Brian's Movie Stars

Tom Cruise

Tom CruiseTom Cruise (born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV; July 3, 1962), is an American film actor and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and has won three Golden Globe Awards. He started his career at age 19 in the 1981 film Endless Love. After portraying supporting roles in Taps (1981) and The Outsiders (1983), his first leading role was in Risky Business, released in August 1983. Cruise became a full-fledged movie star after starring in Top Gun (1986). He is well known for his role as secret agent Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible film series between 1996 and 2011.

Cruise has starred in many Hollywood blockbusters, including The Color of Money (1986), Cocktail (1988), Rain Man (1988), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Far and Away (1992), A Few Good Men (1992), The Firm (1993), Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994), Jerry Maguire (1996), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Magnolia (1999), Vanilla Sky (2001), Minority Report (2002), The Last Samurai (2003), Collateral (2004), War of the Worlds (2005), Valkyrie (2008), Knight and Day (2010), Jack Reacher (2012) and Oblivion (2013). In 2012, Cruise was Hollywood’s highest-paid actor. Fourteen of his films grossed over $100 million domestically; twenty have grossed in excess of $200 million worldwide.

Cruise is known for his support for the Church of Scientology and its affiliated social programs.

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1981Endless LoveBilly
1981TapsCadet Captain David Shawn
1983Outsiders, TheThe OutsidersSteve Randle
1983Losin’ ItWoody
1983All the Right MovesStefen “Stef” Djordjevic
1983Risky BusinessJoel Goodson
1985LegendJack O’ The Green
1986Top GunLt. Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell
1986Color of Money, TheThe Color of MoneyVincent Lauria
1988CocktailBrian Flanagan
1988Rain ManCharlie Babbitt
1989Born on the Fourth of JulyRon Kovic
1990Days of ThunderCole Trickle
1992Far and AwayJoseph Donnelly
1992Few Good Men, AA Few Good MenLt. Daniel Kaffee
1993Firm, TheThe FirmMitch McDeere
1994Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire ChroniclesLestat de Lioncourt
1996Mission: ImpossibleEthan Hunt
1996Jerry MaguireJerry Maguire
1999Eyes Wide ShutBill Harford
1999MagnoliaFrank T.J. Mackey
2000Mission: Impossible IIEthan Hunt
2001Stanley Kubrick: A Life in PicturesNarrator
2001Vanilla SkyDavid Aames
2002Space Station 3DNarrator
2002Minority ReportJohn Anderton
2002Austin Powers in GoldmemberHimself
2003Last Samurai, TheThe Last SamuraiNathan Algren
2004CollateralVincent
2005War of the WorldsRay Ferrier
2006Mission: Impossible IIIEthan Hunt
2007Lions for LambsSenator Jasper Irving
2008ValkyrieClaus von Stauffenberg
2008Tropic ThunderLes Grossman
2010Knight and DayRoy Miller
2011Mission: Impossible – Ghost ProtocolEthan Hunt
2012Rock of AgesStacee Jaxx
2012Jack ReacherJack Reacher
2013OblivionJack Harper
2014Edge of TomorrowLt. Col. William “Bill” Cage

They Said…

Kelly Gough (actress, RAW): I wouldn’t want to rate them as I respect them all.

Rachel Sarah Murphy: Excellent.

Daniel Wymbs: Most are excellent.

Ferdia McAnna (writer): Tom Cruise rocked Collaterall.

Michael Doherty (RTE Guide): Never a top actor but definitely under-rated. A great agent and a keen filter has kept Cruise in leading roles for decades.

David Heap (actor): Tom Cruise could have been very good.

Elfrieda Carroll: Underneath it all he’s a great actor but too much hype.

Alvean Jones (tv presenter): his scientology overshadows his acting.

Film fan: former matinee idol has struggled to broaden or deepen his range. Difficult to take seriously, unless you are a producer – in which case he can still deliver box office kerching. Like it or not, he is probably the global face of Hollywood stardom.

Film fan: Tom Cruise – Gorgeous. Favourite role is “A Few good men”.