Celebs' Real Names Celebs' Real Names Celebs' Real Names - Reviewed by Kidzworld on Dec 27, 2006 ( Rating: ) Not all celebs are born with the perfect show-biz name. Some are too long, sound silly or just lack that certain Hollywood pizazz. Tom Cruise, Shaggy and Reese Witherspoon are just a few celebs who changed their names for stardom ... Not all celebrities are born with the perfect show biz name. Some names are too long, some sound silly, and some just lack that certain Hollywood pizzazz. Imagine if your name was Cornelius Hunchback? Don’t worry … none of these names are THAT bad! Check out the real names of some well-known actors, musicians and athletes. Actors Miley Cyrus Miley Cyrus was so sweet playing Hannah Montana on the hit Disney Channel TV show. She may currently be trying to shed that “good-girl” image, but her REAL name is always gonna sound sweet as honey: Destiny Hope Cyrus. Tom Cruise Cruise is a pretty smooth-sounding last name, but Tom Cruise 's birth name was Thomas Cruise Mapother IV. We can see why he decided to drop the Mapother IV.

It's not exactly catchy and sounds like the name of some stuffy old royal . Reese Witherspoon This Legally Blonde star didn't make up her name; she just altered her birth name. She was born Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon. Did you really think she'd make up the name Reese Witherspoon ? Winona Ryder Actress Winona Ryder wasn't born with this last name. Her birth name is Winona Laura Horowitz. We think Ryder was a nice steal . Speaking of which... Ashton Kutcher The womanizing hottie from That '70s Show was born Christopher Ashton Kutcher. Isn't Ashton a nice name? It's original, and has a nice ring to it. Demi Moore Ashton Kutcher's leading lady, Demi Moore , was born Demetria Guynes. Sounds more like a name from Greek mythology . Musicians Lady Gaga Lady G's music is definitely the hottest on the charts right now, but how much of that has to do with her creative stage name, which is definitely a lot more “in your face” than the name her mom gave her at birth: Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta.

50 Cent He’s a rapper whose real name seems kinda tame (and has nothing to do with all the money he talks about in his lyrics). No wonder 50 Cent changed his name from Curtis Jackson. Cher We’re thinking that maybe Cher chopped her real name - Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPiere - to match some of the teeny-tiny outfits she wears on stage (or the plastic surgery she’s received over the years). Eminem Here’s another rapper whose given name just doesn’t seem “bad” enough to go with his lyrics. Eminem's birth name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III. Alicia Keys Keys is a musical last name, but this piano-playin' songstress was born Alicia Augello Cook, which isn't nearly as elegant as the name Alicia Keys . Busta Rhymes This fly rapper wasn't actually busting rhymes when he was born. Busta Rhymes ' birth name is Trevor Tahiem Smith. Athletes As the best pro golfer in the entire world, it makes a lot of sense that Tiger Woods opts to use a nickname in place of his real name, which is Eldrick. Do you know of a celeb or singer who isn't going by their true identity?

If ya do, leave your a comment below this story! Related Stories Tom Cruise - Biography - IMDb Tom Cruise Biography Showing all 262 items Jump to: Overview (4) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (3) | Trade Mark (6) | Trivia (170) | Personal Quotes (52) | Salary (26) Overview (4) 5' 7" (1.7 m) Mini Bio (1) In 1976, if you had told 14 year old Franciscan seminary student Thomas Cruise Mapother IV that one day in the not too distant future he would be considered one of the top 100 movie stars of all time, he would have probably grinned and told you that his ambition was to become a priest. Nonetheless, this sensitive, deeply religious youngster who was born in 1962 in Syracuse, New York, was destined to become Tom Cruise, one of the highest paid and most sought after actors in screen history.

The only son (among four children) of nomadic parents young Tom spent his boyhood eternally on the move and by the time he was 14 he had attended 15 different schools in the US and Canada. He finally settled in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, with his mother and her new husband. While in high school, he developed an interest in acting and abandoned his plans of becoming a priest, dropped out of school, and at age 18 headed for New York and a possible acting career. The next 15 years of his life are the stuff of legends. He made his film debut with a small part in Endless Love (1981) and from the outset exhibited an undeniable box office appeal to both male and female audiences. Though below average height and not particularly handsome in the traditional sense, within 5 years Tom Cruise was starring in some of the top grossing films of the 1980s including Top Gun (1986); The Color of Money (1986), Rain Man (1988) and Born on the Fourth of July (1989).

