Tom Cruise Turns 63: Look Back on His Life and Movie Career

Tom Cruise has defined pop culture for decades through his movies and marriages. The actor was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV in New York in July 1962. After becoming interested in acting as a child, he landed his first onscreen role in 1981’s Endless Love. Cruise went on to star in countless blockbusters and critically acclaimed films, leading several franchises and earning more than one Academy Award nomination. Some of his notable work includes Mission: Impossible, Top Gun, Risky Business and Jerry Maguire. While Cruise carried on with his career as planned, he had less success in his personal life. He was married to Mimi Rogers from 1987 to 1990, Nicole Kidman from 1990 to 2001 and Katie Holmes from 2006 to 2012. Cruise and Kidman adopted two children together: daughter Isabella and son Connor. “I’m very private about that,” the actress told Australia’s Who magazine in November 2018. Meanwhile, Cruise and Holmes welcomed daughter Suri in April 2006. Scroll down to relive highlights from Cruise’s years in the spotlight.

After roles in Endless Love and The Outsiders, Cruise broke out in Risky Business.

The Oscar nominee began dating Cher in 1985 after meeting the singer at Sean Penn’s wedding to Madonna. The romance made headlines, in part, because she is 16 years older than him.

Cruise starred as Maverick alongside Val Kilmer in Top Gun. "The truth is that after that first meeting, I met with [director Tony Scott], [producer] Jerry [Bruckheimer] and Paramount Pictures," he recalled during a 2016 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! "I got in the car and I was flying to New York. I told my agent, 'I'm going to make this movie, but don't tell Jerry I want to make this movie because I want to fly with the Blue Angels.' You've got to work these things, you know? I'm a businessman."

The Mission: Impossible actor married Mimi Rogers in May 1987. They divorced in February 1990. The actress introduced him to Scientology, of which he would become one of the highest profile members.

Following his roles in Cocktail and Rain Man, Cruise starred in Born on the Fourth of July, receiving his first Oscar nomination in the process.

The Jack Reacher star met Nicole Kidman on the set of Days of Thunder. The pair tied the knot in December 1990. He filed for divorce in February 2001.

Cruise appeared in A Few Good Men in 1992 and The Firm in 1993.

The New York native’s adopted daughter with Kidman, Isabella, was born in December 1992.

Cruise starred alongside Brad Pitt in Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles.

His adopted son with Kidman, Connor, was born in January 1995.

Cruise kicked off his legendary role as Ethan Hunt in 1996’s Mission: Impossible. The film spawned 2000’s Mission: Impossible II, 2006’s Mission: Impossible III, 2011’s Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, 2015’s Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, 2018’s Mission: Impossible – Fallout and more planned follow-ups.

The Rock of Ages actor earned his second Academy Award nomination for Jerry Maguire. "It was one of those experiences, when you're making a movie [and] just things are coming together," he told Entertainment Tonight in 2016. "It's what we all work for — when you just know it's just firing on all cylinders. It was such a joy."

Cruise starred with Kidman in 1992’s Far and Away and 1999’s Eyes Wide Shut. He then racked up a third Oscar nod for 1999’s Magnolia.

Following his divorce from the Big Little Lies star, the producer dated his Vanilla Sky costar Penelope Cruz from 2001 to 2004.

Cruise continued his run to dominate the box office with 2002’s Minority Report, 2003’s The Last Samurai and 2005’s War of the Worlds.

The Knight and Day star began dating Katie Holmes in April 2005. He famously declared his love for the Dawson’s Creek alum in May 2005, and the following October, the twosome announced they were expecting their first child together. Their daughter arrived in April 2006.

Cruise married Holmes in Italy in November 2006. The actress filed for divorce in June 2012, and the duo signed a settlement the next month.

He ventured into different territory with 2008’s Tropic Thunder, 2008’s Valkyrie, 2010’s Knight and Day and 2012’s Rock of Ages before returning to form in 2012’s Jack Reacher.

Cruise appeared with Emily Blunt in Edge of Tomorrow. He followed that job with 2016’s Jack Reacher: Never Go Back and 2017’s American Made.

The Golden Globe winner reprised his role in the sequel Top Gun: Maverick. The film’s release date was pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic, along with other planned Cruise projects.

Cruise made headlines in December 2020 when a recording was released of him screaming at the Mission: Impossible 7 crew over not adhering to COVID-19 protocols. “I have told you and now I want it and if you do it, you’re out! We are not shutting this f--king movie down,” he said. “Is it understood? If I see it again, you’re f--king gone.”  

He later defended his rant in May 2021. “I said what I said,” he told Empire magazine, adding that he was only addressing “select people” who were violating safety measures. “There was a lot at stake at that point.”  

The following month, the movie halted filming after at least one member of the production team tested positive for coronavirus. 

During the May 2022 premiere for Top Gun: Maverick in California, Cruise decided to arrive to the event in style. The actor flew in on a USS Midway helicopter before heading over to the red carpet in a black tux.

Cruise's Top Gun costar Miles Teller revealed that he sometimes cuts phone calls with the Mission Impossible star short because otherwise, they'd never stop talking. The Whiplash actor told E! News' Daily Pop that he and Cruise could be on the phone talking about the film industry for "an hour and a half, two hours, I'm like, 'Tom, I love you man. I gotta go.'"

Cruise continued his action movie career with Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.

During the Paris Olympics, Cruise performed his own stunts while riding on a motorcycle during the closing ceremony.

Cruise returned for the eighth installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.