, according to The Hollywood Reporter . In his deposition, Cruise said he never “cut Suri out of my life — whether physically, emotionally, financially or otherwise.

Cruise acknowledged that he didn’t get to see often since the divorce. He said it was difficult to arrange visits around his film shoots and Holmes’ schedule.

“Certainly what doesn’t change is the love that I have for my daughter, and that I didn’t abandon her emotionally, physically or otherwise,” Cruise said. “And in terms of how I feel about her in terms of the responsibility that I feel towards my child is not—(has) not waned in any way.”

Several weeks after Cruise’s deposition became public, the actor settled his lawsuit with Bauer Publishing in December 2013, the Hollywood Reporter said. Terms of the settlement were not released, but Bauer Publishing released a joint statement with Cruise’s attorneys. The statement said that the publisher “never intended to communicate that Tom Cruise had cut off all ties and abandoned his daughter, Suri, and regret if anyone drew that inference from anything they published.”

Since then, there have been multiple reports over the years, saying that Cruise doesn’t see his daughter. The Sun’s report suggested that their visits ended around around 2013.

In his newsletter, Ortega took issue with Cruise’s alleged choice to Suri out of his life, even as he apparently enjoyed an exception in Scientology. Ortega said he could ignore rules that apply to most members, who are told to disconnect from family and friends who are non-believers,  Ortega said.

“Even if Scientology had formally declared Katie to be an enemy, Tom Cruise is not a regular Scientology member,” Ortega said. “He’s a celebrity. And in fact, the most important Scientology celebrity of all time. And as a celebrity, Tom would have the ability to ignore those rules and continue to see both Katie and Suri if he wanted to.”

“But that’s not what happened,” Ortega said. “As the years passed after that 2012 split, it became more and more obvious that Tom had completely cut Katie and Suri out of his life.”

Ortega believes that Cruise in fact chose Scientology over his own daughter, even after the actor denied doing so in 2012. Cruise did so because he’s convinced that the late Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard “is the greatest human being who ever lived” and that Hubbard’s “technology” is the only thing that will “save” this planet, Ortega said.

Cruise would therefore want to maintain his relationship with Scientology, even if it meant not having one with his daughter, Ortega said. But the journalist offered another reason that Cruise cut ties with Suri when he didn’t have to.

In Ortega’s view, Cruise is not an admirable person, not as he’s often portrayed in positive press accounts. Ortega actually used more blunt terms to describe Cruise and insisted that the media is “always too afraid” to call him out.

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Inside Tom Cruise's Relationship With Kids Isabella, Connor and Suri

Tom cruise has been a movie star for decades, but the three-time divorcé keeps his family world as dad to son connor and daughters isabella and suri extremely private..

Tom Cruise is known for a lot of things , but gabbing about his kids isn't one of them.

Naturally that has something to do with the fact that daughter Isabella Cruise , 31, and son Connor Cruise , 29, with ex-wife Nicole Kidman , as well as daughter Suri Cruise , 18, with ex-wife Katie Holmes , are leading relatively private lives—though they can't help being famous-by-association thanks to their movie star parents.

But you can't deny Tom's enigmatic ways, the  Mission: Impossible  star being so impressively out there—jumping off cliffs, riding motorcycles, sending his friends coconut cake every year—and yet increasingly private.

Though he rhapsodized about fatherhood when all of his children were little, his inclination to share exponentially decreased as the spotlight grew ever brighter (and he notched his third divorce in 2012).

So, any rare sighting of him spending time in public with his now grown children tends to be an event.

Such was the case when Tom was snapped in a group pic that included Isabella, 31, and Connor, 29 , at a Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning hockey game last December, though it took months for the Internet to notice the photo on NFL Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks ' Instagram.

"Wow, look who stopped by my office before our @tblightning game tonight! @tomcruise," the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker captioned the Dec. 27 post . "I was a little star struck but played it cool and He said he was too!"

