Tom Cruise Then & Now: Photos From His Young ‘Risky Business’ Days to Today

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September 26, 2023 4:00PM EDT
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Tom Cruise has become one of the most recognizable actors in Hollywood over the years and you can see photos of his life through the years.

His talent and ability to play all kinds of characters in various films has put him in the spotlight on numerous occasions and leaves viewers wanting to see more. From an excited yet somewhat irresponsible teenager, to an impressive US Navy pilot, to a lovestruck sports agent, he knows how to do it all! 

One of his most iconic roles is the one he played in the ‘Mission Impossible’ films from 1996 to 2018. He’s known for doing his own stunts whenever he can in the action-packed features and has the end project keeps viewers on their toes from start to finish. Through the years, he’s practically grown up on camera. Make your way through the photos to see some of his most memorable movie moments!

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Tom Cruise in 1983

Tom Cruise in 1983
©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett C

Tom Cruise can be seen here in ‘Risky Business’ in 1983. His role of Joel, a high school senior who gets into some trouble after his parents go away on vacation, was his breakthrough role in the film industry. 

December 28, 2020, 6:13PM
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Tom Cruise in ‘Top Gun’

Tom Cruise in ‘Top Gun’
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Tom Cruise is seen here in 1986’s ‘Top Gun’. He played US Navy pilot LT Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, who attends The Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School and brings his cocky attitude along with him.

‘Top Gun’ producer Jerry Bruckheimer revealed that “it wasn’t easy” to convince Cruise to take the role in a May 2021 interview with Variety. They ended up wooing the actor with his own ride on a Navy jet. 

He recalled, “They took him up on an F-14 and flipped him and did all kinds of stunts to turn him around and make sure he never got back in a cockpit. But it was just the opposite. He landed and he walked over to a phone booth and called me up and said, ‘Jerry. I’m making the movie. I love it.’ He became an amazing aviator himself. He can fly just about any plane they can make.”

December 28, 2020, 6:13PM
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Tom Cruise in ‘Cocktail’

Tom Cruise in ‘Cocktail’
©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy

Tom Cruise is seen here in 1988’s ‘Cocktail’. He played Brian Flanagan, a bartender who wants a high-paying marketing job in the rom-com, which was directed by Roger Donaldson of ‘Dante’s Peak’ fame. The movie was panned but was a commercial success, raking in $170 million worldwide off a $20 million budget. ‘Cocktail’ also starred Bryan Brown and Elisabeth Shue.

December 28, 2020, 6:13PM
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Tom Cruise & Nicole Kidman at the ‘Mission: Impossible’ premiere

Tom Cruise & Nicole Kidman at the ‘Mission: Impossible’ premiere
©RAMEY PHOTO AGENCY

Tom was married to Nicole Kidman from 1990 until 2001 and their romance was often put in the spotlight. Both remain private about their reasons for parting ways. They share two children, Connor and Bella. Nicole has since gone on to wed country singer Keith Urban. Here he is holding her hand during his appearance at the ‘Mission: Impossible’ premiere in 1996.

December 28, 2020, 6:13PM
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Tom Cruise in ‘Eyes Wide Shut’

Tom Cruise in ‘Eyes Wide Shut’
©Warner Bros/courtesy Everett C

Tom can be seen here in the 1999 film ‘Eyes Wide Shut’. He played Dr. William ‘Bill’ Harford, a man who seeks out an affair and discovers he’s in over his head.

The psychological drama was acclaimed director Stanely Kubrick’s last project. It also featured the talents of Tom’s then-wife Nicole Kidman, Sydney Pollack, and Marie Richardson.

December 28, 2020, 6:13PM
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Tom Cruise in ‘Minority Report’

Tom Cruise in ‘Minority Report’
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Tom Cruise is seen here in 2002’s ‘Minority Report’. He played Chief John Anderton, the head of a Precrime unit advanced in psychic technology, who is accused of murdering a man he had never even met.

The movie is adapted from a 1956 novella. Also starring Colin Farrell and Samantha Morton, the film earned over $358 million worldwide off of an overall budget of $142 million.

December 10, 2021, 8:46PM
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Tom Cruise in ‘War of the Worlds’

Tom Cruise in ‘War of the Worlds’
©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Col

Tom Cruise can be seen here in 2005’s ‘War of the Worlds’. In the Steven Spielberg adaptation of the 1898 H.G. Wells epic, Tom played dockworker Ray Ferrier, who must protect his children from an alien invasion. It also starred Dakota Fanning, Justin Chatwin, Miranda Otto, and Tim Robbins.

December 28, 2020, 6:13PM
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Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes at the ‘Valkyrie’ premiere

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes at the ‘Valkyrie’ premiere
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Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes drove the fans crazy when they showed up at the Brasilian Premiere of ‘Valkyrie’. Tom was married to Katie from 2006 until 2012. They share a daughter named Suri, who was born in 2006.

December 28, 2020, 6:13PM
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Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz in ‘Knight and Day’

Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz in ‘Knight and Day’
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Tom Cruise can be seen here in a scene with Cameron Diaz in 2010’s ‘Knight and Day’. He played Roy Miller, a covert operative who meets Cameron’s character on an airplane and insists he’s set up to take a fall.

December 28, 2020, 6:13PM
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Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes on an outing with their daughter Suri

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes on an outing with their daughter Suri
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Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes celebrate her 33rd birthday during an outing with their daughter Suri in 2011, when she was 5. Talking about fatherhood with Esquire in 2010, he said, ‘I’ll never forget the moment I became a dad. It’s hard to describe… That level of responsibility, the desire to give such joy, the clarity: Nothing is more important than this.’

