History of Tom Cruise in Timeline
Tom Cruise is a highly successful American actor and producer, considered a Hollywood icon. He has won numerous awards, including three Golden Globes and an Honorary Palme d'Or, and has been nominated for four Academy Awards. Cruise's films have grossed over $13.3 billion worldwide, making him one of the highest-grossing and highest-paid actors in history.
1932: Release of The Mummy
In 1932, Boris Karloff's horror movie "The Mummy" was released, which was later rebooted in 2017 starring Tom Cruise.
July 20, 1944: Assassination attempt against Adolf Hitler
On July 20, 1944, there was an assassination attempt against Adolf Hitler, based on which the 2007 film Valkyrie was based on.
1986: Cruise converts 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, whom he met on the set of "Days of Thunder".
1990: Cruise's Scientology involvement leaked
In 1990, Tom Cruise's involvement in Scientology was leaked by the tabloid Star.
1992: Adoption of Isabella Jane
In 1992, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman adopted their daughter, Isabella Jane.
1992: Cruise publicly announces he follows Scientology
In 1992, Tom Cruise publicly announced he followed Scientology in an interview with Barbara Walters.
1993: Formation of Cruise/Wagner Productions
In 1993, Tom Cruise partnered with Paula Wagner to form Cruise/Wagner Productions.
1995: Adoption of Connor Antony
In 1995, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman adopted their son, Connor Antony.
1996: First Project as Producer with Mission: Impossible
In 1996, Cruise/Wagner Productions co-produced "Mission: Impossible", marking Tom Cruise's first project as a producer.
1998: Cruise sues Daily Express
In 1998, Tom Cruise successfully sued the Daily Express, a British tabloid, which alleged that his marriage to Nicole Kidman was a sham designed to cover up his homosexuality.
1999: Miscavige sends Rathbun to convince Cruise to return to the Church
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 Announcement from Nicole Kidman
On February 5, 2001, the couple's spokesperson announced Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's separation.
May 2001: Cruise sues Chad Slater
In May 2001, Tom Cruise filed a lawsuit against gay porn actor Chad Slater after Slater claimed to have had an affair with him. Cruise strongly denied the claims.
2001: Cruise co-stars with Penélope Cruz in Vanilla Sky
In 2001, Tom Cruise co-starred with Penélope Cruz in the movie Vanilla Sky. This collaboration led to a romantic relationship between them.
January 2003: Judge rules against Slater in Cruise lawsuit
In January 2003, a Los Angeles judge decided against Chad Slater, in the lawsuit filed by Tom Cruise, after Slater admitted that his claims were false.
2003: Shields uses Paxil after the birth of her first daughter
In 2003, actress Brooke Shields used the drug Paxil (paroxetine), an antidepressant which she used to recover from postpartum depression after the birth of her first daughter.
January 2004: Cruise states psychiatry should be outlawed
In January 2004, Tom Cruise stated that "I think psychiatry should be outlawed."
March 2004: Kingsley resigns as Cruise's publicist
In March 2004, Pat Kingsley resigned as Tom Cruise's publicist of 14 years.
2004: Cruise and Cruz end their relationship
In 2004, Tom Cruise's three-year relationship with Penélope Cruz ended.
2004: Cruise receives Scientology Freedom Medal of Valor
In late 2004, David Miscavige created the Scientology Freedom Medal of Valor and awarded it to Tom Cruise for his work with Downtown Medical, offering "detoxification therapy" to New York City rescue workers in the aftermath of 9/11.
April 2005: Cruise begins dating Katie Holmes
In April 2005, Tom Cruise began dating actress Katie Holmes. The couple made their first public appearance together in Rome on April 27 of the same year.
June 24, 2005: Cruise and Lauer heated argument on NBC's Today
On June 24, 2005, Tom Cruise had a heated argument with Matt Lauer on NBC's Today, regarding Cruise's views on psychiatry and his criticism of Brooke Shields' use of antidepressants.
October 6, 2005: Cruise and Holmes announce they are expecting a child
On October 6, 2005, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes announced that they were expecting a child.