Little did Derrick know he was doing the social media equivalent of lighting a long fuse, classic  M:I -style.

It was the first time the actor, who turns 62 on July 3, had been seen with Connor and  Isabella at a public event since a 2009 Los Angeles Galaxy game (the three were informally snapped by paparazzi with Suri in Central Park in 2010), though public outings with his son have been a bit more frequent.

As for his youngest child, how much time Tom spends with now-18-year-old Suri has been a subject of speculation ever since he and Katie divorced in 2012 after less than six years of marriage.

And, considering the Carnegie Mellon-bound Suri didn't use her dad's surname in her high school graduation program , which listed her as Suri Noelle...

The speculation continues.

"My whole life I always wanted to be a father," Tom told Vanity Fair  for the October 2006 cover story that introduced Suri to the world at 3 months old . "I always said to myself that my children would be able to depend on me and I would always be there for them and love them—that I'd never make a promise to my kids that I couldn't keep. I'm not one of those people who believe you can spoil a child with too much love. You can never give a child too much love. There's just no way."

While they were together, he and Katie were frequently spotted out with their daughter, and there are countless pap pics of them trying to get from a car into a building and back again to prove it.

But they didn't let the ever-present photographers stop them from living their life: The family went to amusement parks, attended Galaxy games (they were Beverly Hills neighbors with David  and Victoria Beckham  when the English football star crossed the pond to give soccer a shot in the arm in 2007) and were at the 2010 Super Bowl in Miami Gardens along with then-15-year-old Connor. 

But Suri was 6 when Tom and Katie split up.  She's lived with her mom in New York for years , while her dad is based in Florida these days when not globetrotting for work—which he so often is.

In the ensuing years, Tom has never gone the route of giving a big interview about fatherhood, or made some other flagrantly public gesture to counter the narrative that they didn't have a relationship.

In a  Playboy  interview published in June 2012, a month before he and Katie announced they were divorcing , Tom said that, while he preferred not to waste time dealing with the stranger rumors and other swipes at his character that shadowed his wildly successful career, he had his limits .

"You start with a letter saying, 'OK, you know it's not true. Apologize,'" he said. "There is a point with a lot of things when you just go, 'You know what? I don't want to waste my time with this. I'm busy. I'd rather spend this time with my kids and my wife, at home or on our movies, creating a life together. If you have kids, it is the most important thing to create good times."

But, he added, "with certain ones you have to go, 'OK, you crossed a line, and now you have the attention of my lawyers.' When it involves your kids, with these guys you have to go, 'Here's the line, and anytime you cross it…' But there are lots of times when you just have to say, 'Please don't cross that line. Be decent. Let's not do this.'"

And he did push back against what he viewed to be an egregious take, filing a $50 million defamation lawsuit against Bauer Media's  In Touch and  Life & Style  for reporting in 2012 that he had "abandoned" Suri .

Sitting down for a deposition in the case on Sept. 9, 2013, Tom acknowledged not seeing his child for at least 100 days while filming the action thriller Edge of Tomorrow in London, but denied ever being out of touch.

"You have to work at it," he said, sharing that he called her every day, per court documents obtained by E! News. "I've gotten very good at it. I tell wonderful stories. I also find that, you know, Suri is a very happy child, and confident, and has a good sense of herself."

Tom continued, "Things change and there's different agreements, like in any divorce, where you work out a schedule. It's just a different set of circumstances. It certainly does not mean that I've abandoned my daughter."

The lawsuit was settled that December  and dismissed with prejudice, meaning it couldn't be refiled. A spokeswoman for both publications said it was never their intent "to communicate that Tom Cruise had cut off all ties and abandoned his daughter, Suri, and regret if anyone drew that inference from anything they published."

And so began the next era of Tom Cruise, silent movie star (so to speak). In work-centric interviews and on the red carpet, he's as charming as ever, but his kids fall into the no-ask zone.  

