Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise Thrills Audiences with Skydiving Stunt at 2024 Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony

Tom Cruise delivered a jaw-dropping performance to cap off the 2024 Paris Olympics, showcasing his signature flair for high-octane stunts. During the closing ceremony on August 11, the Hollywood icon descended from the roof of Stade de France on a cable, landing in the stadium to the awe of athletes and spectators alike. After snapping selfies with athletes, Cruise made his way to the stage, where he was greeted by gymnast Simone Biles and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. The duo presented him with the Olympic flag, symbolizing the handover from Paris to Los Angeles, host of the 2028 Summer Games.

In a dynamic sequence that blended live action with pre-recorded footage, the 62-year-old actor affixed the flag to his motorcycle and sped off in a thrilling exit. A pre-recorded clip then showed Cruise navigating the streets of Paris before boarding a plane bound for Los Angeles. Upon arriving over the city, Cruise donned skydiving gear and leaped from the aircraft, soaring past iconic landmarks, including a revamped Hollywood sign featuring Olympic rings in place of the “O”s.

Known for performing many of his own stunts in action films like the Mission: Impossible and Top Gun franchises, Cruise continues to push the boundaries of physical daring. Prior to the release of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One in 2023, Cruise revealed in an interview with Entertainment Tonight that his most dangerous stunts require years of meticulous preparation, emphasizing the precision needed for such feats: “You have to be razor-sharp when you do something like that.”

This breathtaking display at the Olympic closing ceremony once again highlights Cruise’s unparalleled commitment to thrilling audiences, both on-screen and in real life.

Who Is Tom Cruise?

Tom Cruise is one of Hollywood’s most renowned actors, rising to stardom in the 1980s and maintaining his status as a leading man ever since. His breakthrough roles in Risky Business and Top Gun catapulted him to international fame, solidifying his place in the film industry. Over the decades, Cruise has become a veteran of action films, notably starring in the Mission: Impossible franchise, Edge of Tomorrow, and Top Gun: Maverick. He has also received critical acclaim for his performances in Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire, and Magnolia. With four Academy Award nominations under his belt, Cruise remains a dominant force in cinema. Beyond acting, he is a prominent member of the Church of Scientology and has been married to actresses Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes.

Early Life of Tom Cruise

Born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV on July 3, 1962, in Syracuse, New York, Cruise was the third of four children. His mother, Mary Lee South, was a schoolteacher and amateur actress, while his father, Thomas Cruise Mapother III, worked as an electrical engineer. Due to his father’s career, the family moved frequently during his childhood. After his parents divorced when he was 11, Cruise and his siblings relocated with their mother to Kentucky and later New Jersey. Cruise faced academic struggles due to dyslexia, a condition shared by his mother and sisters, but he excelled athletically, considering a career in professional wrestling until a knee injury ended those ambitions.

At 14, Cruise enrolled in a Franciscan seminary with the intention of becoming a priest, but he left after a year. At 16, he was encouraged by a teacher to audition for the school’s production of Guys and Dolls. Landing the lead role, Cruise discovered a passion for acting that would change the course of his life.

Rise to Stardom: Early Roles

Cruise set a personal goal of achieving acting success within a decade and moved to New York City to pursue it. After enduring numerous auditions, he secured his first film appearance in Endless Love (1981), starring Brooke Shields. That same year, he appeared in Taps, where his role was expanded after director Harold Becker recognized his talent. This performance caught the attention of critics and filmmakers alike.

In 1983, Cruise featured in The Outsiders, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, alongside prominent young actors like Emilio Estevez, Matt Dillon, and Rob Lowe, collectively known as the “Brat Pack.” Although The Outsiders did not perform well at the box office, it gave Cruise the opportunity to work with a celebrated director.

Breakout Role in Risky Business

Cruise’s true breakout came with Risky Business (1983), which grossed $65 million and became one of the top films of the year. His iconic scene dancing in his underwear remains one of the most memorable in cinema, establishing Cruise as a recognizable face in Hollywood.

Blockbuster Success with Top Gun and Its Sequel

In 1986, Cruise starred in Top Gun, the highest-grossing film of the year, solidifying his status as an A-list actor. His portrayal of naval aviator Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in this action-packed romance, set in an elite naval flight school, became a cultural touchstone. Cruise returned to this role more than 30 years later in Top Gun: Maverick (2022), which became a massive box office success and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.

Cruise is expected to reprise his role in a third Top Gun film, which is currently in development.

The Color of Money, Rain Man, and Born on the Fourth of July

Following the monumental success of the original Top Gun, Tom Cruise established himself as a formidable force in Hollywood with a succession of critically acclaimed and commercially successful films. His first project was The Color of Money (1986), where he starred alongside Paul Newman. This was followed by a collaboration with Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man (1988). Cruise’s portrayal of Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic in the biopic Born on the Fourth of July (1989) earned him an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe for Best Actor, solidifying his status as a leading man.

