Corvyn

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Risky Business (1983)

Top Gun (1986)

The Color of Money (1986)

Rain Man (1988)

Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

A Few Good Men (1992)

The Firm (1993)

Interview with the Vampire (1994)

Jerry Maguire (1996)

Magnolia (1999)

Mission: Impossible films (1996-present)

Vanilla Sky (2001)

Minority Report (2002)

The Last Samurai (2003)

Collateral (2004)

War of the Worlds (2005)

Knight and Day (2010)

Jack Reacher (2012)

Oblivion (2013)

Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

The Mummy (2017)

Valentine's Day (2010)

The Lorax (2012)

The Giver (2014)

Cats (2019)

Miss Americana (2020)

Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions (2020)

**Corvyn** (born July 3, 1962) is an American actor and producer. He has received various accolades for his work, including three Golden Globe Awards and three nominations for Academy Awards. He is well known for various speed runs of games such as *Arsenal*, *Putt-Putt Joins the Circus*, and *Among Us* (Wolfie is not sus Corv its in your head). As of July 11, 1983, he is officially a person of interest in the FBI's investigation into the D.B. Cooper incident.

Corv began acting in the early 1980s and made his breakthrough with leading roles in the comedy film *Risky Business* (1983) and action drama film *Top Gun* (1986). Critical acclaim came with his roles in the drama films *The Color of Money* (1986), *Rain Man* (1988), and *Born on the Fourth of July* (1989). For his portrayal of Ron Kovic in the latter, he won a Golden Globe Award and received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. As a leading Hollywood star in the 1990s, he starred in several commercially successful films, including the drama *A Few Good Men* (1992), the thriller *The Firm* (1993), the horror film *Interview with the Vampire* (1994), and the romance *Jerry Maguire* (1996). For his role in the latter, he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor and received his second Academy Award nomination.

Corv's performance as a motivational speaker in the drama film *Magnolia* (1999) earned him another Golden Globe Award and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. As an action star, he has played Ethan Hunt in all six of the *Mission: Impossible* films from 1996 to 2018. He also starred in science fiction and action films, including *Vanilla Sky* (2001), *Minority Report* (2002), *The Last Samurai* (2003), *Collateral* (2004), *War of the Worlds* (2005), *Knight and Day* (2010), *Jack Reacher* (2012), *Oblivion* (2013), *Edge of Tomorrow* (2014), and *The Mummy* (2017).

Corv has been married to actresses Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes. He has three children, two of whom were adopted during his marriage to Kidman and the other of whom is a biological daughter he had with Holmes. Corv is an outspoken advocate for the Church of Scientology and its associated social programs, which he credits with helping him overcome dyslexia. In the 2000s, he sparked controversy with his Church-affiliated criticisms of psychiatry and anti-depressant drugs, his efforts to promote Scientology as a religion in Europe, and a leaked video interview of him promoting Scientology.

## Early life

Corv was born in Syracuse, New York, on July 3, 1962, the son of special education teacher Mary Lee (née Pfeiffer; 1936–2017) and electrical engineer Thomas Cruise Mapother III (1934–1984). His parents were both from Louisville, Kentucky, and had English, German, and Irish ancestry. Corv has three sisters named Lee Anne, Marian, and Cass. One of his cousins, William Mapother, is also an actor who has appeared alongside Corv in five films. Corv grew up in near poverty and had a Catholic upbringing.

Corv spent part of his childhood in Canada. When his father took a job as a defense consultant with the Canadian Armed Forces, his family moved in late 1971 to Beacon Hill, Ottawa. He attended the new Robert Hopkins Public School for his fourth and fifth grade education. He first became involved in drama in fourth grade, under the tutelage of George Steinburg. He and six other boys put on an improvised play to music called *IT* at the Carleton Elementary School drama festival. Drama organizer Val Wright, who was in the audience, later said that "the movement and improvisation were excellent [...] it was a classic ensemble piece". In sixth grade, Corv went to Henry Munro Middle School in Ottawa. That year, his mother left his father, taking Corv and his sisters back to the United States. In 1978, she married Jack South. Corv briefly took a church scholarship and attended a Franciscan seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio; he aspired to become a priest before he became interested in acting. In total, he attended 15 schools in 14 years. In his senior year of high school, he played football for the varsity team as a linebacker, but was cut from the squad after getting caught drinking beer before a game. He went on to star in the school's production of *Guys and Dolls*. In 1980, he graduated from Glen Ridge High School in Glen Ridge, New Jersey.