Yet as any person with or without social media knows: Just because it isn't in a photo for the world to see, that doesn't mean it isn't happening. Keep reading for all the details on Tom's family:

Marriage to Nicole Kidman

Tom Cruise was in the process of divorcing first wife Mimi Rogers   when he met Nicole Kidman   making the racing movie  Days of Thunder  in early 1990. He proposed to the Australian actress once he was officially single and they tied the knot that year on Christmas Eve.

"It was that special connection when you recognize your soul mate," Tom told Vanity Fair   in 1994. "She is a person who understands. It was as if a whole new life had started for me."

They announced their divorce in February 2001 with a press release citing the "difficulties inherent of diverging careers which constantly keep them apart." Though it's unclear if Nicole agreed with that rationale.

"I'm starting to understand now [why we broke up]," she told  Vanity Fair  toward the end of 2002. "At the time I didn't."

Her ex, meanwhile, had told the publication earlier that year, "She knows why, and I know why. She's the mother of my children, and I wish her well. And I think that you just move on. And I don't say that lightly. I don't say that with anything."

Isabella Cruise

Tom and Nicole adopted their eldest child, Isabella , when she was born on Dec. 22, 1992.

Admittedly "scared to death" the first time he changed a diaper, Tom told  VF  in 1994 that he and Nicole "talked about children from time to time, but there was always the work. But then we went, When is it ever going to be the right time? That's how the conversation started. You're lying in bed at night and you're trying to sleep, so you roll over and you go, What would happen if we had this in our life?... One of the things that Nic and I talk about is that now suddenly we're a family ."

Nicole said they definitely planned on having more kids, whether by birth or adoption, preferably both.

"Isabella was meant for us," she told the magazine. "I think when things come into your life at a certain time you have to take them. It's destiny."

She later revealed to  VF  in 2007 that they decided to adopt after she lost a pregnancy. "From the minute Tom and I were married, I wanted to have babies," she said. "And we lost a baby early on, so that was really very traumatic. And that's when we would adopt Bella." 

"There's a complicated background to that," she added, "given that I never speak much about many things. One day maybe that story will be told."

Isabella, an artist and graduate of London's Delamar Academy of Make-Up and Hair, lives in England with husband  Max Parker . 

It raised a few eyebrows when the bride's parents didn't attend the couple's 2015 wedding at the Dorchester hotel in London.

"Of course, they're my parents," she fired back at Daily Mail Online when the newlywed was asked if she spoke to Tom and Nicole. "Anyone who says otherwise is full of s--t."

Moreover, only a few close friends attended and the groom's parents weren't there, either, his mom Beverly Parker telling the Mail they stayed away to avoid "a media circus." Calling the pair "lovely," she said, "I'm very pleased for them both and they're very happy."

Max told the publication that "you could say" his wife had foregone the spotlight, but it was "more of a weird situation for everyone else" than it was for them. 

Meanwhile, sources told  People that Tom approved of Max, was OK with not being there and he paid for the wedding, while Nicole was just glad her daughter seemed happy.

Connor Cruise

Connor rounded out the family when he was adopted at birth on Jan. 17, 1995. He's a musician and DJ, and reportedly lives in Miami.

Nicole married Keith Urban  in 2006 and they share daughters Sunday Rose , born July 7, 2008, and Faith Margaret , born via gestational surrogate Dec. 28, 2010.

Reflecting on how Connor and Isabella chose to live with their dad after the divorce, she told HELLO! , "I'd love them to live with us, but what can you do?" (They did attend the Kidman-Urban nuptials in Australia.)

Talking to Now to Love in 2014, Nicole called Isabella and Connor "generous, kind and hardworking," all "traits that I love to see in my children."

Several years later she acknowledged that both of her older kids were practicing Scientologists, like their father, but—contrary to rumors that religion had driven a wedge between them—that was neither here nor there.

"They are adults," the Oscar winner told Australia's  Who   in 2018. "They are able to make their own decisions. They have made choices to be Scientologists and as a mother, it's my job to love them."

And, like his sister, Connor has never said a cross word about his mom.

