20 Tom Cruise Facts That Nearly Flew over Our Heads

zachnading Published 06/07/2022 in ftw

Tom Cruise might be one of the most polarizing actors in Hollywood. But even we realized we didn't know all that much about him until now.

Thanks to the subreddit Today I Learned, we've collected some of the most eye-opening and intriguing facts about the iconic film star.

Feel free to show off your Tom Cruise knowledge by sharing these facts with your closest wingman.

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1.
One of the strangest coincidences is that each of his wives were 33 years old when he divorced them. Nicole Kidman, Katie Holmes, and Mimi Rogers.
2.
Aladdin was originally supposed to resemble Michael J. Fox, however the animation looked too boyish, so Tom Cruise was then used as inspiration.
3.
When he was about 7 years old, Tom was diagnosed with Dyslexia.
4.
Every year for Christmas, he sends actress and 'Interview with the Vampire' co-star Kirsten Dunst a cake. Typically a delicious coconut cake.
5.
After the release of 'Top Gun' (1986) Navy recruitment went up 500%.
6.
Tom Cruise was offered the role of Edward Scissorhands. However he wasn't pleased with the sadness of the ending, and eventually turned it down. This made way for Johnny Depp.
7.
In the 1980's Tom Cruise and Cher had a brief fling together.
8.
Stanley Kubrick was such a brutal perfectionist, that there are allegedly 95 takes of Tom Cruise walking through a door for 'Eyes Wide Shut.'
9.
This is Tom Cruise literally hanging from the side of an airplane. It's well known that he does his own stunts, and the newest 'Mission Impossible' movie was no exception.
10.
Tom Cruise once witnessed a hit and run. The victim didn't have insurance so he paid her $7,000 hospital bill.
11.
In high school, Tom played linebacker on his varsity football team. He was then kicked off the team after getting caught drinking a beer before a game.
12.
Tom was one of the finalists in consideration to play Neo in 'The Matrix.'
13.
In Japan, October 10th is now 'Tom Cruise Day.'
14.
When the movie 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' was being released it was endorsed by Tom Cruise at a screening event. His endorsement jumpstarted the careers of both Jason Statham and Guy Richie.
15.
Tom Cruise was not only thrilled with the 'Tropic Thunder' script, but he himself wanted to create the character (including the dances) of Les Grossman.
16.
Ray-Ban's business was tanking in the late 1970s. They would go on to sign Tom Cruise to a 60-film deal (Top Gun, Risky Business, Rain Man included) where he would wear their product. It singlehandedly saved the company.
17.
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV was the actor's full name. He legally dropped the Mapother, as his father was abusive during his childhood and he felt no need to keep his name.
18.
Christian Bale used Tom Cruise's mannerisms as inspiration for Patrick Bateman in 'American Psycho.'
19.
In order to properly prepare for 'The Last Samurai,' Cruise spent two years learning sword-fighting as well as the Japanese language.
20.
Woody Harrelson was very close to portraying Jerry Maguire in the film by the same title, until Tom Cruise came along.

1.
One of the strangest coincidences is that each of his wives were 33 years old when he divorced them. Nicole Kidman, Katie Holmes, and Mimi Rogers.
2.
Aladdin was originally supposed to resemble Michael J. Fox, however the animation looked too boyish, so Tom Cruise was then used as inspiration.
3.
When he was about 7 years old, Tom was diagnosed with Dyslexia.
4.
Every year for Christmas, he sends actress and 'Interview with the Vampire' co-star Kirsten Dunst a cake. Typically a delicious coconut cake.
5.
After the release of 'Top Gun' (1986) Navy recruitment went up 500%.
6.
Tom Cruise was offered the role of Edward Scissorhands. However he wasn't pleased with the sadness of the ending, and eventually turned it down. This made way for Johnny Depp.
7.
In the 1980's Tom Cruise and Cher had a brief fling together.
8.
Stanley Kubrick was such a brutal perfectionist, that there are allegedly 95 takes of Tom Cruise walking through a door for 'Eyes Wide Shut.'
9.
This is Tom Cruise literally hanging from the side of an airplane. It's well known that he does his own stunts, and the newest 'Mission Impossible' movie was no exception.
10.
Tom Cruise once witnessed a hit and run. The victim didn't have insurance so he paid her $7,000 hospital bill.
11.
In high school, Tom played linebacker on his varsity football team. He was then kicked off the team after getting caught drinking a beer before a game.
12.
Tom was one of the finalists in consideration to play Neo in 'The Matrix.'
13.
In Japan, October 10th is now 'Tom Cruise Day.'
14.
When the movie 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' was being released it was endorsed by Tom Cruise at a screening event. His endorsement jumpstarted the careers of both Jason Statham and Guy Richie.
15.
Tom Cruise was not only thrilled with the 'Tropic Thunder' script, but he himself wanted to create the character (including the dances) of Les Grossman.
16.
Ray-Ban's business was tanking in the late 1970s. They would go on to sign Tom Cruise to a 60-film deal (Top Gun, Risky Business, Rain Man included) where he would wear their product. It singlehandedly saved the company.
17.
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV was the actor's full name. He legally dropped the Mapother, as his father was abusive during his childhood and he felt no need to keep his name.
18.
Christian Bale used Tom Cruise's mannerisms as inspiration for Patrick Bateman in 'American Psycho.'
19.
In order to properly prepare for 'The Last Samurai,' Cruise spent two years learning sword-fighting as well as the Japanese language.
20.
Woody Harrelson was very close to portraying Jerry Maguire in the film by the same title, until Tom Cruise came along.