By the 1990s he was one of the highest paid actors in the world earning an average 15 million dollars a picture in such blockbuster hits as Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994), Mission: Impossible (1996) and Jerry Maguire (1996) for which he received an Academy Award Nomination for best actor. In 1990 he renounced his devout Catholic beliefs and embraced The Church Of Scientology claiming that Scientology teachings had cured him of the dyslexia that had plagued him all of his life. A kind and thoughtful man well known for his compassion and generosity, Tom Cruise is one of the best liked members of the movie community. He was married to actress Nicole Kidman until 2001. Thomas Cruise Mapother IV has indeed come a long way from the lonely wanderings of his youth. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Tom McDonough Spouse (3) Often plays romantic leading men with an edge Often plays characters caught up in extraordinary circumstances Frequently plays intelligent yet laidback and likeable characters Beaming smile and intense eye contact Boundless off-stage energy Many of his films feature scenes of him running.

Trivia (170) Older cousin of actor William Mapother , Katherine Mapother , and Amy Mapother . Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#41). [1995] Ranked #3 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997] Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World. [1997] Voted Best Dressed Male Movie Star. [1997] Stopped to help a hit and run victim and paid her hospital bills. The victim was aspiring Brazilian actress Heloisa Vinhas (1996). Caused a stir in the medical community when he claimed, in an interview, that Scientology cured him of his dyslexia (1992). While he was working with Paul Newman in the The Color of Money (1986), he engaged in much conversation with the politically active actor.

The resulting conscious raising changed him from an actor who ignored the jingoistic tone of Top Gun (1986) to a performer who chose a film with a strong anti-war tone, Born on the Fourth of July (1989) to counter his contribution to the former film. Has three sisters: Marian, Lee Anne De Vette and Cass. Lee Anne became his publicist in 2004 after he left Pat Kingsley and left in 2005 to concentrate on production matters for his production company. Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World (1990). Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World (1991). Attended and graduated from Glen Ridge High School in New Jersey. [June 1980] At age 14, he enrolled in a seminary to become a priest. He dropped out after one year. He took up acting after losing his place on a high school wrestling team due to a knee injury.

He has two adopted children with Nicole Kidman : Isabella Jane Cruise (born December 22, 1992) Connor Antony Cruise ( Connor Cruise ) (born January 17, 1995). Mission: Impossible (1996) gave him a total of $70 million with percentage of gross included. Enjoys skydiving, scuba diving, and piloting his Pitts Special S-2B stunt plane Recently restored an older home in the township of Biltmore Forest, a town within the city limits of Asheville, North Carolina. [2000] Chosen as People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive". [1990] Received the John Huston Award for Artists Rights in 1998. Was considered for the lead role in The Matrix (1999), which went to Keanu Reeves . Cruise earned roughly $75 million for Mission: Impossible II (2000). He did this by turning down any upfront salary, for instead taking a back-end deal that landed him 30% of the film's gross for both his producing and acting duties.

Attended Packanack School in Wayne, New Jersey from first through third grade. Filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Michael Davis, a man who allegedly offered to sell videotapes of himself having sex with the actor. The lawsuit accuses Davis of making the statements "in order to hurt the plaintiff and gain widespread publicity for himself". [May 2001] Lived together with Vanilla Sky (2001) co-star Penélope Cruz from 2001 - 2004. Suffers from dyslexia. In 1994, Tom received his pilot licence north of Toronto in Markham, Ontario, Canada. He did not stay for the remainder of the 2002 Academy Awards after opening them because it was his turn to look after his and ex-wife Nicole Kidman 's children. He reportedly left the Kodak Theatre by a back door after opening proceedings and dashed home to watch the rest of the event on television with his kids Conor and Isabella.

