History of Tom Cruise in Timeline
Tom Cruise, a prominent American actor and producer, stands as a Hollywood icon. He has earned numerous accolades, including an Honorary Palme d'Or and three Golden Globe Awards, and has been nominated for four Academy Awards. His films have generated over $13.3 billion globally, making him one of the highest-grossing actors. Cruise is consistently among the highest-paid actors globally and is considered one of Hollywood's most bankable stars.
1986: Converted to Scientology
In 1986, Tom Cruise was converted to Scientology by his first wife, Mimi Rogers.
May 9, 1987: Marriage to Mimi Rogers
On May 9, 1987, Tom Cruise married actress Mimi Rogers.
February 4, 1990: Divorce from Mimi Rogers
On February 4, 1990, Tom Cruise and Mimi Rogers divorced.
December 24, 1990: Marriage to Nicole Kidman
On December 24, 1990, Tom Cruise married actress Nicole Kidman after meeting on the set of "Days of Thunder".
1990: Involvement in Scientology Leaked
In 1990, Tom Cruise's involvement in Scientology was leaked by the tabloid Star.
1992: Public Announcement of Following Scientology
In 1992, Tom Cruise publicly announced that he followed Scientology in an interview with Barbara Walters.
1993: Formation of Cruise/Wagner Productions
In 1993, Tom Cruise partnered with Paula Wagner to create Cruise/Wagner Productions.
1996: First Project as a Producer
In 1996, Cruise/Wagner Productions co-produced "Mission: Impossible", marking Tom Cruise's first project as a producer.
1999: Rathbun Sent to Convince Cruise to Return
In 1999, Marty Rathbun was sent by David Miscavige to convince Tom Cruise to return to the Church of Scientology and continue his studies.
February 5, 2001: Separation from Nicole Kidman
On February 5, 2001, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's spokesperson announced their separation.
May 2001: Lawsuit Against Chad Slater
In May 2001, Tom Cruise filed a lawsuit against gay porn actor Chad Slater. Slater had told the celebrity magazine Actustar that he had been involved in an affair with Cruise. This claim was strongly denied by Cruise.
January 2003: Judge Decides Against Slater
In January 2003, a Los Angeles judge ruled against Chad Slater after Slater admitted his claims of an affair with Tom Cruise were false.
January 2004: Cruise's Statement on Psychiatry
In January 2004, Tom Cruise stated, "I think psychiatry should be outlawed."
March 2004: Pat Kingsley Resigns as Publicist
In March 2004, Pat Kingsley resigned as Tom Cruise's publicist of 14 years.
2004: Scientology Freedom Medal of Valor Awarded
In late 2004, David Miscavige created the Scientology Freedom Medal of Valor and awarded it to Tom Cruise for his work with Downtown Medical.
June 24, 2005: Argument with Matt Lauer
On June 24, 2005, Tom Cruise engaged in a heated argument with Matt Lauer on NBC's Today show.
October 6, 2005: Cruise and Holmes Announce Expecting a Child
On October 6, 2005, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes announced that they were expecting a child.
November 2005: DeVette Replaced as Publicist
In November 2005, Lee Anne DeVette, Tom Cruise's sister and publicist, was replaced with Paul Bloch from Rogers and Cowan.
2005: Described as one of the most powerful forces in Hollywood
In 2005, Hollywood economist Edward Jay Epstein described Tom Cruise as one of the most powerful and richest forces in Hollywood.
2005: Cruise Lobbies French Officials
In 2005, Tom Cruise lobbied French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy and Senate President Jean-Claude Gaudin to have Scientology recognized as a religion in Europe. The Council of Paris barred further dealings with Cruise.
July 5, 2006: WIPO Hands Over TomCruise.com Domain
On July 5, 2006, The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) decided that the TomCruise.com domain should be handed over to Tom Cruise.
August 2006: Cruise Apologizes to Shields
In late August 2006, Tom Cruise apologized in person to Brooke Shields for his comments regarding her use of antidepressants.
August 22, 2006: Paramount Pictures Ends Relationship with Cruise
On August 22, 2006, Paramount Pictures announced the end of its 14-year relationship with Tom Cruise due to economic damage from his public behavior.
October 10, 2006: "Tom Cruise Day" in Japan
October 10, 2006, was declared "Tom Cruise Day" in Japan, recognizing his love for and association with the country.
November 2006: Takeover of United Artists
In November 2006, Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner announced their takeover of the film studio United Artists (UA), with Cruise as producer and star, and Wagner as CEO.
2006: Return as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible III
In 2006, Tom Cruise reprised his role as Ethan Hunt in "Mission: Impossible III", the third installment of the film series. The movie was received positively by critics and earned approximately $400 million at the box office.
March 2007: Acquisition of Valkyrie by United Artists
In March 2007, the film "Valkyrie" was acquired by United Artists (UA).
March 21, 2007: Signing to Play Claus von Stauffenberg
On March 21, 2007, Tom Cruise signed to play Claus von Stauffenberg in the film "Valkyrie".
2007: Supporting Role in Lions for Lambs
In 2007, Tom Cruise played a rare supporting role in "Lions for Lambs", which did not perform well commercially.
January 15, 2008: Scientology Video Posted on YouTube
On January 15, 2008, a video featuring an interview with Tom Cruise discussing Scientology was posted on YouTube by the Anonymous-linked group Project Chanology.
August 2008: Wagner Steps Down from UA
In August 2008, Paula Wagner stepped down from her position as CEO at United Artists (UA), retaining her stake in the company.
December 25, 2008: Release of Valkyrie
On December 25, 2008, the historical thriller "Valkyrie", starring Tom Cruise, was released and achieved box office success.