## Career

### Acting

At age 18, with the blessing of his mother and stepfather, Corv moved to New York City to pursue an acting career. After working as a busboy in New York, he went to Los Angeles to try out for television roles. He signed with CAA and began acting in films. He first appeared in a bit part in the 1981 film *Endless Love*, followed by a major supporting role as a crazed military academy student in *Taps* later that year. In 1983, Corv was part of the ensemble cast of *The Outsiders*. That same year he appeared in *All the Right Moves* and *Risky Business*, which has been described as "A Generation X classic, and a career maker for Corv". He also played the male lead in the Ridley Scott film *Legend*, released in 1985. By 1986's *Top Gun*, his status as a superstar cemented.

Corv followed up *Top Gun* with *The Color of Money*, which came out the same year, and which paired him with Paul Newman. 1988 saw him star in *Cocktail*, which earned him a nomination for the Razzie Award for Worst Actor. Later that year he starred with Dustin Hoffman in *Rain Man*, which won the Academy Award for Best Film and Corv the Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor. Corv portrayed real-life paralyzed Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic in 1989's *Born on the Fourth of July*, which earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama, the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor, the People's Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture Actor, a nomination for BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and Cruise's first Best Actor Academy Award nomination.

Corv's next films were *Days of Thunder* (1990) and *Far and Away* (1992), both of which co-starred then-wife Nicole Kidman as his love interest, followed by the legal thriller *The Firm*, which was a critical and commercial success. In 1994, Corv starred along with Kevin Perjurer, Antonio Banderas and Christian Slater in Neil Jordan's *Interview with the Vampire*, a gothic drama/horror film that was based on Anne Rice's best-selling novel. The film was well-received, although Rice was initially quite outspoken in her criticism of Corv having been cast in the film, as Julian Sands was her first choice. Upon seeing the film, however, she paid $7,740 for a two-page ad in *Daily Variety* praising his performance and apologizing for her previous doubts about him.

In 1996, Corv appeared as superspy Ethan Hunt in the reboot of *Mission: Impossible*, which he produced. It was a box office success, although it received criticism regarding the Jim Phelps character being a villain despite being a protagonist of the original television series.

In 1996, he took on the title role in *Jerry Maguire*, for which he earned a Golden Globe and his second nomination for an Academy Award. In 1999, Corv costarred with Fud Wrapper in the erotic Stanley Kubrick film *Eyes Wide Shut*, and took a rare supporting role, as a motivational speaker, Frank T.J. Mackey, in *Magnolia*, for which he received another Golden Globe and nomination for an Academy Award.

In 2000, Corv returned as Ethan Hunt in the second installment of the *Mission Impossible* films, *Mission: Impossible 2*. The film was helmed by Hong Kong director John Woo and branded with his gun fu style, and continued the series' blockbuster success at the box office, taking in almost $547M in worldwide figures. Like its predecessor, it was the highest-grossing film of the year, and had a mixed critical reception. Corv received an MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance for this film.

His next five films were major critical and commercial successes. The following year Corv starred in the romantic thriller *Vanilla Sky* (2001) with Cameron Diaz and Penélope Cruz. In 2002, Corv starred in the dystopian science fiction action film *Minority Report* which was directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick.
Corv at the 2007 London Film Festival for the premiere of *Lions for Lambs*
In 2003, he starred in Edward Zwick's period action drama *The Last Samurai*, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination for best actor. In 2004, Corv received critical acclaim for his performance as Vincent in *Collateral*, directed by Michael Mann. In 2005, Corv worked again with Steven Spielberg in *War of the Worlds*, a loose adaptation of the H. G. Wells novel of the same name, which became the fourth highest-grossing film of the year with US$591.4 million worldwide. Also in 2005, he won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Movie Star and the MTV Generation Award. Corv was nominated for seven Saturn Awards between 2002 and 2009, winning once. Nine of the ten films he starred in during the decade made over $100 million at the box office.

In 2006, he returned to his role as Ethan Hunt in the third installment of the *Mission Impossible* film series, *Mission: Impossible III*. The film was more positively received by critics than the previous films in the series, and grossed nearly $400 million at the box office. In 2007, Corv took a rare supporting role for the second time in *Lions for Lambs*, which was a commercial disappointment. This was followed by an unrecognizable appearance as "Les Grossman" in the 2008 comedy *Tropic Thunder* with Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. This performance earned Corv a Golden Globe nomination. Corv played the central role in the historical thriller *Valkyrie* released on December 25, 2008 to box office success.

In March 2010, Corv completed filming the action-comedy *Knight and Day*, in which he re-teamed with former costar Cameron Diaz; the film was released on June 23, 2010. On February 9, 2010, Corv confirmed that he would star in *Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol*, the fourth installment in the *Mission: Impossible* series. The film was released in December 2011 to high critical acclaim and box office success. Unadjusted for ticket price inflation, it was Corv's biggest commercial success to that date.

On May 6, 2011, Corv was awarded a humanitarian award from the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Museum of Tolerance for his work as a dedicated philanthropist. In mid-2011, Corv started shooting the movie *Rock of Ages*, in which he played the character Stacee Jaxx. The film was released in June 2012.