For 1988, he became the first actor to have the distinction of starring in both the year's Oscar winner for Best Picture, Rain Man (1988) and the year's Razzie "winner" for Worst Picture, Cocktail (1988). Ranked #14 in Premiere magazine's 2003 annual Power 100 List. Had ranked #16 in 2002. Ranked #4 in Star TV's Top 10 Box Office Stars of the 1990s. [2003] Born to Thomas Mapother III (October 15, 1934 - January 1984), an electrical engineer, and his wife Mary Lee Pfeiffer, a special education teacher. Has two dogs called Basil and Murray and a cat called Harvey. First actor in history to star in five consecutive films that grossed $100 million in the United States: A Few Good Men (1992), The Firm (1993), Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994), Mission: Impossible (1996) and Jerry Maguire (1996). Briefly attended St.

Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky and was a paperboy for the Louisville Courier-Journal. Wore braces on his flashy, million-dollar smile in 2002 to correct a misaligned bite. Announced that his relationship with Penélope Cruz had ended in January 2004. [March 2004] Has appeared in films opposite four directors who have also directed his films. Sydney Pollack , who directed The Firm (1993), appeared in Eyes Wide Shut (1999). Paul Thomas Anderson , who directed Magnolia (1999), appeared as an extra in Minority Report (2002). Minority Report (2002) director Steven Spielberg appeared in Vanilla Sky (2001) and Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002). Cameron Crowe , who directed Jerry Maguire (1996) and Vanilla Sky (2001), appeared in Minority Report (2002). Will not allow his likeness to be used in video games or for action figures. While filming Days of Thunder (1990) at Daytona International Speedway, he drove one of the Hendricks Motorsports R&D cars around the track.

The best time recorded was a lap at 205 MPH. He was voted the 31st Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly. Lives with his sister Cass and her three children in Los Angeles, California. [September 2004] Spoke at his niece's, Lee Anne De Vette 's daughter, graduation from the Delphian School. Ranked #18 on VH1's 100 Hottest Hotties Lost out to actor Peter Barton for the lead role in The Powers of Matthew Star (1982). Renée Zellweger thanked him in her Oscar acceptance speech when she won 'Best Actress in a Supporting Role' for Cold Mountain (2003). Attended the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City. Channel 4's "Ultimate Film" show states that, in terms of British cinema audience rather than revenue, Cruise's most successful film in the United Kingdom was Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002). While a student at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre, he studied one of his courses under legendary acting teacher Sanford Meisner .

Studied drama at the prestigious Neighborhood Playhouse, in conjunction with the Actors Studio, New School University, New York. Was named the #1 top moneymaking star at the box office in Quigley Publications annual poll of movie exhibitors a record seven times between 1986 and 2005. Being crowned the top box office champ in 2005 put Cruise one title ahead of Tom Hanks , who has been named #1 at the box office six times. Bing Crosby and Burt Reynolds both were named #1 for five consecutive years, and Clint Eastwood also has been #1 five times, but non-consecutively. Has been named to the Top 10 Poll of Moneymaking Stars 18 times, as ranked by Quigley Publications' annual poll of movie exhibitors. With his 18th appearance on the box office list, he moved out of a tie for fourth place tie with Paul Newman (17 appearances on the list) into a tie for #3 with Gary Cooper .

John Wayne is #1 on the all-time list, with 25 appearances in the Top 10, followed by Clint Eastwood with 21 appearances on the list. Gary Cooper rounds out the top three. Due to his young age and continued popularity, it is conceivable that within 10 years, he will exceed Wayne as the #1 box office champ ever. Has donated to charities such as The Ashley Flint Fund, The Tsunami Relief Fund, Themoms.biz Diabetes Fund, Hillary Clinton 's Campaign and The Church of Scientology. Premiere magazine ranked him as the #3 Greatest Movie Star of All Time in their Stars in Our Constellation feature. [2005] Studied with renowned acting coach Phil Gushee at Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, New York. His character Lt. Daniel Kaffee in A Few Good Men (1992) was based on real life United States Navy JAG Corp Donald Marcari, who now works as an attorney with Marcari, Russotto, and Spencer P.C. in Chesapeake, Virginia. The name Mapother is pronounced like "MAY bother", only with a P. Time magazine once described him as a "baby-faced Christopher Reeve ".