"I love my mum," he told Australia's Woman's Day  in 2014 while in town to deejay at a festival. "I don't care what people say, I know that me and mum are solid. I love her a lot. My family means everything."

He also loved music, he added, "but the family comes before everything else."

Marriage to Katie Holmes

Tom was in a sharing mood when he started dating the  Dawson's Creek  alum in 2005, boisterously telling Oprah Winfrey   and her sofa that he was in love with the actress.

"Here's the thing, you can't think about it in terms of what people are going to do or say," he told MTV News that June of the PR perils of wearing his heart on his sleeve. "It's 'I want to share my life with this woman. This woman is exceptional, she's special, she's extraordinary and I have great respect for her.' It's someone who's saying 'I've got nothing to hide, I'm happy.' I'm happy, man!"

The Top Gun star proposed atop the Eiffel Tower in June 2005, reportedly within eight weeks of their first date.

Their lavish Nov. 18, 2006, nuptials were held at the 15th-century Odescalchi Castle in Bracciano, Italy. Suri, Connor and Bella were in attendance, along with the likes of the Beckhams, Jennifer Lopez  and then-husband Marc Anthony , Will Smith  and Jada Pinkett Smith , and Brooke Shields  and spouse  Chris Henchy .

Suri Cruise

Tom and Katie's daughter was born April 18, 2006. 

The  October 2006 cover of  Vanity Fair , first revealed on the CBS Evening News  Sept. 5, introduced Suri to the world. The portrait by Annie Leibovitz featured the 3-month-old tucked into her dad's leather aviator jacket, an homage to Linda McCartney 's famous shot of  Paul McCartney with their baby daughter Mary  from his 1970 album  McCartney .

"She's a glorious girl," Katie told the magazine. "She's the miracle of our life."

Tom shared that they found the name in a baby book sent to them by friends and just loved it. "We later found out that it meant 'red rose,' and that was just a bonus," he added. "Suri—it was perfect."

The article noted that the family, including Conor and Bella, were all gathered cozily at Tom's house in Telluride (which he sold in 2021 for $39.5 million).

"It's really special to see them holding their little sister," Katie said. "To hear them talk about all of the fun things they are going to do together." Added Tom, "It's very moving to me too. I look at those moments of watching Bella and Connor grow up and you get a sense of what kind of people they are going to be as adults."

Katie filed for divorce in June 2012, her attorney saying in a statement her "primary concern remains, as it always has been, her daughter's best interest."

Tom's rep told E! News that he "is deeply saddened and is concentrating on his three children."

The proceedings were settled relatively quickly , with both sides agreeing on Suri living primarily with her mom  while her dad got generous visitation rights. Katie started splitting time between New York and L.A. and resettled Suri on the East Coast for school. 

The  Batman Begins  actress set about giving her kid the most normal life possible, ferrying her to school and gymnastics like any other Manhattan mom. While the paparazzi never stopped clicking away, Katie shared only a handful of glimpses of Suri on social media over the years. But they also were seen at sporting events and have made many a pilgrimage to Broadway  to catch a show.

"My child is the most important person to me, and her upbringing is paramount to my work right now," she told Town & Country  in 2017 . "It's very important that I'm present and she has a stable, innocent childhood. I feel so blessed to do what I do, but there's nothing in the world better than watching your child succeed."

At the same time, she said, "Every day, kids get a little further away from you. That's a positive thing. They should be becoming more independent, but it's heartbreaking."

Suri may not have caught the acting bug yet, but she did sing the cover of "Blue Moon" that opens Alone Together , the rom-com her mom was inspired to write during the pandemic and then also starred in and directed. Suri also provided a vocal for her movie  Rare Objects .

"I hope she always does something on my films," Katie told Glamour  in March 2023. "I always ask her. But both of those experiences came out of the same sense of what I love about our industry, which is, you have these projects and you become a family with people. And it's this safe, beautiful, creative space."

