History of Tom Cruise in Timeline
Tom Cruise, an American actor and producer, is a Hollywood icon renowned for his box office success and high earnings. His films have grossed over $12 billion globally. He has won three Golden Globe Awards and received an Honorary Palme d'Or, along with four Academy Award nominations. Cruise remains one of the most bankable stars and highest-paid actors in the world.
1934: Birth of Thomas Cruise Mapother III (Tom Cruise's Father)
In 1934, Thomas Cruise Mapother III, Tom Cruise's father, was born. He later worked as an electrical engineer.
1936: Birth of Mary Lee (Tom Cruise's Mother)
In 1936, Mary Lee (née Pfeiffer), Tom Cruise's mother, was born. She worked as a special education teacher.
July 3, 1962: Birth of Tom Cruise
On July 3, 1962, Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, known as Tom Cruise, was born in Syracuse, New York. This marks the beginning of the life of the actor and producer who would become a Hollywood icon.
1971: Family moved to Ottawa
In late 1971, Tom Cruise's family moved to Beacon Hill, Ottawa, Canada, because his father took a job as a defense consultant with the Canadian Armed Forces. He attended Robert Hopkins Public School.
1978: Mother married Jack South
In 1978, Tom Cruise's mother married Jack South. The same year, his mother left his father, taking Cruise and his sisters back to the United States.
1980: Graduation from Glen Ridge High School
In 1980, Tom Cruise graduated from Glen Ridge High School in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. This marked the end of his formal high school education.
1981: Film Debut in Endless Love
In 1981, Tom Cruise made his film debut with a bit part in "Endless Love", followed by a major supporting role in "Taps". This marked the beginning of his professional acting career.
1983: Role in The Outsiders and Risky Business
In 1983, Tom Cruise appeared in "The Outsiders" and "Risky Business", with the latter being described as "A Generation X classic, and a career maker for Tom Cruise."
1983: Breakthrough Role in Risky Business
In 1983, Tom Cruise had his breakthrough role in the film "Risky Business". This event was a major step forward in his acting career, helping to establish him in the film industry.
1984: Death of Thomas Cruise Mapother III (Tom Cruise's Father)
In 1984, Thomas Cruise Mapother III, Tom Cruise's father, passed away. This event marked a significant loss in Cruise's life.
1984: Death of Tom Cruise's Father
In 1984, Tom Cruise's biological father died of cancer, marking a significant event in his life. Cruise described his father as "a merchant of chaos", a "bully", and a "coward".
1985: Lead role in Legend
In 1985, Tom Cruise played the male lead in the Ridley Scott film Legend.
1986: Cementing Status as a Superstar in Top Gun
By 1986, with the release of "Top Gun", Tom Cruise's status as a superstar had been cemented. This role significantly elevated his career.
1986: Leading Role in Top Gun and The Color of Money
In 1986, Tom Cruise starred in "Top Gun", which solidified his leading man status, and "The Color of Money", where he received critical acclaim. These roles highlight Cruise's versatility and growing prominence in Hollywood.
1986: Starring in The Color of Money
In 1986, Tom Cruise starred in Martin Scorsese's The Color of Money, which came out the same year, and paired him with Paul Newman.
1986: Conversion to Scientology
In 1986, Tom Cruise was converted to Scientology by his first wife, Mimi Rogers.
1988: Starring in Rain Man
In 1988, Tom Cruise starred in "Rain Man", a critically acclaimed drama film that received the Academy Award for Best Film. This role further solidified his reputation as a versatile and talented actor.
1988: Starring in Cocktail and Rain Man
In 1988, Tom Cruise starred in Cocktail, which was a box office success but failed with critics, followed by Rain Man, which won the Academy Award for Best Film. These roles showcased his range as an actor.
1989: Golden Globe Award for Born on the Fourth of July
In 1989, Tom Cruise portrayed Ron Kovic in "Born on the Fourth of July", earning him a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. This marked a significant achievement in Cruise's career.