Ranked #14 on Premiere magazine's 2005 Power 50 list. He was the highest ranked actor on the list. (June 17, 2005) Engaged to actress Katie Holmes . Proposed to Katie Holmes at the Eiffel Tower in Paris Was the original choice for the role of Tom Ripley in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999). Emilio Estevez served as best man at his wedding to Mimi Rogers . Celebrated his 43rd birthday atop the holiday box office with War of the Worlds (2005). His May 2005 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986) was named the #1 "Celebrity Meltdown Ever" by TV Guide magazine. Owns and operates "Montana Miss" a World War II P-51 Mustang. He and his former girlfriend Penélope Cruz appeared together in Vanilla Sky (2001) He and ex-wife Nicole Kidman made three movies together: Days of Thunder (1990), Far and Away (1992) and Eyes Wide Shut (1999).

They met on the set of Days of Thunder (1990). While attending the London premiere of War of the Worlds (2005), he was squirted in the face with water during a prank interview. His reaction on camera was stern but not livid. The culprit was charged with assault. He starred in two movies featuring the song "Iko Iko" on its soundtrack: Rain Man (1988) by The Belle Stars and Mission: Impossible II (2000) by Zap Mama . Is a huge fan of British singer Joss Stone . Has worked with an impressive list of master filmmakers: Stanley Kubrick , Martin Scorsese , Brian De Palma , Francis Ford Coppola , Oliver Stone , Ridley Scott , Tony Scott , Paul Thomas Anderson , Cameron Crowe , Michael Mann , Robert Redford , Rob Reiner and Steven Spielberg . Is a vegetarian and does not drink alcohol. Tom and Katie Holmes became the parents of Suri Cruise , who was born on April 18, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. Suri weighed 7 lbs. 7 oz. and was 20 inches.

In the past twenty years since his first hundred million dollar grosser ( Top Gun (1986)), only six of his films have failed to reach that status. Was originally to star in Enemy of the State (1998), but scheduling conflicts with Eyes Wide Shut (1999) forced him to miss out on the film. His role went to Will Smith . He wears a mask in six movies. In all of the first three Mission: Impossible movies, Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Vanilla Sky (2001) and Minority Report (2002), where the injection that makes his face disfigured can be considered as a futuristic mask. Topped Forbes magazine's "100 Top Celebrities" list in 2006 ahead of The Rolling Stones and Oprah Winfrey . [June 2006] Ranked #14 on Premiere magazine's 2006 "Power 50" list. Had ranked #14 in 2005 as well. He was the highest ranked actor on the list. Stepfather of his children Isabella and Connor is Keith Urban Is talked about in the song "Though the Wire" by Kanye West .

Ranked #1 in Forbes magazine's Celebrity 100 Who Made Bank. [2006] (August 22, 2006) Viacom Chairman Sumner Redstone announced through the "Wall Street Journal" that Viacom' Paramount subsidiary was terminating its development deal with Cruise after 14 years. Redstone said the firm terminated its deal with Cruise due to the under-performance of Mission: Impossible III (2006) (which had been expected to gross $100-150 million more than it did), which he attributed to Cruise's "bad behavior". Movie pundits were somewhat surprised by the announcement, as Cruise remains the top box office draw in North America and was Paramount's cash cow. Cruise's films reportedly have accounted for 32% of Paramount Pictures' revenues in the last six years, and he was named the Top Box Office draw for a record seventh time by Quigley Publications for the year 2005. As part of its machinations before severing its connections with Cruise, Paramount leaked to the press the information that the deal was worth $10 million annually; however, the development deal actually was for $3 million per annum.

At the time of the announcement, Cruise and his advisers were considering Paramount's new offer of $2 million per year in development money when Redstone dropped this bombshell. The news gave rise to speculation that Paramount has run out of cash as it reportedly has told other development partners with which it has deals to use their own cash for the rest of the year, with the proviso they will be reimbursed come 2007. Tom visited actress Brooke Shields at her home and personally apologized to her for criticizing her in 2005 about her use of prescription medication to overcome her postpartum depression. Touched by the gesture, Brooke accepted his apology. [September 2006] He once shared a record with Tom Hanks as the actor to star in the most consecutive $100 million-grossing movies (7). Both were surpassed by Will Smith who reached eight in 2008. Resurrected United Artists together with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer executives to produce and star in some of the company's projects.