With Suri about to turn 17 at the time, she noted, "What has been really important for me with my daughter, because she was so visible at a young age, is I really like to protect her. I'm very grateful to be a parent, to be her parent. She's an incredible person."

( Originally published May 19, 2024, at 5 a.m. PT )

Inside Tom Cruise's Relationship With His Daughter Suri Now

If you're a fan of going to the movies, odds are you've seen at least one Tom Cruise project. The "Mission: Impossible" star is absurdly famous around the world. As a result, many parts of his life have played out in very public ways on very public stages. 

Cruise is also a dad to three children. He shares his oldest, Isabella and Connor, with ex-wife Nicole Kidman , and his youngest, Suri , with ex-wife Katie Holmes. While it's clear that Cruise has a great relationship with Isabella and Connor, and both children are active members of his Scientology faith (per The U.S. Sun ), it's less clear what kind of relationship — if any — that he has with Suri. In fact, when Holmes and Cruise divorced, he affirmed that Holmes' desire to keep Suri out of the Scientology faith was a factor in their split (per HuffPost ).

The last public photos of Cruise and Suri date all the way back to 2012, when the two were snapped visiting Disneyland (per Yahoo! ). Here's a look into Tom Cruise's relationship with Suri and where it stands today.

Tom Cruise was so excited about Katie's pregnancy that he bought a sonogram machine

Like a lot of expectant parents, Tom Cruise was ecstatic about the impending arrival of his third child, Suri Cruise. In fact, he was so excited about Suri that he reportedly bought his own ultrasound machine so that he could see her every day. Cruise told Barbara Walters about the purchase, which can cost up to $200,000 (per  BBC News ). He seemed to understand that the purchase was on the lavish end, as he reassured people that the machine would be donated to a hospital after Katie Holmes gave birth.

However, not everyone thought the act was a great idea. In fact, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine issued a statement condemning the act, noting that the buy bordered on abusing the equipment. President Lennard Greenbaum, MD, said, in part, that "Tom Cruise's recent purchase of an ultrasound machine for personal use at home is both inappropriate and in violation of FDA rules addressing the sale of medical equipment."

Tom Cruise described his daughter Suri's birth as 'spiritual'

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes welcomed Suri Cruise on April 18, 2006 . From all accounts, and especially from Cruise's, Suri's arrival into the world was fairly extraordinary. In fact, only a few days after her birth, Cruise described the experience to "20/20" and still seemed in awe of everything he witnessed (via ABC News ). He said, "It was everything that we wanted it to be. ... It was spiritual. It was powerful. It was indescribable."

Plenty of outlets shared news of Suri's birth, as public interest in the newborn was quite high. CBS News  noted that Suri weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces, and clocked in at 20 inches long. A representative for Cruise and Holmes also shared information about her name, noting that Suri has Hebrew origins and can mean "princess," as well as Persian roots, which could give her name the meaning "red rose." 

Notably, Cruise and Holmes were also able to leave their home to head to the hospital in private, which was quite a feat considering the vast amount of attention they were receiving at the time.

Tom Cruise and Suri Cruise appeared to have a good relationship until 2012

In 2004, a then-engaged Katie Holmes admitted to Seventeen that she had once fantasized about marrying Tom Cruise (per HuffPost ). Fast-forward a few years, and Holmes found herself walking away from the very marriage she once said she wanted.

From all appearances, Tom Cruise and daughter Suri had a solid parent-child relationship up until 2012. That was the year that Katie Holmes filed for divorce in a move that apparently surprised Cruise. While speaking to German TV network ProSieben (via CBS News ), he admitted that he didn't see the divorce coming at all, saying, "I didn't expect it." He added, "Life is a tragicomedy. You need to have a sense of humor."

It seems that after he recovered from the shock of his wife of six years wanting a divorce, he bounced back pretty quickly. InStyle noted that the two were able to work through their divorce pretty quickly, with a settlement being reached after only 11 days. 

