Hollywood star’s big break Mission: Impossible — Fallout
underwear while lip-syncing to “Old Time Rock and Roll,” that confirmed him as one of the film industry’s brightest talents.
Legendary producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson cast Cruise in 1985’s smash-hit “Top Gun” as the fighter pilot Maverick, a role that catapulted him into the ranks of Tinseltown’s elite.
In the 33 years since, he has established himself as one of the most powerful and bankable players in Hollywood, his movies have grossed US$9.3 billion and earned him three Oscar nominations.
Born in New York on July 3, 1962, the actor had an unsettled childhood after his father left home when he was 11 and refused to pay child support. Cruise is reported to have attended 15 schools in 12 years. His onscreen success has been matched by controversial headlines off it, mostly through his support for the Church of Scientology.
“Almost 40 years. Forty years. For-ty,” Cruise mused backstage at CinemaCon about his longevity in the business as he was asked how he would rank the “Mission: Impossible” franchise among his career accomplishments.
“It’s been a massive part of my life. It was the first film I ever produced. I love playing this character, something you kind of dream that hopefully an audience would still want,” he added.
For the coming months, Cruise turns his attention to a sequel of the warmly received 2014 sci-fi movie “Edge of Tomorrow” and the project most of his fans are buzzing about — long-awaited sequel “Top Gun: Maverick.” Director Joseph Kosinski is expected to begin production this summer, ahead of a 2019 release, although perhaps Cruise’s most iconic role is shrouded in secrecy.
“We’ll see if it goes through. We’ll see if it happens,” Cruise teased, flashing his trademark mile-wide grin.
“I’d tell you but I’d have to kill you,” he joked.