December 28, 2020, 6:13PM
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Tom Cruise In ‘Edge of Tomorrow’

Tom Cruise In ‘Edge of Tomorrow’
©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett C

Tom Cruise can be seen here in 2014’s ‘Edge of Tomorrow’. He played Maj. William Cage, an officer who is thrown into a time loop after he dies while on a mission after Earth falls under attack by invincible aliens.

December 10, 2021, 8:46PM
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Tom Cruise In ‘Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation’

Tom Cruise In ‘Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation’
©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Col

Tom Cruise is seen here in 2015’s ‘Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation’. He played Ethan Hunt, who faced a new threat called ‘The Syndicate’ in the film. There are a total of 6 ‘Mission Impossible’ films.

The original ‘Mission Impossible’ was the first film that Tom ever produced. Remembering his early conversations with Paramount studios, he told Games Radar, “I looked at Paramount and I thought what I wanted to produce was something – I looked at it in many different ways… I wanted something that was going to be very commercial, potentially, but I wanted something that was going to be artistically challenging.”

“What is the challenge of this thing going to be?” he went on. “I wanted it to be an international film, and an international cast. Which at that time was different. I wanted to shoot it in England… I remember they said, ‘Can’t you shoot it in LA, or New York?’ And I was like no, I actually, I want to go to London.”

December 28, 2020, 6:13PM
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Tom Cruise & Annabelle Wallis In ‘The Mummy’

Tom Cruise & Annabelle Wallis In ‘The Mummy’
Photo Credit: Chiabella James

Tom Cruise is seen here with Annabelle Wallis in 2017’s ‘The Mummy’. He played Nick Morton, a soldier of fortune who comes under attack in the Middle East.

The daredevil praised co-star Russell Crowe while promoting on the ‘Today’ show in 2017. He said, “I had a blast with Russell, he’s a brilliant actor. The kind of talent that he has and screen presence.” Tom added, “I’ve wanted to work with him in a very long time. I have a lot of respect for him.”

December 28, 2020, 6:13PM
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Tom Cruise In ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’

Tom Cruise In ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’
©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Col

Tom Cruise is seen here in 2018’s ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’. He reprised his role as Ethan Hunt in the film.

The franchise’s 6th installment follows Ethan and his team as they track down missing plutonium while being monitored by a terrorist group called The Apostles after a mission goes wrong. The film raked in $791.1 million globally.

December 28, 2020, 6:13PM
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Tom Cruise attends the ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ premiere

Tom Cruise attends the ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ premiere
KCS Presse / MEGA

Tom Cruise attended the ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ global premiere in Paris in 2018. He looked handsome in a suit and tie.

A sequel to the 6th ‘Mission Impossible’ is scheduled to be released on Sept. 30 2022, following several pandemic delays. The 8th film plans on a July 7 2023 release.

December 28, 2020, 6:13PM
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Tom Cruise in ‘Mission: Impossible 7’

Tom Cruise in ‘Mission: Impossible 7’
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Tom Cruise was spotted on the set of ‘Mission: Impossible 7’ in Rome shooting a camera car scene while handcuffed in 2020. He was photographed doing a lot of dangerous stunts for the feature.

The film will feature the return of Tom and co-stars Ving Rhames, Henry Czerny, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, and Frederick Schmidt. New faces include Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Shea Whigham, Esai Morales, Rob Delaney, Charles Parnell, Indira Varma, Mark Gatiss, and Cary Elwes.

December 28, 2020, 6:14PM
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Tom Cruise & Son Connor At A Baseball Game

Tom Cruise & Son Connor At A Baseball Game
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Tom Cruise waves during Game 2 of a baseball National League Division Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers, in San Francisco on Oct. 9, 2021.

He was joined by his son Connor, who lives a private life near Clearwater, Florida, where the Church Of Scientology is headquartered. He likes to share his deep water fishing adventures and cooking skills on social media, but keeps private beyond that.

October 11, 2021, 8:58PM
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Tom Cruise At The USA Premiere Of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’

Tom Cruise At The USA Premiere Of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’
Shutterstock

Tom Cruise was so handsome in a navy blue suit at the world premiere of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ on May 4, 2022. The event was held at the USS Midway Museum in San Diego, California.

May 5, 2022, 8:55AM
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Tom Cruise In Seoul

Tom Cruise In Seoul
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Tom Cruise attends a Seoul, South Korea press conference for ‘Top Gun: Maverickk’ on Jun. 20, 2022. His overseas appeal is super broad.

July 1, 2022, 5:47PM
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Tom Cruise In Mexico City

Tom Cruise In Mexico City
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Tom Cruise poses for photos during the film photocall for ‘Top Gun Maverick’ at Ritz Carton Mexico City Hotel on May 6, 2022. He wore all black for the occasion.

July 1, 2022, 5:47PM
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Tom Cruise At The Seoul Premiere Of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’

Tom Cruise At The Seoul Premiere Of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’
Shutterstock

International superstar! Tom Cruise woos the crows at the Seoul, South Korea premiere of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ on Jun. 19, 2022.

July 1, 2022, 5:47PM
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Tom Cruise Touches Down In Seoul

Tom Cruise Touches Down In Seoul
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Tom Cruise waves as he arrives to promote his latest movie ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ at the Gimpo Airport in Seoul, South Korea on Jun. 17, 2022. He wore a tan polo and aviator sunglasses.

July 1, 2022, 5:48PM
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Tom Cruise At The London Premiere Of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’

Tom Cruise At The London Premiere Of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’
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Tom Cruise is sharp at the London premiere of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ on May 19, 2022. He wore a handsome tux.

July 1, 2022, 5:48PM
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Tom Cruise at ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ premiere

Tom Cruise at ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ premiere
Gregory Pace/Shutterstock

Tom Cruise looked handsome in this navy blue suit at the ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ film premiere in New York City on July 10, 2023.

September 26, 2023, 3:37PM