He admitted that Katie Holmes left him to 'protect' Suri from Scientology

While Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have been pretty quiet when it comes for the exact hows and whys of their divorce, when pushed, Cruise definitely let something slip: One of big reasons Holmes said she wanted a divorce was reportedly to "protect" their daughter, Suri, from Cruise's religion, Scientology . The admission came out during his deposition during a libel lawsuit he filed against a tabloid. When asked if Holmes felt she had to protect Suri by leaving the relationship, as reported by  HuffPost , he first replied that the question was "offensive" and that "there is no need to protect my daughter from my religion," before saying, "Did she say that? That was one of the assertions, yes."

On top of that, Cruise also admitted that Suri was no longer a practicing member of the religion (per TMZ ). While HuffPost asserts this means Suri has now been deemed a "suppressive person" in the eyes of the Church of Scientology, there have been no public statements made to that effect. Notably, "suppressive" people are often, if not always, "cut off" from those that are still active members of Scientology.

Tom Cruise was not awarded custody of Suri

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes hammered out the details of their divorce settlement in 11 days (per InStyle ), which is pretty remarkable. Surprisingly to many, Cruise was not awarded custody of the pair's daughter, Suri Cruise, at all, and instead walked away from the discussions with visitation rights only. In fact, Tom Cruise was told he can visit with Suri up to 10 days a month, according to Us Weekly .

Cruise also committed to a fairly hefty sum for child support, and TMZ reported that he pays over $33,000 a month for Suri's care. While that's noting to sniff at, it's a far cry from the sum a judge could have probably ordered him to pay if the divorce had gone to court, especially as his overall net worth is believed to be approximately $600 million (per Celebrity Net Worth ). Cruise is also in charge of covering any necessary expenses Suri might rack up, including medical and dental insurance, schooling, and college, and he also funds extracurricular activities (per TMZ).

It sounds like Tom Cruise doesn't always see Suri in person

Even though the custody agreement struck between Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes makes it clear that he can see their daughter, Suri Cruise, for 10 days a month, it seems like he hasn't been able to make that happen. On top of that, a source apparently close to the situation told Us Weekly that this seems to be a deliberate choice that Cruise is making. The source told the publication, "Every person is allowed to see their child if they wanted to. He chooses not to because she is not a Scientologist."

Outspoken critic of Scientology Tony Ortega spoke to Us Weekly about what might be going on behind closed doors, explaining that it's possible Holmes signed a document agreeing not to speak badly of the religion in order to get full custody. Ortega added that Holmes only had one objective: to take care of Suri. He said, "She wanted to get away and she wanted to get Suri."

In 2013, Tom Cruise admitted he hadn't seen Suri Cruise for 100 days

Things only got messier for Tom Cruise in the year after his divorce was finalized. In 2013, he admitted that he hadn't seen his youngest child for at least 100 days, explaining that his prolonged absence was due to his filming schedule. 

According to  People , Cruise said in a deposition hearing for her lawsuit again Bauer Publishing that it was "impossible" for him to see Suri during that time, and on top of that, he claimed that the then 7-year-old seemed just fine without him. After sharing that he's "very good" at talking to his daughter on the phone, Cruise added, "I also find that, you know, Suri is a very happy child, and confident, and has a good sense of herself."

He further explained that, though he missed Suri's first day of school, that was because his daughter didn't ask him to be there herself.

How long has it been since he's seen his daughter in person?

While Tom Cruise might have been able to explain why he didn't see Suri Cruise for 100 days, he then reportedly missed out on seeing his daughter in person for over 1,000 days. In 2016, In Touch Weekly reported that Cruise had not seen or exchanged words with Suri in over two and a half years. A source allegedly close to the situation told the publication that the pair had been using video chat and text messaging to stay in touch but that it had slowed down, before adding that Suri no longer really bought her father's explanations for why he was missing. The source said, "He uses his film commitments as an excuse, but the truth is that doesn't hold much weight with Suri anymore."