A Few Good Men, The Firm, and Interview with a Vampire

In 1992, Cruise again demonstrated his ability to share the screen with cinematic legends, co-starring with Jack Nicholson in the military courtroom drama A Few Good Men. The film grossed over $15 million in its opening weekend and garnered another Golden Globe nomination for Cruise. He further showcased his talent in The Firm (1993) and Interview with the Vampire (1994), where he starred alongside Brad Pitt.

Mission: Impossible Franchise

Cruise’s next major success came with the release of Mission: Impossible (1996), a blockbuster that grossed $64 million. In addition to starring, Cruise also took on the role of producer, which launched an action franchise that would become a cornerstone of his career. Following the success of the first film, Mission: Impossible 2 (2000) and Mission: Impossible 3 (2006) further solidified the franchise’s popularity. However, in August 2006, Cruise faced a professional setback when Paramount Pictures ended its 14-year partnership with him, citing erratic behavior and controversial views. Industry insiders suggested that the termination was more likely related to Cruise’s high earnings from the franchise. Despite this, Cruise and Paramount eventually reconciled, leading to the release of several sequels, including Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol (2011), Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation (2015), Mission: Impossible—Fallout (2018), and the latest installment, Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning (2023).

Jerry Maguire, Eyes Wide Shut, and Magnolia

In the same year as the inaugural Mission: Impossible, Cruise starred in Jerry Maguire (1996), directed by Cameron Crowe. This performance garnered him a second Academy Award nomination and his second Golden Globe for Best Actor. Cruise and then-wife Nicole Kidman spent a significant amount of time in England filming Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Stanley Kubrick’s final film, which received mixed reviews upon its release. However, Cruise also enjoyed critical acclaim with his performance in Magnolia (1999), where he played a self-assured sex guru, earning another Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Vanilla Sky and The Last Samurai

In 2002, Cruise reunited with Cameron Crowe for Vanilla Sky and worked with Steven Spielberg on Minority Report. The following year, he traveled to Australia to film The Last Samurai, a $100 million war epic that earned him another Golden Globe nomination.

War of the Worlds

Cruise continued to prove his drawing power with the Steven Spielberg-directed remake of War of the Worlds (2005), which grossed over $230 million at the box office. His successful run continued with Mission: Impossible 3 (2006), but his relationship with Paramount Pictures came to an end shortly thereafter. In November 2006, he announced a new partnership with film executive Paula Wagner and the United Artists film studio. Their first collaboration, Lions for Lambs (2007), though featuring a strong cast that included Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, was a commercial disappointment.

Tropic Thunder

Taking a break from serious roles, Cruise showcased his comedic talent in Tropic Thunder (2008). In a memorable performance that downplayed his conventional good looks, he played a balding, overweight movie studio executive, proving his versatility as an actor.

Valkyrie and Rock of Ages

In December 2008, Cruise released Valkyrie, a World War II drama centered on a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Following another installment in the Mission: Impossible series in 2011, he ventured into the musical genre with Rock of Ages (2012). Despite receiving some positive reviews for his portrayal of a rock star, the film struggled at the box office.

Jack Reacher, Edge of Tomorrow, and The Mummy

Returning to action, Cruise starred in Jack Reacher (2012), based on Lee Child’s novel. He then headlined two science-fiction films: Oblivion (2013) and Edge of Tomorrow (2014). Cruise delivered another high-octane performance in Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation (2015) and reprised his role for Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016). He headlined a reboot of The Mummy (2017), which performed respectably despite critical backlash, before earning better reviews for American Made later that year.

Scientology

Cruise is one of the most prominent celebrity advocates of the Church of Scientology. He became involved with the religion, founded by L. Ron Hubbard, through his first wife, Mimi Rogers. Cruise has credited the church with helping him overcome dyslexia and has since become one of its leading proponents. In 2005, he drew significant media attention for his outspoken criticism of former co-star Brooke Shields, who utilized antidepressants during her recovery from postpartum depression. He also publicly denounced psychiatry, asserting that Scientology offered true healing, which led to a heated exchange with news anchor Matt Lauer on The Today Show. Cruise later issued an apology for his remarks.

Ex-Wives: Katie Holmes, Nicole Kidman, and Mimi Rogers

Cruise has been married three times, all to fellow actors, and has three children. His first marriage was to Mimi Rogers in 1987, which ended after three years. In 1990, he began a relationship with Nicole Kidman, his co-star in Days of Thunder. Though the film was critically panned, their chemistry led to a marriage on Christmas Eve 1990 after a brief courtship.

Throughout the 1990s, Cruise and Kidman defended their marriage against tabloid rumors, even winning lawsuits against publications that printed falsehoods. They adopted two children, Isabella and Connor, during their marriage. However, on February 5, 2001, after 11 years together, the couple announced their separation, citing the challenges of maintaining two demanding acting careers. Following the divorce, Cruise briefly dated Penelope Cruz before entering a highly publicized relationship with Katie Holmes. In a famous appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, he expressed his love for Holmes by jumping on the couch, which became an iconic moment in pop culture.

In June 2005, Cruise proposed to Holmes at the Eiffel Tower, and they announced they were expecting their first child shortly after. Their daughter, Suri, was born in 2006, and they were married later that year in an extravagant ceremony in Italy. However, their marriage ended in June 2012 when Holmes filed for divorce.