1989: Portrayal of Ron Kovic in Born on the Fourth of July
In 1989, Tom Cruise portrayed Ron Kovic in "Born on the Fourth of July", earning him a Golden Globe Award and his first Academy Award nomination. This role was a major achievement.
1990: Starring in Days of Thunder
In 1990, Tom Cruise starred in "Days of Thunder", which co-starred his then-wife Nicole Kidman as his love interest.
1990: Named People's Sexiest Man Alive
In 1990, Tom Cruise was named People's Sexiest Man Alive. This recognition underscores his widespread appeal and status as a cultural icon.
1990: Scientology Involvement Leaked
In 1990, Tom Cruise's involvement in Scientology was leaked by the tabloid Star.
1992: Public Announcement of Scientology
In 1992, Tom Cruise publicly announced that he followed Scientology in an interview with Barbara Walters.
1992: Starring in Far and Away
In 1992, Tom Cruise starred in "Far and Away", which co-starred his then-wife Nicole Kidman as his love interest.
1993: Starring in The Firm
In 1993, Tom Cruise starred in the commercially successful film "The Firm". This performance was a career milestone.
1994: Held Pilot's License
In 1994, Tom Cruise held a pilot's license. He is an aviation enthusiast.
1994: Starring in Interview with the Vampire
In 1994, Tom Cruise starred in "Interview with the Vampire" alongside Brad Pitt and Antonio Banderas. The film was based on Anne Rice's novel, and it was well-received despite initial criticism from Rice.
1996: Starring in Mission: Impossible
In 1996, Tom Cruise began playing Ethan Hunt in the "Mission: Impossible" film series, establishing himself as a star of action films. This role is central to his career.
1996: Starring in Mission: Impossible and Jerry Maguire
In 1996, Tom Cruise starred in and produced "Mission: Impossible", and also starred in "Jerry Maguire", both of which were highly successful. These roles solidified his status as a leading actor and producer.
1996: Golden Globe Award for Jerry Maguire
In 1996, Tom Cruise won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his role in "Jerry Maguire". This marked another significant achievement in Cruise's career.
1997: Received Top Honor of Most Beautiful People
In 1997, Tom Cruise received the top honor of "Most Beautiful People". This award recognizes his physical attractiveness and continued popularity.
1999: Return to Scientology
In 1999, Marty Rathbun was sent by David Miscavige to convince Tom Cruise to return to the Church and continue his studies in Scientology.
1999: Starring in Eyes Wide Shut and Magnolia
In 1999, Tom Cruise starred in "Eyes Wide Shut" with Nicole Kidman and took on a supporting role in "Magnolia", earning critical acclaim and another Golden Globe Award. These performances demonstrated his versatility.
1999: Golden Globe Award for Magnolia
In 1999, Tom Cruise's performance in "Magnolia" earned him another Golden Globe Award and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. This event highlights his ability to excel in diverse roles.
2000: Starring in Mission: Impossible 2
In 2000, Tom Cruise returned as Ethan Hunt in "Mission: Impossible 2". The film continued the series' success at the box office, taking in $547 million worldwide.
February 5, 2001: Separation Announcement
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 for claiming they had an affair.
2001: Starring in Vanilla Sky
In 2001, Tom Cruise starred in "Vanilla Sky" with Cameron Diaz and Penélope Cruz. The romantic thriller was a major success.
2002: Starring in Minority Report
In 2002, Tom Cruise starred in "Minority Report", which was directed by Steven Spielberg. This role was a career milestone.
January 2003: Judge Decides Against Slater
In January 2003, a Los Angeles judge decided against Chad Slater after he admitted his claims about Tom Cruise were false.
2003: Shields' Postpartum Depression
In 2003, Brooke Shields used Paxil (paroxetine) to recover from postpartum depression after the birth of her first daughter.
2003: Starring in The Last Samurai
In 2003, Tom Cruise starred in "The Last Samurai", which was an action drama. This role was a career milestone.
January 2004: Remarks Against Psychiatry
In January 2004, Tom Cruise stated, "I think psychiatry should be outlawed."
