Tom Cruise

Biography

"You take my breath away" this is what probably millions of girls all over the world wrote to Tom Cruise after the movie 'Top Gun'. Even today, the boyish smile, the enthusiasm, cool personality and the charisma make him one of the most sought after men in Hollywood as well as in general. Regarded as one of the icons of Hollywood, Tom Cruise was born as Thomas Cruise Mapother IV on the 3rd of July, 1962 in Syracuse, New York. His parents had divorced when he was just 12 and as a result, he had to go through a tough upbringing where there was always a shortage of money.

Hollywood Calling
Success never comes easy and for Cruise it was a long waiting. He attended drama classes and auditioned for a few television commercials but all that went in vain till he got a small role in 'Endless Love' (1980).

It was 1983, when Cruise landed the opportunity to work with Francis Ford Coppola in 'The Outsiders' and this movie laid the foundation for such a glorifying career. The same year Cruise did two more movies, a comedy called 'Losin' it' and 'Risky Business'. The latter propelled him towards stardom especially with the scene where he lip-sync's Bob Seger's Old Time Rock and Roll in his underwear.

In May, 1986 Tom Cruise went on to become one of the biggest stars with his highest grossing film of the year, 'Top Gun.' 'Top Gun' rattled the box office with US $353,816,701 and Cruise flew with the Blue Angels before signing this film. It was so popular that even the US Marines used a clip for their recruitment advertisement. The same year 'Color of Money' was released and was followed by 'Cocktail' in 1988. 1989 saw Tom Cruise in 'Rainman' where he was cast with Dustin Hoffman. Directed by Barry Levinson, 'Rainman' was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won four. As Tom cruised along on the popularity charts, his million dollar smile was flashed on the cover of TIME magazine on December 25, 1989.

Cruise started 1990 with an epic role based on the character of Ron Kovic, an anti-Vietnam war hero in the movie 'Born on the 4th of July'. Some of the movies to hit the theaters later included 'Days of Thunder', the critically acclaimed 'A Few Good Men' with Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore, 'The firm,' 'Interview with the Vampire' and in 1996, he took a walk in the park with Brian de Palma's 'Mission: Impossible'. The movie grossed $456,494,803 worldwide and was followed by 'Jerry Maguire,' 'Eyes Wide Shut,' 'Magnolia,' 'Vanilla Sky,' 'Minority Report,' 'The Last Samurai,' and 'Collateral'.

Trivia
Tom Cruise produced 'Mission: Impossible' with Paula Wagner.
He had relationships with Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, and Katie Holmes.

Achievements
Tom Cruise has won 3 Golden Globes and was nominated for 3 Oscars and 1 BAFTA Award.
Cruise was rated among the 50 most beautiful people in the world by People Magazine in 1990, 1991 and 1997.

Past Projects
Valkyrie.... Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg
Lions for Lambs.... Senator Jasper Irving
Mission: Impossible III .... Ethan Hunt
War of the Worlds.... Ray Ferrier
Collateral.... Vincent
The Last Samurai.... Nathan Algren
Minority Report.... Chief John Anderton
Vanilla Sky.... David Aames
Mission: Impossible II.... Ethan Hunt
Magnolia.... Frank T.J. Mackey
Eyes Wide Shut.... Dr. William 'Bill' Harford
Jerry Maguire.... Jerry Maguire
Mission: Impossible.... Ethan Hunt
The Firm.... Mitch McDeere
A Few Good Men.... Lt. Daniel Kaffee
Far and Away.... Joseph Donnelly
Days of Thunder.... Cole Trickle
Born on the Fourth of July.... Ron Kovic
Rain Man.... Charlie Babbitt
Cocktail.... Brian Flanagan
The Color of Money.... Vincent Lauria
Top Gun.... Maverick
Legend.... Jack
Risky Business.... Joel Goodsen
The Outsiders.... Steve Randle
Taps.... Cadet Captain David Shawn

Tom Cruise was born in Syracuse, New York on July 3, 1962.
Name: Thomas Cruise Mapother IV
Date of Birth: July 3rd 1962
Height: 5' 7" (1.70 m)

Talent Agency: Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
2000 Avenue Of The Stars
Los Angeles, CA 90067
USA