Jump to content

Tom Cruise

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Shoaler (talk | contribs) at 22:57, 14 June 2005 (rv vandalism). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Tom Cruise (born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV July 3, 1962 in Syracuse, New York, USA) is an American film actor and producer who has starred in a number of top-grossing movies. His first leading role in a blockbuster movie was in 1986's Top Gun, as Maverick.

Biography

File:Vanilla Sky poster.jpg
Tom Cruise as seen on the poster for the 2001 film Vanilla Sky

Cruise's parents moved frequently when he was a child, residing in a number of locations throughout the United States and Canada, including Ottawa, Louisville, Kentucky, Glen Ridge, New Jersey, where he attended Glen Ridge High School, and Wayne, New Jersey. Before going into acting, Cruise attended a Franciscan seminary and aspired to become a Catholic priest.

He received Academy Award nominations for Born on the Fourth of July (1989) and Jerry Maguire (1996), both as Best Actor; and for Magnolia (1999), as Best Supporting Actor. In 1996, he became the first actor in history to star in five consecutive films that grossed $100 million in domestic release. The films were A Few Good Men (1992), The Firm (1993), Interview with the Vampire (1994), Mission: Impossible (1996) and Jerry Maguire (1996).

Cruise teamed with producer Paula Wagner to form Cruise/Wagner Productions, which has co-produced several of Cruise's films such as Mission: Impossible and its sequels, Vanilla Sky (2001), and The Last Samurai (2003). The company also co-produced The Others (2001).

In 1990, 1991 and 1997, People magazine rated him among the 50 most beautiful people in the world. In 1995, Empire magazine ranked him among the 100 sexiest stars in film history. Two years later, it ranked him among the top 5 movie stars of all time. In 2002 and 2003, he was rated by Premiere among the top 20 in its annual Power 100 list. He has repeatedly tried not to trade on his looks and has endeavoured to chase challenging roles in hope of academy success.

A number of Cruise's more well-known and popular movies have cast him in a similar role, one which has been half-jokingly referred to by movie fans (and some critics) as the "Generic Tom Cruise Character." In a role of this type, Cruise has portrayed a character who, as the film begins, is seen as a cocky, stuck-up, self-centered egoist who cares for little other than himself. As the events of the movie unfold, his character learns to become more open-minded and altruistic, until by the time the climax has been reached, he has undergone a radical change and been transformed into a better human being. Examples of the "Generic Tom Cruise Character" can be seen in Top Gun, Rain Man, A Few Good Men, Jerry Maguire, Cocktail, The Last Samurai, and others.

He has been married twice, to Mimi Rogers (May 9, 1987 - February 4, 1990) and later Nicole Kidman (December 24, 1990 - August 8, 2001). He and Nicole Kidman adopted two children, Isabella (born 1993) and Connor (born 1995.) Cruise recently discussed his bi-racial son with the TV talkshow host Oprah Winfrey. Oprah asked Cruise if the issue of his race was ever discussed in the household. "We’re from the human race, human kind,” he clarified. “I mean, what’s there to talk about? He’s my son. Listen, that’s just how I feel about it. He’s my son. I’ve never thought about color, race, I just have not thought about that." Cruise was, for a short time, romantically linked with Penelope Cruz, the lead actress in his film Vanilla Sky. In March 2004, he announced that his relationship with Penelope Cruz had ended in January. As of April 2005, he has been dating Katie Holmes.[1][2]

During his marriage to actress Nicole Kidman, the couple endured public speculation about their sex life and rumors that Cruise was gay. In May 2001 he filed a lawsuit against gay porn actor Chad Slater. Slater had allegedly told the celebrity magazine Actustar that he had engaged in a homosexual affair with Cruise. Both Slater and Cruise denied this, and in August 2001 Slater defaulted on the lawsuit.[3]

Cruise is widely known to be a member of the Church of Scientology (as of 1990). He has been vocal about this fact [4], and participated in the opening of the Church of Scientology of Madrid. He has also done Scientology-related fund-raisers for New York charities and is an avid spokesperson for the study technology of L. Ron Hubbard. He states that this study method helped him personally [5] and so says that he will do everything possible to make it available to others. He has also said Scientology has “the only successful drug rehabilitation program in the world.”[6] From 1990-2004 Cruise was represented by powerhouse agent Pat Kingsley. After replacing her with his sister and fellow Scientologist LeeAnne Devette, Cruise began to discuss his beliefs more openly. His contract for the 2005 film War of the Worlds stipulated that the Scientologists be given a tent on set to talk to cast and crew. In his words, they were there to "help the sick and injured."

In May 2005 Cruise granted a rare half-hour interview to "infotainment" show Access Hollywood to promote Scientology. During the show he criticized former co-star Brooke Shields for her decision to use the drug Paxil to combat her post-partum depression as well as promote the drug in media appearances, saying, "Here is a woman, and I care about Brooke Shields because I think she is an incredibly talented woman, you look at (and think) where has her career gone." Shields responded: "Tom Cruise’s comments are irresponsible and dangerous… Tom should stick to saving the world from aliens and let women who are experiencing postpartum depression decide what treatment options are best for them." He has also just recently become known for converting his current girlfriend, Katie Holmes, from the Roman Catholic Church to the Church of Scientology.

Appearance on Oprah

File:Cruiseonoprah.jpg
Tom Cruise jumps ecstatically on Oprah's couch

On May 23, 2005, Cruise rose some eyebrows with a frenzied appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show in which he —according to The New York Times— "jumped around the set, hopped onto a couch, fell rapturously to one knee and repeatedly professed his love for his new girlfriend, the actress Katie Holmes." [7] [8]

Selected Filmography

Trivia

Although resident in the U.S., Cruise also maintains a home in London and is a frequent visitor to the UK.

Cruise started wearing braces in 2002. (He removes them during filming).

Cruise enjoys signing autographs.

Salary:

  • War of the Worlds (2005) (20% profit participation)
  • The Last Samurai (2003) $25,000,000 + % of profits
  • Minority Report (2002) $25,000,000+
  • Vanilla Sky (2001) $20,000,000 + 30% of Profits
  • Mission: Impossible II (2000) $75,000,000 (gross participation)
  • Eyes Wide Shut (1999) $20,000,000
  • Jerry Maguire (1996) $20,000,000 against 15%
  • Mission: Impossible (1996) $70,000,000 (gross participation)
  • Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) $15,000,000
  • Far and Away (1992) $13,000,000
  • Rain Man (1988) $3,000,000+% of gross
  • Top Gun (1986) $2,000,000
  • Risky Business (1983) $75,000
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tom_Cruise&oldid=15202641"