November 2005: DeVette replaced with Bloch as Cruise's publicist
In November 2005, Lee Anne DeVette, Tom Cruise's sister, was replaced by Paul Bloch from Rogers and Cowan as his publicist.
2005: Publication of One Shot
In 2005, British author Lee Child published the novel One Shot, which was later adapted into the film Jack Reacher starring Tom Cruise.
2005: Hollywood's most powerful force
In 2005, Hollywood economist Edward Jay Epstein described Tom Cruise as "one of the most powerful—and richest—forces in Hollywood", noting his ability to guarantee the success of billion-dollar film franchises.
2005: Cruise lobbies French officials to recognize Scientology as a religion
In 2005, Tom Cruise lobbied French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy and Senate President Jean-Claude Gaudin to recognize Scientology as a religion in Europe. The Council of Paris described Cruise as a militant spokesman for Scientology and barred any further dealings with him.
April 2006: Cruise and Holmes' daughter Suri is born
In April 2006, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' daughter, Suri, was born.
July 5, 2006: Cruise wins domain name dispute over TomCruise.com
On July 5, 2006, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) handed down the decision to turn the TomCruise.com domain name over to Tom Cruise, after he sued cybersquatter Jeff Burgar.
August 2006: Cruise apologizes to Shields
In late August 2006, Tom Cruise apologized in person to Brooke Shields for his earlier comments criticizing her use of antidepressants.
August 22, 2006: End of Paramount Relationship
On August 22, 2006, Paramount Pictures announced the end of its 14-year relationship with Tom Cruise, citing economic damage from his controversial public behavior. Cruise/Wagner Productions claimed it was due to their successful pursuit of alternative financing.
October 10, 2006: "Tom Cruise Day" in Japan
October 10, 2006, was declared "Tom Cruise Day" in Japan by the Japan Memorial Day Association due to his love for and association with Japan.
November 2006: Takeover of United Artists
In November 2006, Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner announced they had taken over the film studio United Artists (UA). Cruise would produce and star in UA films, with Wagner as CEO.
2006: Return to Mission: Impossible
In 2006, Tom Cruise reprised his role as Ethan Hunt in "Mission: Impossible III", the third film in the series. The film was well-received and grossed nearly $400 million.
March 2007: Acquisition of Valkyrie
In March 2007, the film Valkyrie was acquired by United Artists (UA).
March 21, 2007: Signed to play Claus von Stauffenberg
On March 21, 2007, Tom Cruise signed to play Claus von Stauffenberg in "Valkyrie", marking the second production greenlit since Cruise and Wagner took control of UA.
2007: Supporting Role in Lions for Lambs
In 2007, Tom Cruise took a rare supporting role in the film "Lions for Lambs". The film was a commercial disappointment.
January 15, 2008: Cruise Scientology video posted on YouTube
On January 15, 2008, a video produced by the Church of Scientology featuring an interview with Tom Cruise was posted on YouTube by Project Chanology. YouTube removed the video but later reinstated it.
August 2008: Wagner Steps Down from United Artists
In August 2008, Paula Wagner stepped down from her position at United Artists (UA) but retained her stake in the company.
December 25, 2008: Release of Valkyrie
On December 25, 2008, the historical thriller "Valkyrie", starring Tom Cruise in the central role, was released to box office success.
2008: Cruise restricts interviewers from asking about Scientology
Since 2008, Tom Cruise has restricted interviewers from asking him about Scientology.
2009: Lawsuit against Cruise dismissed
In 2009, a suit filed by magazine editor Michael Davis Sapir, charging that his phone had been wiretapped at Tom Cruise's behest, was dismissed due to the statute of limitations expiring.
February 9, 2010: Confirmation of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol Role
On February 9, 2010, Tom Cruise confirmed that he would star in "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol", the fourth film in the "Mission: Impossible" series.
March 2010: Filming of Knight and Day Completed
In March 2010, Tom Cruise completed filming the action-comedy "Knight and Day", where he reunited with Cameron Diaz.