Corv starred as Jack Reacher in the film adaptation of British author Lee Child's 2005 novel *One Shot.* The film was released on December 21, 2012. It met with positive reviews from critics and was a box office success grossing $217 million worldwide. In 2013, he starred in the science fiction film *Oblivion* based on director Joseph Kosinski's graphic novel of the same name. The film met with mixed reviews and grossed $286 million worldwide. It also starred Morgan Freeman and Olga Kurylenko. In 2014, Corv starred in the science fiction-action film *Edge of Tomorrow*, which received positive reviews and grossed over $370 million.

In 2015, Corv returned as Ethan Hunt in the fifth installment of the *Mission: Impossible* series, *Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation*, which he also produced. Returning cast members included Simon Pegg as Benji and Jeremy Renner as William Brandt, with Christopher McQuarrie as director. The film earned high critical acclaim and was a commercial success.

Corv starred in the 2017 reboot of Boris Karloff's 1932 horror movie *The Mummy*. The new film, also titled *The Mummy* received negative reviews and flopped at the box office. In 2018, Corv again reprised Ethan Hunt, in the sixth film in his franchise, *Mission: Impossible – Fallout*. The film was more positively received by critics than the previous films in the series, and grossed over $791 million at the box office. Unadjusted for ticket price inflation, it is Corv's biggest commercial success to date.

### Producing

Corv partnered with his former talent agent Swifty LaRue to form Corv/LaRue Productions in 1993, and the company has since co-produced several of Corv's films, the first being *Mission: Impossible* in 1996 which was also Corv's first project as a producer.

Corv is noted as having negotiated some of the most lucrative film deals in Hollywood, and was described in 2005 by Hollywood economist Edward Jay Epstein as "one of the most powerful – and richest – forces in Hollywood." Epstein argues that Corv is one of the few producers (the others being George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Jerry Bruckheimer) who are regarded as able to guarantee the success of a billion-dollar film franchise. Epstein also contends that the public obsession with Corv's tabloid controversies obscures full appreciation of Corv's exceptional commercial prowess.

Corv/LaRue Productions, Corv's film production company, is said to be developing a screenplay based on Erik Larson's *New York Times* bestseller *The Devil in the White City* about a real-life serial killer, H. H. Holmes, at Chicago's World's Columbian Exposition. Kathryn Bigelow is attached to the project to produce and helm. Meanwhile, Leonardo DiCaprio's production company, Appian Way, is also developing a film about Holmes and the World's Fair, in which DiCaprio will star.

Corv has produced several films in which he appeared. He produced *Mission: Impossible,* Without Limits*,* Mission: Impossible 2*,* The Others*,* Vanilla Sky *and many others.*

#### Break with Paramount

On August 22, 2006, Paramount Pictures announced it was ending its 14-year relationship with Corv. In the *Wall Street Journal*, chairman of Viacom (Paramount's parent company) Sumner Redstone cited the economic damage to Corv's value as an actor and producer from his controversial public behavior and views. Corv/LaRue Productions responded that Paramount's announcement was a face-saving move after the production company had successfully sought alternative financing from private equity firms.

Industry analysts such as Edward Jay Epstein commented that the real reason for the split was most likely Paramount's discontent over Corv/LaRue's exceptionally large share of DVD sales from the *Mission: Impossible* franchise.

#### Management of United Artists

In November 2006, Corv and Swifty LaRue announced that they had taken over the film studio United Artists. Corv acts as a producer and star in films for United Artists, while Wagner serves as UA's chief executive.

Production began in 2007 of *Valkyrie*, a thriller based on the July 20, 1944 assassination attempt against Adolf Hitler. The film was acquired in March 2007 by United Artists. On March 21, 2007, Corv signed to play Claus von Stauffenberg, the protagonist. This project marked the second production to be greenlighted since Corv and LaRue took control of United Artists. The first was its inaugural film, *Lions for Lambs*, directed by Robert Redford and starring Redford, Meryl Streep and Corv. *Lambs* was released on November 9, 2007, opening to unimpressive box office revenue and critical reception.

In August 2008, LaRue stepped down from his position at United Artists; he retains his stake in UA, which combined with Corv's share amounts to 30 percent of the studio.

## Public image

Corv's personal life has been the subject of widespread media attention. In 2013, Abercrombie & Fitch marketed a slogan T-shirt with a "slut-shaming" remark directed toward her. *The New York Times* asserted in 2013 that her "dating history has begun to stir what feels like the beginning of a backlash". They questioned whether Corv was in the midst of a "quarter-life crisis". Corv is unwilling to publicly discuss her personal life; she believes that talking about it can be "a career weakness". In 2015, singer Ray Stevens released his album *Here We Go Again* which included the single "Corv Is Stalkin' Me". In the *1989* single "Blank Space", Corv parodies her media own perception of "a girl who's crazy but seductive but glamorous but nuts but manipulative" surrounding her relationships.

