Cruising along merrily
RANDOR GUY
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He is a star, a media icon. His every move makes news. Tom Cruise's track record makes him a bankable actor.
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Tom Cruise
Hype surrounds him. Every action of his draws the attention of the international media. After he proposed to girlfriend Katie Holmes at the Eiffel Tower, Paris, the place, it is said, has become the target of renewed tourist interest!
His love-driven antics on the Oprah Winfrey TV show was not only the most talked about media event but it also inspired the many comedians on television!
Whether he tries to buy a $7-million home or a cell phone for the eleven-year-old kid who acted with him in "War of the Worlds," it all makes news. Tom Cruise is now the media icon. His involvement in and devotion to the `Scientology' movement has attracted many around the world to it.
He has acted in five consecutive movies, which collected $100 millions just in the United States. An admirable track record. The movies are, "A Few Good Men" (1992), "The Firm" (1993), "Interview With The Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles" (1994), "Mission Impossible" (1996) and "Jerry Maguire" (1996).
Difficult climb
For some years now, Cruise has been the most bankable star of Hollywood. The climb has been difficult, which makes the success more memorable for him. His life is a rags-to-riches tale. He was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV in Syracuse, New Jersey on July 3, 1962. His father, Thomas Cruise Mapother III, an electronics engineer, was constantly on the move. His mother, Mary Lee, raised a family of four, three girls, and one boy. But in 1974, when Tom was only twelve, his parents divorced.
For Mary Lee and her kids life became "one hell of a struggle." They had to work and Tom began delivering newspapers. Then he joined a seminary to become a priest, "and eat properly."
Mary Lee married again and it brought a semblance of security to the family.
After one year at the seminary, Tom realised that priesthood was not for him and left to attend school.
Here he found that theatre held his interest and made up his mind to make acting his lifetime occupation.
As a kid he suffered from dyslexia and extreme shyness.
At 18, Tom relocated to New York to study theatre and try his luck on Broadway.
However, opportunities were rare and to sustain himself he worked as a waiter and took up other such lowly paid jobs.
Movie break
Soon he landed in Los Angeles. After the initial struggle, he had his first movie break in "Endless Love" (1981).
Stardom came in 1986 with the successful "Top Gun." The same year he worked with Paul Newman in "The Color of Money."
This association gave Tom a new outlook on movies that it is not just a money-making profession but one that can make an impact on society. It re-charged his work as a serious actor.
"The Color of Money," has Newman, the retired pool-room wizard, teaching a young man his tricks. Newman won the Best Actor Oscar. The film was a hit.
"Top Gun," a story built around the adventures of naval fighter pilots has sizzling action and is directed by Tony Scott (Ridley Scott's brother).
His career zoomed in 1996 with the box-office hit, "Mission Impossible." It is about a secret agent who undertakes to discover who had double-crossed him and killed his colleagues.
Directed by noted filmmaker Brian de Palma, it had Tom as one of the producers in association with Paramount Pictures. Tom opted for a share in the collections, which brought him $75 millions.
In itswake came the sequel "Mission Impossible II" (2000), and now Tom is shooting for "Mission impossible III" in Rome. It is slated for release in 2006.
Films to remember
Mention-worthy Cruise movies include "Rain Man" (1990, a story about a glib-tongued salesman who discovers on his father's death that he has an autistic brother.
It won four Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director [Barry Levinson], Best Screenplay, and Best Actor [Dustin Hoffman] ).
"Born on 4th of July" (1989, about a crippled Vietnam veteran who joins the `Anti-Vietnam' War Movement.)
The film is based on actual events and is directed by Oliver Stone. It won Oscars for Oliver Stone, and for Best Film Editing.
His recent movie is "The War of the Worlds" (2005), the Spielberg creation based on the H. G. Wells classic novel.
He is also a producer, director and has many other interests.
Currently, this popular star is riding the wave of incredible success, fame and fortune!
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