This post is written as part of AOL Money & Finance's Best & Worst 2006. If you think that Tom Cruise makes too much money, cast your vote.
Long-considered one of the big guns in Hollywood, Golden Globe Award-winning actor and producer Tom Cruise is the only actor to have six consecutive $100 million plus blockbusters to his credit.
His acting career began when he was sidelined from the high-school wrestling team by an injury and he auditioned for and won a role in the school production of Guys and Dolls. He became a star after dancing in his underwear in the 1983 film Risky Business, for which he reportedly earned a measly $75,000. After 1986's Top Gun put Cruise in the six-figure salary range, he earned his first Razzie Award nomination for 1988's Cocktail. Critically acclaimed Rain Man, Days of Thunder, and A Few Good Men followed. In 1996 he starred in and produced Mission Impossible, the first in the blockbuster franchise, and earned an Academy Award nomination for his role in Jerry Maguire. Later blockbusters include Minority Report, The Last Samurai, and War of the Worlds (which reportedly earned him $70 million plus a percentage of the profits, as well as more Razzie nominations).
But in recent years his personal life has begun to attract more attention than his film roles, notably Cruise's very public advocacy of Scientology and anti-psychiatry statements, coupled with the tabloid speculation about his romantic relationships. In May 2005, during an interview on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Cruise unexpectedly leaped onto the couch to profess his love for Katie Holmes, an incident that was voted #1 of 2005's Most Surprising Television Moments on a countdown on E!. Economic damage due to Cruise's controversial public behavior and views was cited as one reason for the end of the 14-year relationship between Cruise's production company and Paramount Pictures.
Still, Cruise is Hollywood insider and a consummate deal maker: In November of this year he began a lucrative association with United Artists, and he married Katie Holmes in a castle in Italy in what some in the media dubbed the "Wedding of the Century."











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
12-08-2006 @ 9:19PM
lelany diomedei said...
HI,I would like to know, who ever told tom cruise he can act????? Because he is the worst acter on screen,as will as of screen!!! I have not seen anything his been in were hes any good..Not even "TOP GUN" And who said he was a good looking guy?????? his nose is as big as his head....lol,lol
12-12-2006 @ 1:10PM
Trevor Smith said...
Tom Cruise is a pint sized dope.He never could act unless he was impersonating someone in love.
12-14-2006 @ 7:47AM
sacha said...
Postings 1 and 2. How could illiterates such as yourselves have the nerve to comment on anybody's looks or talent? S.
12-12-2006 @ 6:21PM
James Lightfield said...
Your article really summed it up. He's successful. MI-3 (even after Matt Lauer and Oprah) grossed nearly $400 million worldwide. He's now running United Artists with his partner. He's married, has a beautiful child. His frends are at the top of their game, including billionaire Australian, Packard. And he's only 44 years of age.
As regards those who slam Scientology. Heck, that's old news. Catholics pound the pulpit shouting that all Jews and Muslims and "non-believers" are going to hell while voting for "good Christian" politicans who continually lie and support vested interests, including Bush who -- incredible as it was -- says with feeling that he still feels fine about Iraq because "millions are praying to me."
12-12-2006 @ 11:43PM
Joxe said...
I am so happy for Tom and Katie! They are married and they have celebrated their wedding in Italy and their post wedding party in Hollywood, together with their family and friends. No matter what some nasty blogs say, they are an example to follow and they look really happy. I am very happy to see them so in love! And Tom keep being immensely popular all over the world. His movies are a box office draw as usual. MI3 made $400 million worldwide and it became an instant success when released on DVD, breaking sales and rental records. Tom Cruise is still at the top and will continue being at the top.
12-13-2006 @ 2:38AM
susan said...
What does his height have to do with anything really?He has made many many successful flicks and I thank hime for that. His recent antics were a bit strange to be sure. Thank God I haven't been filmed at some of my weirdest moments. And he is not such a lousy actor. Not the best but surely not the worst.
12-13-2006 @ 4:57AM
OJ VID said...
Would you like to say that OJ Simpson's stock has gone up? How about FOX?
http://www.broadcaster.com/video/player.php?clip=5768
This is funny, though.
12-13-2006 @ 10:52AM
irene said...
He is hot, gorgeous, great looking, I love his nose, very manly, and he is such a great actor, I love him in War of the Worlds, he is very touching and emotional, from the last scene to the song he sing to Dakota, he is irremplacable
FU the haters and media drones.
12-13-2006 @ 4:27PM
tammy said...
Tom Cruise has made some great pictures, you can see his acting ability change and grow through the years ( that is as it should be).
He obviously is a good business man,to land the deals he does. We don't know the man personally, we base our opinions on the tabloids whims. If you have ever been a reality show, you'd know that what get's printed is not what really happens. If he stubs his toe getting out of the limo, shows an angry face - they could write the headline- "Cruise and Holmes ready to divorce"...Sad...just sad.
I feel sorry for the guy actually, no matter what he tries to do to "redeem" himself, no one will ever believe it or it will get twisted around to mean something totally different. The saddest part...the media has total control over what you all believe. Try to keep an open mind and cut the guy some slack.
12-13-2006 @ 9:40PM
Maria Angela said...