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1. One of the strangest coincidences is that each of his wives were 33 years old when he divorced them. Nicole Kidman, Katie Holmes, and Mimi Rogers.

2. Aladdin was originally supposed to resemble Michael J. Fox, however the animation looked too boyish, so Tom Cruise was then used as inspiration.

3. When he was about 7 years old, Tom was diagnosed with Dyslexia.

4. Every year for Christmas, he sends actress and 'Interview with the Vampire' co-star Kirsten Dunst a cake. Typically a delicious coconut cake.

5. After the release of 'Top Gun' (1986) Navy recruitment went up 500%.

6. Tom Cruise was offered the role of Edward Scissorhands. However he wasn't pleased with the sadness of the ending, and eventually turned it down. This made way for Johnny Depp.

7. In the 1980's Tom Cruise and Cher had a brief fling together.

8. Stanley Kubrick was such a brutal perfectionist, that there are allegedly 95 takes of Tom Cruise walking through a door for 'Eyes Wide Shut.'

9. This is Tom Cruise literally hanging from the side of an airplane. It's well known that he does his own stunts, and the newest 'Mission Impossible' movie was no exception.

10. Tom Cruise once witnessed a hit and run. The victim didn't have insurance so he paid her $7,000 hospital bill.

11. In high school, Tom played linebacker on his varsity football team. He was then kicked off the team after getting caught drinking a beer before a game.

12. Tom was one of the finalists in consideration to play Neo in 'The Matrix.'

13. In Japan, October 10th is now 'Tom Cruise Day.'

14. When the movie 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' was being released it was endorsed by Tom Cruise at a screening event. His endorsement jumpstarted the careers of both Jason Statham and Guy Richie.

15. Tom Cruise was not only thrilled with the 'Tropic Thunder' script, but he himself wanted to create the character (including the dances) of Les Grossman.

16. Ray-Ban's business was tanking in the late 1970s. They would go on to sign Tom Cruise to a 60-film deal (Top Gun, Risky Business, Rain Man included) where he would wear their product. It singlehandedly saved the company.

17. Thomas Cruise Mapother IV was the actor's full name. He legally dropped the Mapother, as his father was abusive during his childhood and he felt no need to keep his name.

18. Christian Bale used Tom Cruise's mannerisms as inspiration for Patrick Bateman in 'American Psycho.'

19. In order to properly prepare for 'The Last Samurai,' Cruise spent two years learning sword-fighting as well as the Japanese language.

20. Woody Harrelson was very close to portraying Jerry Maguire in the film by the same title, until Tom Cruise came along.

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1.
One of the strangest coincidences is that each of his wives were 33 years old when he divorced them. Nicole Kidman, Katie Holmes, and Mimi Rogers.

2.
Aladdin was originally supposed to resemble Michael J. Fox, however the animation looked too boyish, so Tom Cruise was then used as inspiration.

3.
When he was about 7 years old, Tom was diagnosed with Dyslexia.

4.
Every year for Christmas, he sends actress and 'Interview with the Vampire' co-star Kirsten Dunst a cake. Typically a delicious coconut cake.

5.
After the release of 'Top Gun' (1986) Navy recruitment went up 500%.

6.
Tom Cruise was offered the role of Edward Scissorhands. However he wasn't pleased with the sadness of the ending, and eventually turned it down. This made way for Johnny Depp.

7.
In the 1980's Tom Cruise and Cher had a brief fling together.

8.
Stanley Kubrick was such a brutal perfectionist, that there are allegedly 95 takes of Tom Cruise walking through a door for 'Eyes Wide Shut.'

9.
This is Tom Cruise literally hanging from the side of an airplane. It's well known that he does his own stunts, and the newest 'Mission Impossible' movie was no exception.

10.
Tom Cruise once witnessed a hit and run. The victim didn't have insurance so he paid her $7,000 hospital bill.

11.
In high school, Tom played linebacker on his varsity football team. He was then kicked off the team after getting caught drinking a beer before a game.

12.
Tom was one of the finalists in consideration to play Neo in 'The Matrix.'

13.
In Japan, October 10th is now 'Tom Cruise Day.'

14.
When the movie 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' was being released it was endorsed by Tom Cruise at a screening event. His endorsement jumpstarted the careers of both Jason Statham and Guy Richie.

15.
Tom Cruise was not only thrilled with the 'Tropic Thunder' script, but he himself wanted to create the character (including the dances) of Les Grossman.

16.
Ray-Ban's business was tanking in the late 1970s. They would go on to sign Tom Cruise to a 60-film deal (Top Gun, Risky Business, Rain Man included) where he would wear their product. It singlehandedly saved the company.

17.
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV was the actor's full name. He legally dropped the Mapother, as his father was abusive during his childhood and he felt no need to keep his name.

18.
Christian Bale used Tom Cruise's mannerisms as inspiration for Patrick Bateman in 'American Psycho.'

19.
In order to properly prepare for 'The Last Samurai,' Cruise spent two years learning sword-fighting as well as the Japanese language.

20.
Woody Harrelson was very close to portraying Jerry Maguire in the film by the same title, until Tom Cruise came along.