As in the past, some believe that Cruise's religion is the reason why he keeps missing out on his daughter's life. The same source told In Touch as much, noting, "He's disconnected from Katie, and then de facto from Suri, because of her connection to Katie. He hasn't seen her since she was 7."

A friend reportedly said Tom Cruise never meant to 'be estranged' from Suri

Despite Tom Cruise's reportedly prolonged period of estrangement from Suri, an alleged friend of his has stated that the actor never meant to be so far removed from his daughter. While speaking to Hollywood Life in 2019, the friend explained that, even though Cruise isn't with Suri on important days like her birthday, he's always planning for them. The friend said, "Tom does plan to send Suri a gift and call her on her birthday."

The friend added that Cruise has a lot of love for Suri, and that being this distant from his daughter wasn't something he anticipated when he and Katie Holmes welcomed Suri to the world. The friend explained, "Tom never intended to be estranged from his daughter when he decided to have a family with Katie and looks forward to repairing the relationship one day."

While it's unclear when Cruise will ever reconnect with his daughter, assuming the reports about their estrangement are true, one thing that is certainly true is that the path getting to this point has been long, winding, and, truth be told, quite confusing. Perhaps the two will grow closer when Suri is an adult.

Tom Cruise doesn't live in the same state as Suri

One factor that likely complicates the relationship between Tom Cruise and daughter Suri is that they don't live in the same state — or even the same country. While Suri lives in New York City with her mom, Katie Holmes, Cruise has reportedly been living in London, England, since April 2021 (per In Touch Weekly ).

A source told the publication that the city is a natural fit for Cruise, explaining that he especially enjoys the rainy weather and being able to walk around his new home. He is also reportedly fond of the city because of the anonymity it lends him. The source said, "If he wears a hat and mask, he can slip into bookstores or antique shops and no one knows it's him. He's got family living there, too, which gives him a sense of belonging."

As for Suri, she and her mom moved to New York following the divorce. Holmes admitted to InStyle in 2020 that the city isn't quite as private as she'd like, but she said that the city is just right for her and Suri. She shared, "What I love about New York is that for me and my child, this is our vibe."

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Tom cruise’s kids: meet his 3 children including 16-year-old daughter suri.

Tom Cruise may keep quiet about his kids, but the “Top Gun: Maverick” actor is a father of three.

The Golden Globe winner became a parent while married to Nicole Kidman from 1990 to 2001.

After struggling to conceive, the former couple adopted daughter Isabella and son Connor in 1992 and 1995, respectively.

Amid their divorce, the “Big Little Lies” alum suffered an ectopic pregnancy . After splitting from Cruise and moving on with Keith Urban , Kidman later welcomed daughters Sunday and Faith via surrogate.

As for Cruise, he moved on with Katie Holmes in 2005. The duo welcomed their daughter, Suri, in April 2006, seven months before tying the knot in Italy.

Holmes filed for divorce from the Oscar nominee in June 2012, and their divorce was settled the following month. Keep scrolling to meet Cruise’s kids.

Isabella Jane Cruise

Kidman and Cruise adopted Isabella shortly after she was born in 1992, and their daughter has followed in the “Mission: Impossible” star’s Scientologist footsteps.

In a March 2019 newsletter for the organization, Isabella thanked her dad “for everything.”

Although Kidman keeps quiet about her relationship with Isabella, she did speak about her adult children in a November 2018 Who interview .

“They are adults,” the Emmy winner said of Isabella and Connor at the time. “They are able to make their own decisions.

“ They have made choices to be Scientologists and as a mother, it’s my job to love them,” she continued.

“I know 150 percent that I would give up my life for my children because it’s what my purpose is.”

Connor Anthony Kidman Cruise

Connor was also raised in the Church of Scientology after being adopted in 1995.

Cruise and Kidman’s adult son is active on social media and has documented his fishing trips, his new buzzcut hairstyle and more.

Over the years, Connor and his dad have been photographed on rare outings.