Tom Cruise is obviously one of the most productive talents in Hollywood, as he has achieved what no one else has. Bravo to him! I thought he was great in "Born on the Fourth of July", "Interview with the Vampire", "Magnolia" and "Collaterol". These were all roles for which he has received abundant acknowledgement. I also have enjoyed the entertainment of many of his other roles too. I am so happy for him and his new wife. Even a moron can see that they are happy in love!
The reputable media networks do not trash him. It is only done by questionable media. So who cares what they say?
If he was a Jew you wouldn't be slamming him. So it's equally inappropriate to slam him for the views he does have. We all want our right of freedom of religion, and with that comes the responsibility of upholding that for others. Besides, it doesn't hurt your life that he has religious convition, so it's time to get over it and move on people.
We should all be doing so well as Tom Cruise.
12-14-2006 @ 1:30AM
Jerald Rowlett said...
Gee lets see if we can spot the members of scientology who have posted here today???? It's not so hard, just look for the posters who sling the name calling and question your brain power.
Gotta say James, you really outdid yourself this time. You can find Mr. Lightfeild on most anything posted about cruise or scientology online.
But this is the first time he has slammed other religions to get his point across. And the bit about Bush was to make us think what????
See what James and the others don't want you to see. Go to;
xenu.net
xenutv.com
12-14-2006 @ 11:01AM
roger gonnet said...
I liked to see such comments as those defending scientology. It's somewhat incredible that such a ridicule set of rants by Ron Hubbard could have lead relatively intelligent people (I was one) to believe that we, human people, were all infested by spaces cooties born from a tyran called Xenu who was ruling this part of the galaxy some 75 millions years ago.
Besides, even if Cruise is not the worse actor , for sure, he's also a bit far from the best; so, how come this superman (as scientology characterizes its upper level members) is unable to become really sympathetic to the public and is unable to control his "Fuck You" toward the public who criticizes his advertising of the cult?
How come he's ousted by the biggest Hollywood mogul? How come he felt a need to have a chaperone to lead his wopuld-be wife Katie during months, by fear she learns what is exposed in the cult's super-secret "levels"?
How come Cruise got so bad results in the last polls about actors, if scientology made such a fuss about "OT" abilities?
12-14-2006 @ 7:40AM
Cynthia Leake said...
#4 - don't pouce on Catholics.
12-14-2006 @ 12:57PM
Rita carmens said...
Tom Cruise has not to suffer from nasty things that those curious people want to disturb (OR probably envy) his nice family. I am a fan of Tom but I think he is really polite and he is a nice guy. You are free to express your love to your beloved guy. Poor people who cannot do that!
12-14-2006 @ 10:44PM
Mitzi said...
I am so amazingly happy that I am not followed every second of the day by crowds of photographers, reporters, and celebrity stalkers! I can only imagine all the stupid-looking moves and silly things I do in 24 hours. I thought all his "Katie" antics were sweetly romantic; however, those of you that are quite cynical would see them as asinine.
My family and I have enjoyed Tom Cruise and his movies. We look forward in anticipation to his new movies and rewatch his films over and over. He deserves all that he has worked so hard for since such a young age. Get off his back and bother some other more deserving celebrity.
12-15-2006 @ 2:34PM
Windy Machine said...
First up, Mitzt, you surely must be a brainstormed Scientologist.
For any normal thinking human: Can't you guys see what they are up to?
They want to take over the world with their stinking crap.
They only have a cross in their "religion' cause that way they can claim it is a religion and that way they don't have to EVER pay taxes!
That's why they are also so rich.
Why do you guys think that Scientology is so dangerous? Because they are hiding a lot of BS. Tom Cruise is gayer than Siegfried & Roy, combined.
I was personally threatened by this nast church. I am personally afraid of that crowd.
The leader of that church spent honeymoon with the freshly married couple--which slept in seperate bedrooms. Got it?
Same thing happened with Nicole. She had even her own home. Never ever had to sleep with gay Cruise.
Penelope Cruiz is a total lesbian--a dyke if you will. So, that is why Cruising Tom was "dating" her. As simple as that.
We are all afraid of terrorissm and muslims taking over?
You guys will be amazed what we will be facing next.
Ron Hubbard was a Science Fiction writer who created this bull!
Wake up--all of you, before it's too late.
12-16-2006 @ 1:25PM
eviepaz said...
I love Tom Cruise, I love his magnificent smile, his eyes and even his nose. His acting is superb!!!!
12-16-2006 @ 1:23PM
christoph said...
The media has done nothing to influence my thoughts....Tom Cruise did it all himself.
12-16-2006 @ 1:40PM
allankay said...
who ever said lelany, the author of thye 1st comment, can write english? please learn some correct grammer!
12-17-2006 @ 12:05AM
Bob Tabert said...
There just cannot be any doubt. Those who "hate Cruise" are really more interested in putting down his religion. Why aren't they just more honest about it? Why slam Cruise, just go to the "I hate Scienolgy site" and rage on. I checked it out and they are just some people who want your money to help them "Fight Scientology." I can't help but wonder where that money really goes. Tell you what, how about if don't give either side any of my money.
I like the guy's films and could care less which religion he follows, who he is married to or which studio he is making money for. I just watch the movies and enjoy them. If people love Tom Cruise and his movies don't they have the right to just go see them? Why would anybody listen to those who hate his religion about his movies? If you like Fords and hate Chevies and he likes a good old Chevrolet, who cares, it his choice, it's your choice, it's my choice and each one could be right for each of us but seemingly you don't feel that way and besides I don't know anything about you. You could be a bunny abuser for all I know.