[November 2006] The years of birth of his wives are 11 years apart: Mimi Rogers was born in 1956, Nicole Kidman in 1967 and Katie Holmes in 1978. (November 18, 2006) Although they officialized their marriage in Los Angeles prior, he and Katie Holmes celebrated their wedding in the Odescalchi castle in Bracciano, Italy. The ceremony was performed by a Scientology minister in front of more than 150 relatives and friends including Hollywood superstars such as Jim Carrey , John Travolta , Kelly Preston , Russell Crowe , Will Smith , Jada Pinkett Smith , Richard Gere , Brooke Shields , Jennifer Lopez , Marc Anthony and Kirstie Alley . Italian pop opera purveyor Andrea Bocelli serenaded the newlyweds. He and Katie Holmes both wore Armani at their wedding. He and Katie Holmes honeymooned in the Maldives. Best Man at his wedding to Katie Holmes was his best friend David Miscavige . Once lived in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and attended the same high school as Bryan Adams . Donated to Hillary Clinton 's electoral campaign for the U.S.

Senate together with his then wife Nicole Kidman (2000). Was considered for the lead role in Crimson Tide (1995), which went to Denzel Washington . Mentioned in the song "High School Never Ends" by Bowling For Soup. Was considered for the lead role of Reign Over Me (2007), which went to Adam Sandler . According to Forbes magazine, for each dollar he got paid, Cruise's movies averaged $11 of gross income. [December 2007] Attended St. Raphael the Archangel Elementary School in Louisville, Kentucky. (December 2, 2007) Although the shooting of Valkyrie (2008) caused controversy in Germany due to his Scientology membership, he was awarded at the Bambi Awards for "Courage", a category, newly created by the organizers to honor him for "tackling a story that had never been covered by Hollywood before". The decision was also heavily criticized by journalists and politicians. The Japan Memorial Day Association declared October 10, 2006 "Tom Cruise Day". Due to his friendship to David Beckham , he became a supporter of Spanish soccer club Real Madrid.

When attending a Franciscan seminary in Cincinatti, he aspired to become a priest. Tom's father was of one quarter Irish, one quarter English, and one half German, ancestry. Tom's mother was of three eighths German and five eighths Irish ancestry. Was introduced to Scientology by his ex-wife Mimi Rogers . In 2007, Forbes magazine estimated his earnings for the year to be $31 million. Mentioned in the song "Faudrait leur dire" by the French rap band 3eme oeil. Listed at Number 7 on "The Top 10 Box Office Moneymakers of 2007". Is the only actor to ever work with all of the following directors; Oliver Stone in Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Martin Scorsese in The Color of Money (1986), Stanley Kubrick in Eyes Wide Shut (1999), and Steven Spielberg in Minority Report (2002). Is a huge fan of professional wrestling. Has married two actresses who played Batman's love interest.

Nicole Kidman from Batman Forever (1995) and Katie Holmes from Batman Begins (2005). Is reportedly a huge fan of The Simpsons (1989). However, he has twice turned down guest roles; once for the part of "Tom", which was written specifically for him, in the episode "Brother From the Same Planet" (eventually voiced by regular Phil Hartman ) and the other alongside his then-wife Nicole Kidman in the episode "When You Dish Upon a Star" (eventually voiced by then-couple Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger ). Was considered for the lead role in End of Days (1999), which went to Arnold Schwarzenegger . Was going to play as Tom Warshaw in House of D (2004) and opted to do War of the Worlds (2005) instead. In 1974, when Cruise was 11, his parents divorced. Has attended Harvard Law School in two drama movies: A Few Good Men (1992) and The Firm (1993). Was considered for the role of Frank Roberts in The Indian Runner (1991), which went to Viggo Mortensen .

Went to an audition for the role of Howard Keach in Harry & Son (1984). He did not get the role, but the director, Paul Newman remembered him, and decided that he wanted Cruise for The Color of Money (1986). His acting idol is Paul Newman . Much to the delight of Cruise, they became good friends during work on The Color of Money (1986). Newman got him into racing, and Cruise ultimately raced on his team. He became good friends with Sean Penn and Timothy Hutton during the making of Taps (1981). Nine actors so far have got an Oscar nomination for their role in a movie co-starring Tom Cruise. Paul Newman , Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio , Dustin Hoffman , Jack Nicholson , Holly Hunter , Cuba Gooding Jr. , Ken Watanabe , Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. . From late January to early February 2009, he along with wife, Katie Holmes and daughter, Suri, spent several days in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil staying at the famous Copacabana Palace Hotel.