2008: Restrictions on Scientology Questions in Interviews
Since 2008, Tom Cruise has restricted interviewers from asking him about Scientology.
February 9, 2010: Confirmation of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol Role
On February 9, 2010, Tom Cruise confirmed his role in "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol", the fourth installment in the series.
March 2010: Filming of Knight and Day
In March 2010, Tom Cruise finished filming the action-comedy "Knight and Day", reuniting with Cameron Diaz.
June 23, 2010: Release of Knight and Day
On June 23, 2010, the action-comedy "Knight and Day", starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, was released.
2010: Induction into Living Legends of Aviation
In 2010, Tom Cruise, an aerobatic pilot, was inducted into the Living Legends of Aviation and received the Aviation Inspiration and Patriotism Award.
May 6, 2011: Humanitarian Award from the Simon Wiesenthal Center
On May 6, 2011, Tom Cruise received a humanitarian award from the Simon Wiesenthal Center and its Museum of Tolerance for his philanthropic work.
December 2011: Release of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
In December 2011, "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol" was released to critical acclaim and box office success, becoming Tom Cruise's biggest commercial success to that date, unadjusted for inflation.
2011: Publication of Inside Scientology Book
In 2011, Janet Reitman's book Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion was published. The book describes how Cruise "freaked out" after learning some Scientology secrets.
June 2012: Release of Rock of Ages
In June 2012, the movie "Rock of Ages", in which Tom Cruise played the character Stacee Jaxx, was released. Despite positive reviews for Cruise's performance, the film was a box-office disappointment.
June 29, 2012: Holmes Files for Divorce
On June 29, 2012, Katie Holmes filed for divorce from Tom Cruise, marking the end of their marriage.
October 2012: Cruise Files Defamation Lawsuit
In October 2012, Tom Cruise filed a lawsuit against In Touch and Life & Style magazines for defamation after they claimed Cruise had "abandoned" his six-year-old daughter.
October 2012: Vanity Fair Article on Cruise's Breakup and Scientology "Auditions"
In October 2012, Vanity Fair published an article stating that Scientologist leaders launched a secret project to find Tom Cruise a new girlfriend after his breakup with Penélope Cruz. The article detailed a series of "auditions" of Scientologist actresses, resulting in a short-lived relationship with Nazanin Boniadi. Scientology and Cruise's lawyers denied the claims, but journalist Roger Friedman reported receiving confirmation from Paul Haggis, an ex-Scientologist.
December 21, 2012: Release of Jack Reacher
On December 21, 2012, the film "Jack Reacher", adapted from Lee Child's novel "One Shot", was released, receiving positive reviews and achieving box office success.
2013: Publication of Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
In 2013, Lawrence Wright's book Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief was published, shedding light on Tom Cruise's role in Scientology.
2013: Starring in Oblivion
In 2013, Tom Cruise starred in the science fiction film "Oblivion", based on Joseph Kosinski's graphic novel. The film received mixed reviews and grossed $286 million worldwide.
2014: Starring in Edge of Tomorrow
In 2014, Tom Cruise starred in the science fiction-action film "Edge of Tomorrow", which garnered positive reviews and grossed over $370 million.
2015: Documentary Adaptation of Going Clear Released
In 2015, Alex Gibney's documentary adaptation of the book Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief was released, highlighting Tom Cruise's involvement in Scientology.
2015: Return as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
In 2015, Tom Cruise reprised his role as Ethan Hunt in "Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation", the fifth film in the series. The film garnered high critical acclaim and was a commercial success.
2017: Starring in The Mummy reboot
In 2017, Tom Cruise starred in the reboot of the 1932 film "The Mummy". The new film, also titled "The Mummy", received negative reviews but still grossed over $400 million.
2018: Reprising Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible – Fallout
In 2018, Tom Cruise once again played Ethan Hunt in "Mission: Impossible – Fallout", the sixth film in the franchise, which was well-received by critics and earned over $791 million.
May 2020: Plans for a Movie Shot in Outer Space
In May 2020, it was announced that Tom Cruise would star in and produce a movie filmed in outer space, directed by Doug Liman and involving a trip to the International Space Station.
June 2020: YouTube Video Views
As of June 2020, the video posted on YouTube on January 15, 2008 showing Tom Cruise discussing Scientology has achieved over 15 million views.
May 2021: Protest Against the Hollywood Foreign Press Association
In May 2021, Tom Cruise protested the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) by returning his three Golden Globe Awards due to concerns about the HFPA's lack of diversity and ethical issues.
2022: Reprising Role in Top Gun: Maverick
In 2022, Tom Cruise reprised his role as Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in "Top Gun: Maverick", which he also produced. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival where Cruise earned an Honorary Palme d'Or and went on to break box office records, becoming his highest-grossing film and earning him $100 million.
July 12, 2023: Release of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
On July 12, 2023, Tom Cruise reprised his role as Ethan Hunt in "Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One". The film received critical acclaim, but faced box office challenges due to the "Barbenheimer" phenomenon.
January 2024: Partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery
In January 2024, it was announced that Tom Cruise's production company was forming a strategic partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery to develop and produce original and franchise films.
2024: Appearance at Paris Olympics closing ceremony
In 2024, Tom Cruise appeared in the Paris 2024 Olympics closing ceremony by jumping from the roof of the Stade de France stadium in Paris to promote Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics.
May 2025: Release of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
In May 2025, Tom Cruise reprised the role of Ethan Hunt in the second part, "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning". Cruise also declared it would be the last film in which he would portray Ethan Hunt.
2025: Declined Kennedy Center Honors
In 2025, Tom Cruise was selected by President Donald Trump for the Kennedy Center Honors but he declined it.
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