March 2004: Publicist Resignation
In March 2004, Tom Cruise's publicist of 14 years, Pat Kingsley, resigned.
2004: Received Critical Acclaim for Collateral
In 2004, Tom Cruise received critical acclaim for his performance as Vincent in Collateral. This was a stylish and compelling noir thriller.
2004: Starring in Collateral
In 2004, Tom Cruise starred in the thriller film "Collateral". This performance was a career milestone.
2004: Scientology Freedom Medal of Valor
In late 2004, David Miscavige created the Scientology Freedom Medal of Valor and awarded it to Tom Cruise.
June 24, 2005: Argument on Today Show
On June 24, 2005, Tom Cruise had a heated argument with Matt Lauer on NBC's Today show regarding psychiatry and Brooke Shields' use of antidepressants.
November 2005: New Publicist
In November 2005, Lee Anne DeVette was replaced with Paul Bloch from the publicity firm Rogers and Cowan as Tom Cruise's publicist.
2005: Starring in War of the Worlds
In 2005, Tom Cruise starred in "War of the Worlds", his second collaboration with Steven Spielberg. This role was a career milestone.
2005: Lobbying Efforts in Europe
In 2005, the Council of Paris revealed that Tom Cruise had lobbied French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy and Senate President Jean-Claude Gaudin for Scientology to be recognized as a religion in Europe.
July 5, 2006: Domain Name Decision
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 a dispute with cybersquatter Jeff Burgar.
August 2006: Apology to Brooke Shields
In late August 2006, Tom Cruise apologized in person to Brooke Shields for his comments about psychiatry and her use of antidepressants.
October 10, 2006: "Tom Cruise Day" in Japan
October 10, 2006, was declared "Tom Cruise Day" in Japan, honoring his close ties and affection for the country.
November 2006: United Artists Takeover
In November 2006, Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner took over the film studio United Artists, with Cruise acting as a producer and star, and Wagner as CEO.
2006: Ranked as World's Most Powerful Celebrity by Forbes
In 2006, Forbes ranked Tom Cruise as the world's most powerful celebrity. This highlights his significant influence and recognition in the entertainment industry.
2006: Starring in Mission: Impossible III
In 2006, Tom Cruise returned as Ethan Hunt in the third installment of the Mission Impossible film series, Mission: Impossible III. The film was more positively received by critics than the previous films in the series.
March 21, 2007: Valkyrie Casting
On March 21, 2007, Tom Cruise signed on to play Claus von Stauffenberg in Valkyrie, a thriller about the assassination attempt against Adolf Hitler.
2007: Starring in Lions for Lambs
In 2007, Tom Cruise took a rare supporting role for the second time in Lions for Lambs, which was a commercial disappointment.
January 15, 2008: Scientology Interview Video Posted
On January 15, 2008, a video produced by the Church of Scientology featuring an interview with Tom Cruise was posted on YouTube by the Anonymous-linked group Project Chanology.
August 2008: Wagner Steps Down at United Artists
In August 2008, Paula Wagner stepped down from her position as CEO at United Artists, retaining her stake in the studio.
December 25, 2008: Released in historical thriller Valkyrie
On December 25, 2008, Tom Cruise played the central role in the historical thriller Valkyrie released on to box office success.
2008: Restrictions on Scientology Questions
Since 2008, Tom Cruise has restricted interviewers from asking him about Scientology.
2009: Tom Cruise was nominated for seven Saturn Awards
Between 2002 and 2009, Tom Cruise was nominated for seven Saturn Awards, winning once. Nine of the ten films he starred in during the decade made over $100 million at the box office.
2009: Wiretapping Suit Dismissed
In 2009, a lawsuit filed by magazine editor Michael Davis Sapir, charging that his phone had been wiretapped at Tom Cruise's behest, was dismissed by a Central Civil West court judge in Los Angeles due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.
February 9, 2010: Confirmed Starring Role in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
On February 9, 2010, Tom Cruise confirmed that he would star in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, the fourth installment in the Mission: Impossible series.