The duo watched basketball games together in Connor’s younger years, and have more recently been spotted boarding a helicopter and hanging out on the “Jack Reacher” set.

Suri Cruise

Holmes gave birth to Suri in 2006 and has maintained a close bond with her daughter.

The “Dawson’s Creek” alum told Town & Country in 2017 that she provides the little one with a “stable and innocent” childhood .

Cruise, however, still has “no part” of his youngest child’s life , a source exclusively told Page Six in March 2022.

In a 2012 defamation lawsuit against Bauer Media, the “Jerry Maguire” star said he didn’t see Suri for three months after his and Holmes’ breakup.

“Listen, when there is a divorce … things change,” Cruise said. “It’s not an ideal situation.”

Ex-Scientologist Leah Remini has asserted that Cruise “can’t be connected” to Suri because Holmes is considered a “suppressive person” or “enemy” in the religion.

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Tom Cruise Has Reportedly Quit Scientology After It Kept Him From Seeing His Daughter Suri For Years

• Tom Cruise has reportedly distanced himself from the Church of Scientology, possibly ending his long-standing affiliation with the controversial religion.
• The Church of Scientology has played a significant role in Tom Cruise's personal life, including his divorces and his relationship with his daughter Suri.
• While Tom's two eldest children remain devoted members of the Church, his rumored departure may strain relationships within his family.

Tom Cruise has been a high-profile member of the Church of Scientology for decades, and his eldest two kids have also become active members. But Tom has reportedly quit the church after allowing it to control his life for years.

As per The Mirror , Tom has been primarily in the UK the last three years filming his latest movies. While he’s been photographed around places like Birmingham and Cotswolds, it’s reported that he’s stopped visiting the UK Scientology headquarters. He also hasn’t been pictured at the Church of Scientology building in central London.

This is fuelling speculation that the actor is distancing himself from Scientology. Reports of this first began in 2021, when Tom was apparently having a “religious crisis.”

RELATED: These Tom Cruise Movies Have Grossed Over $100 Million At The Box Office

Tom Doesn’t Have A Relationship With Suri Because Of Scientology

Tom hasn’t responded to the speculation thus far, but it’s shocking when considering how involved the Church has been in his personal life. Scientology allegedly played a role in his divorces from Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes , and it’s highly speculated that it’s also kept him away from his and Katie’s daughter, Suri, 17.

Katie filed for divorce from Tom in 2012 after 7 years of marriage and it was finalized within a matter of weeks. Katie got a generous settlement --- $400,000 a month until Suri turns 18 —and, more importantly, sole custody of their daughter.

Reports said the divorce was fuelled by Katie’s desire to escape Scientology’s influence on her family (and the pressure to convert). She enrolled Suri in a Catholic school shortly after the split.

RELATED: Tom Cruise Refused To Let Harvey Weinstein Ruin His Friend's Film

With Tom agreeing to give Katie full custody, it appears he also agreed to not have contact with Suri while she’s a minor, likely due to his and Katie’s conflict about Scientology.

But now with reports that Tom is leaving the Church, perhaps he’ll try rekindling a relationship with Suri, even though it’s apparently been a decade since he last saw her .

Tom’s Oldest Daughter Is A High-Ranking Church Member

While Tom may be quitting Scientology, his two eldest children remain heavily involved in the religion. In 2019, his daughter Isabella reveals she was promoted to being an auditor , the person who questions other Scientologists about their personal live. In a promotional video, she says the religion saved her life.

“It’s a few meltdowns and running to the bathroom to have a mini episode, but it is worth everything because you will get through,” Isabella explained. “This is a gift to yourself and so many others. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t going to be an auditor or aren’t going to join staff. If you are going to make it as a being for the long run you NEED this. That’s the truth… so stop messing around and get going.”

Tom’s oldest kids lived with him following his divorce from their mother, Nicole Kidman, explaining their entrenchment in the Scientology faith. But if Tom truly is walking away from the controversial religion, it could put a divide In between their relationship, though it could improve things between him and Suri.