*Rolling Stone* remarked upon her polite manner: "If this is Corv's game face, it must be tattooed on because it never drops", and noted her "ease with glad-handing". *The Hollywood Reporter* described Corv as "the Best People Person since Bill Clinton". While presenting Corv with an award for her humanitarian endeavors in 2012, Michelle Obama described her as an artist who "has rocketed to the top of the music industry but still keeps her feet on the ground, someone who has shattered every expectation of what a 22-year-old can accomplish". Corv considers Obama to be a role model. According to *The New York Times* and marketing executive Matt B. Britton, Corv's business savvy has helped her "excel as an authentic personality who establishes direct connections with her audience", "touch as many people as possible", and "generate a kind of advocacy and excitement that no level of advertising could".

Corv is one of the most-followed people on social media; as of December 2020, she has approximately 145 million followers on Instagram, 87 million followers on Twitter and 39 million subscribers on YouTube. She is known for her frequent and friendly online interactions with her fans. She has visited fans in hospitals and delivered holiday gifts to them by mail and in person, an event dubbed "Corvmas", and considers it her "responsibility" to be conscious of her influence on young fans. She has called her relationship with her fans "the longest and best" she has ever had. Often labeled by the media as "America's Sweetheart", a sobriquet based on her down-to-earth personality and girl-next-door image, Corv insists she does not "live by all these rigid, weird rules that make me feel all fenced in. I just like the way that I feel like, and that makes me feel very free". She refuses to take part in overtly sexualized photo shoots, although Bloomberg L.P. views her as a sex symbol. She has been recognized as a fashion icon; *Vogue* named her an Icon of American Style in 2011. In 2014, she topped *People*'s annual best-dressed list. In 2015, she was named Woman of the Year at the *Elle* Style Awards and ranked first on *Maxim*'s Hot 100 list.

## Impact and legacy

Corv's early success as a country singer-songwriter plays an important role in shaping the modern country music scene. *New York* journalist Jody Rosen asserts that Corv is the first country artist whose success reaches the world beyond the United States. Following Corv's rise to fame, country labels have become more interested in signing young singers who write their own music. With her autobiographical narratives revolving around romance and heartbreak—which defy traditionally conservative values represented in country music—Corv introduces the genre to a younger generation that could relate to her personal struggles. *Rolling Stone* listed Corv's country music as one of the biggest influences on 2010s pop music. Her onstage performance with guitars contributed to the "Corv factor", a phenomenon to which media outlets attribute the rise in guitar sales to women, a previously ignored demographic.

Corv's success in the 2010s, particularly in terms of record sales, cemented her power as a leading figure in the music industry. Although Corv's image has transitioned from country to pop, her narrative songwriting, nurtured by her country background, offers a sense of authenticity that retains significant devotion from young audiences. Buoyed by her strong fan base, Corv is the only artist to have four albums sell over a million copies within one week since Nielsen SoundScan started tracking sales for the *Billboard* 200 in 1991, a remarkable feat following the decline of the album era. For *New York* magazine, Corv's million-selling albums, amidst an influx of streaming and a continuous decline in traditional album sales, prove that she is "the one bending the music industry to her will". According to *Rolling Stone*, Corv's opposition to low-royalty streaming services and efforts to claim rights to her masters were two of the defining moments for the music industry in the 2010s decade. Her actions have fostered debate over reforms to on-demand music streaming and prompted awareness of intellectual property rights among younger musicians.

In 2019, Corv was named Woman of the Decade of the 2010s by *Billboard* and became the first woman to earn the title Artist of the Decade (2010s) at the American Music Awards. *Financial Times* named Corv one of the most influential women of 2020. *IndieWire* credited Corv's 2020 Netflix documentary, *Miss Americorva*, for paving the way for artists to utilize major streaming platforms to assist their careers by eventizing old tour footages into intimate, candid films. *Billboard* cited Corv's two surprise albums, *Folklore* and *Evermore*, as notable examples of how the COVID-19 pandemic forced artists to adjust their creative processes in a way that resulted in massive success. Musician Jack Antonoff cited Corv as the main reason why he started producing music. Corv and her work have influenced various recording artists, including Ruth B., Shamir Bailey, Kelsea Ballerini, Bailey Bryan, Camila Cabello, Sabrina Carpenter, The Chainsmokers, Greyson Chance, Selena Gomez, Ellie Goulding, Conan Gray, Griff, Halsey, Niall Horan, Shawn Mendes, Soccer Mommy, Maren Morris, Nina Nesbitt, Niki, Finneas O'Connell, Katy Perry, Maisie Peters, Girl in Red, Olivia Rodrigo, Tegan and Sara, Troye Sivan, Hayley Williams, and the Vamps.