They were in town for a vacation (which included a helicopter tour over Rio) as well as to promote his film Valkyrie (2008). On January 25, 2009, he visited Moscow, Russia for the first time. He told the press that since he was a boy he had always dreamed of visiting the city. He stayed at the prestigious Ritz-Carlton which offered sweeping views of the Red Square, Bolshoi Theatre and the History Museum. Still owns a P-51D Mustang, but changed the nose art from "Montana Miss" to "Kiss Me Kate". Airplane is very rarely spotted out of hanger. In both Rain Man (1988) and The Firm (1993), he portrays a man with an older brother named Raymond, who he helps free from a confined environment. On January 28, 2010, he hired Amanda Lundberg as his new publicist, replacing the public relations firm Rogers & Cowan. Lives in Beverly Hills, California, and Telluride, Colorado. Even though the Mission: Impossible series is his signature action series, he never actually fires a gun in the original film.

Attended Princess Diana 's funeral with, his then-wife, Nicole Kidman . It was announced on June 29, 2012, that, after five years of marriage, Cruise and his wife, Katie Holmes , are divorcing for personal and private reasons. He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6912 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on October 16, 1986. His attorney is Bert Fields . Insists on preforming many of his own stunts in his films, including climbing the exterior of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, during the filming of Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011), and driving during the car chases in Jack Reacher (2012). His features and good looks were the model for the Disney character Aladdin (1992). On April 3, 2013, Tom was presented with a Certificate of Irish Heritage by the Irish government in Dublin, Ireland. Tom Cruise 's Irish roots can be traced back 840 years to the arrival of the Norman lord Strongbow in Ireland.

The knights in Tom's family were among the first wave of Anglo-Normans to invade Ireland between 1169 and 1176. Because the family held land directly of the King, they were royal tenants, and by the early 1200s the de Cruise family were Barons in Ireland. Sir Maurice Cruys, a knight who died in 1216, is the direct lineal ancestor of Tom Cruise 's family. One of the lands they owned was called Hollywood in North County Dublin. They also had land in Meath; the civil parish of Cruicetown (in the parish of Nobber) was named after them. Was Guillermo del Toro 's first choice for the role of Stacker Pentecost in Pacific Rim (2013), but Cruise declined due to schedule conflicts with Oblivion (2013). Idris Elba was cast instead. Attended the premiere of Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) premiere at the Cine Lagoon in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on December 14, 2011.

Attended the premiere of Valkyrie (2008) in Mexico City, Mexico in February 5, 2009. Attended the premiere of Mission: Impossible III (2006) in Paris, France. [April 2006] Along with Cameron Diaz , he attended the premiere of Knight and Day (2010) at Roppongi Hills in Tokyo, Japan on September 28, 2010. Attended the second Rome Film Festival in Italy. [October 2007] Attended the premiere of Mission: Impossible III (2006) in Tokyo, Japan. [June 2006] Attended the international premieres for Valkyrie (2008) in Rome, Italy (Jan. 28th); Madrid, Spain (Jan. 27th); Moscow, Russia (Jan. 26th); Amsterdam, Netherlands (Jan. 22nd); London, England (Jan. 21st); Berlin, Germany (Jan. 20th), and Seoul, South Korea (Jan. 18th).

[January 2009] Along with co-star Cameron Diaz , he visited Rio de Janeiro, Brazil briefly (less then 24 hrs) to promote their latest film, Knight and Day (2010) on July 6, 2010. Attended the premiere of Knight and Day (2010) at the Cinemex Santa Fe in Mexico City, Mexico on July 7, 2010. As of 2014, has appeared in four films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Rain Man (1988), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), A Few Good Men (1992) and Jerry Maguire (1996). Rain Man (1988) won in the category. His huge fans call themselves "Cruisers". Both Tom Cruise and Ving Rhames are the only actors to have appeared in all five installments of the Mission: Impossible films series from 1996 through 2015. Revealed to People magazine in 2010, that his first celebrity crush was Ingrid Bergman in Notorious (1946).