March 2010: Completed Filming Knight and Day
In March 2010, Tom Cruise completed filming the action-comedy Knight and Day, in which he re-teamed with former costar Cameron Diaz.
June 23, 2010: Released in Knight and Day
On June 23, 2010, Knight and Day, where Tom Cruise re-teamed with former costar Cameron Diaz, was released.
2010: Starring in Knight and Day
In 2010, Tom Cruise starred in the film "Knight and Day", where he re-teamed with Cameron Diaz. This performance was a career milestone.
May 6, 2011: Humanitarian Award
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: Released Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
In December 2011, the film Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol was released to high critical acclaim and box office success.
2011: Inside Scientology Publication
In 2011, Janet Reitman's book, "Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion", described Tom Cruise's reaction to Scientology secrets.
June 29, 2012: Divorce Filing
On June 29, 2012, Katie Holmes filed for divorce from Tom Cruise, marking the end of their marriage.
October 2012: Defamation Lawsuit Filed
In October 2012, Tom Cruise filed a lawsuit against In Touch and Life & Style magazines for defamation after they claimed he had "abandoned" his six-year-old daughter.
2012: Guinness World Record
In 2012, Tom Cruise achieved the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive $100-million-grossing movies, a feat that was achieved during the period of 2012 to 2018. This highlighted his enduring popularity and box office appeal.
2012: Starring in Jack Reacher
In 2012, Tom Cruise starred in "Jack Reacher", adding to his repertoire of action roles. This further solidified his status in the action film genre.
2013: Starring in Oblivion
In 2013, Tom Cruise starred in "Oblivion", an action film. This performance was a career milestone.
2013: Going Clear Publication
Lawrence Wright's 2013 book Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief cast a spotlight on Tom Cruise's role in Scientology.
2014: Starring in Edge of Tomorrow
In 2014, Tom Cruise starred in "Edge of Tomorrow", further demonstrating his commitment to action and science fiction roles. This role was a career milestone.
2015: Going Clear Documentary
Alex Gibney's 2015 television documentary adaptation of Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief cast a spotlight on Tom Cruise's role in Scientology.
2017: Death of Mary Lee (Tom Cruise's Mother)
In 2017, Mary Lee (née Pfeiffer), Tom Cruise's mother, passed away. This event marked a significant loss in Cruise's life.
2018: Guinness World Record
Tom Cruise holds the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive $100-million-grossing movies, a feat that was achieved during the period of 2012 to 2018. This event happened over those years.
May 2020: Space Movie Announcement
In May 2020, it was announced that Tom Cruise would star in and produce a movie filmed in outer space, directed by Doug Liman, with plans to travel to the International Space Station.
June 2020: Cruise's Scientology Interview Views
As of June 2020, the video featuring Tom Cruise discussing Scientology has achieved over 15 million views.
May 2021: Golden Globe Protest
In May 2021, Tom Cruise returned his three Golden Globe Awards to protest the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's lack of diversity and ethical concerns.
2022: Starring in Top Gun: Maverick
In 2022, Tom Cruise starred in "Top Gun: Maverick", which was a sequel to the original Top Gun. This performance was a career milestone.
July 12, 2023: Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One Release
On July 12, 2023, Tom Cruise reprised his role as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One which was released in theaters. The film received critical acclaim, but was a box office disappointment due to the Barbenheimer phenomenon.
2023: Anne Rice Paid for an Ad Praising His Performance
Equivalent to $15,911 in 2023, Anne Rice paid for a two-page ad in Daily Variety praising Tom Cruise's performance and apologizing for her previous doubts about him in Interview with the Vampire.
January 2024: Partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery
In January 2024, it was announced that Tom Cruise's production company was forming a new strategic partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery.
December 2024: Awarded US Navy's Distinguished Public Service Award
In December 2024, Tom Cruise received the US Navy's highest civilian honor, the Distinguished Public Service Award, for his contributions to the military through his screen roles. This accolade recognizes his significant impact beyond acting.
2024: Paris Olympics Appearance
In 2024, Tom Cruise appeared at the Paris 2024 Olympics closing ceremony to promote the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics.