June 23, 2010: Release of Knight and Day
On June 23, 2010, the action-comedy film "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 as part of the Living Legends of Aviation and received the Aviation Inspiration and Patriotism Award.
May 6, 2011: Humanitarian Award from 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 ticket price inflation.
2011: Inside Scientology book published
In 2011, Janet Reitman's book Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion, mentioned that Tom Cruise took a step back from the Church to work on the film Eyes Wide Shut.
June 2012: Release of Rock of Ages
In June 2012, the movie "Rock of Ages", starring Tom Cruise as Stacee Jaxx, was released. It was a box-office disappointment, although Cruise's performance received positive reviews.
June 29, 2012: Holmes files for divorce from Cruise
On June 29, 2012, Katie Holmes filed for divorce from Tom Cruise, amidst speculation that the marriage was arranged by the Church of Scientology.
October 2012: Cruise sues In Touch and Life & Style magazines for defamation
In October 2012, Tom Cruise filed a lawsuit against In Touch and Life & Style magazines for defamation after they claimed that Cruise had "abandoned" his six-year-old daughter.
October 2012: Vanity Fair article on Cruise's relationships and Scientology
In October 2012, an article in Vanity Fair stated that Scientologist leaders launched a secret project to find Tom Cruise a new girlfriend after his breakup with Penélope Cruz. According to sources, a series of "auditions" of Scientologist actresses resulted in a short-lived relationship with Nazanin Boniadi, who subsequently left Scientology.
December 21, 2012: Release of Jack Reacher
On December 21, 2012, the film "Jack Reacher", an adaptation of Lee Child's novel "One Shot", starring Tom Cruise, was released to positive reviews and box office success.
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.
2013: Publication of Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
Lawrence Wright's book, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, was published in 2013, spotlighting Tom Cruise's role in Scientology.
2014: Starring in Edge of Tomorrow
In 2014, Tom Cruise starred in the science fiction-action film "Edge of Tomorrow", which received 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, further exploring Tom Cruise's role in Scientology.
2015: Return to Mission: Impossible Series
In 2015, Tom Cruise reprised his role as Ethan Hunt in "Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation", the fifth film in the series, which he also produced. The film was a critical and commercial success.
2016: Recognized as a Box Office Draw
In 2016, the founder of CinemaScore cited Tom Cruise and Leonardo DiCaprio as the "two stars, it doesn't matter how bad the film is, they can pull [the box office] up."
2017: Starring in The Mummy Reboot
In 2017, Tom Cruise starred in the reboot of "The Mummy", titled "The Mummy". The film received negative reviews but still grossed over $400 million.
2018: Reprising Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible – Fallout
In 2018, Tom Cruise reprised his role as Ethan Hunt in "Mission: Impossible – Fallout", the sixth film in the franchise. The film was well-received and became Cruise's biggest commercial success to date.
May 2020: Announced Movie Shot in Outer Space
In May 2020, it was reported that Tom Cruise would star in and produce a movie shot in outer space, directed by Doug Liman. They plan to fly to the International Space Station on a SpaceX Dragon 2 spacecraft.
June 2020: Scientology video on YouTube reaches over 15 million views
As of June 2020, the Tom Cruise Scientology interview video on YouTube has achieved over 15 million views.
May 2021: Protest Against Hollywood Foreign Press Association
In May 2021, Tom Cruise protested against the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) by returning his three Golden Globe Awards, due to controversy surrounding the HFPA's lack of diversity and ethical concerns.
2022: Starring 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 received an Honorary Palme d'Or, and it achieved widespread critical and commercial success, earning Cruise $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 was a box office disappointment due to the phenomenon dubbed Barbenheimer.
January 2024: New 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 at the Paris 2024 Olympics closing ceremony to promote the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics.
May 2025: Release of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
In May 2025, Tom Cruise will reprise his role as Ethan Hunt in "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning", which he declared would be his last film portraying the character.
2028: Promoting Los Angeles Summer Olympics
In 2024, Tom Cruise promoted the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics by making an appearance at the Paris 2024 Olympics closing ceremony. In the ceremony, he took the flag from Mayor Karen Bass and athlete Simone Biles.
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