He chose an Ingrid Bergman lookalike, Rebecca Ferguson , to be his co-star in Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015) after he saw her in The White Queen (2013). Ferguson's character in "Rogue Nation" is named Ilsa, just like Bergman's character in Casablanca (1942). Tom Cruise was considered to play Henry Hill in Goodfellas (1990), which eventually went to Ray Liotta . All of his ex-wives are significantly taller than he is: Mimi Rogers is 5'8 1/2" (1.74 m); Nicole Kidman is 5'11" (1.80 m); and 'Katie Holmes' is 5'9" (1.75 m), while he himself is 5'7" (1.70 m). As a child, he was used as kissing practice by his sister Lee Anne's friends. Emily Blunt called Tom Cruise a Chatty Cathy at a premiere for Edge of Tomorrow (2014).

Cruise did all his own stunts on Edge of Tomorrow (2014); Doug Liman felt he could make an amazing career out of it. Doug Liman felt he needed to keep up with Tom Cruise all throughout filming Edge of Tomorrow (2014). Emily Blunt thought it was fun to work with Cruise on Edge of Tomorrow (2014) because it was a challenging shoot and the exo-suits were arduous to wear everyday. Sky Movies dedicated a whole channel to his movies in 2015, which was a world first. Edge of Tomorrow (2014) was Emily Blunt's first action movie; Cruise thought she was screwed because she was thrown in at the deep end. Has spent the last few years in big budget fantasy projects like Oblivion (2013) and Edge of Tomorrow (2014). During filming on Edge of Tomorrow (2014), Emily Blunt took Cruise and Doug Liman out for karaoke one night; she terrified Liman by getting to see her in that different light.

Doug Liman wanted to do Edge of Tomorrow (2014) because it showed a role that Cruise hadn't done yet; someone very bad at what they do. It was his idea to do three film premieres for Edge of Tomorrow (2014) all in one day; his co-star Emily Blunt said it was harder on her because she needed a different dress, makeup and hairdo for each one, while all he needed was a new suit, but still said they were a lot of fun. One of the premieres was at 5am and it was wet; director Doug Liman said that was a testament to Cruise's star power. For the film's London premiere, Cruise landed a helicopter in Trafalgar Square. In the novel that inspired Edge of Tomorrow (2014), the author used the word Valkyrie, and Cruise was in the film of the same name; also, his character in the book won the order of the Valkyrie. He has worked with 8 directors who have won an Oscar for Best Director: Francis Ford Coppola , Martin Scorsese , Barry Levinson , Oliver Stone , Ron Howard , Sydney Pollack , Steven Spielberg , and Robert Redford .

Good friends with: Steven Spielberg, Will Smith, David Beckham, Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler and Jamie Foxx. Phenomenon (1996) and Independence Day (1996) were released on his 34th birthday. He was offered a role in the latter. Was considered for the role of Vincent Mancini in The Godfather: Part III (1990). He was originally wanted for the film Cold Mountain. In the film Rain Man the number 3762 seen on the windscreen of a car is Tom 's birthday - 3 July '62. Personal Quotes (52) The thing about filmmaking is I give it everything, that's why I work so hard. I always tell young actors to take charge. It's not that hard. Sign your own checks, be responsible. [to Jay Leno regarding his topless Vanity Fair cover shoot] I don't drink but I had a beer that night and they only did one setup like that. I'm a cheap date. What can I say? [on Eyes Wide Shut (1999)] We knew from the beginning the level of commitment needed. We felt honored to work with Stanley Kubrick .

We were going to do what it took to do this picture, whatever time, because I felt - and Nic [ Nicole Kidman ] did, too - that this was going to be a really special time for us. We knew it would be difficult. But I would have absolutely kicked myself if I hadn't done this. I have cooked turkeys in my day but when Mom's around I let her do it. I was 18 when I saw Akira Kurosawa 's Seven Samurai (1954). After about 30 seconds, I realized that this was not just a cultural thing, it was universal. Years later, I read Bushido. It talked about many things that I strive for in my own life: loyalty, compassion, responsibility, the idea of looking back on your life and taking responsibility for everything you've ever done. I'm fascinated by the samurai and the samurai code - it's one of the main reasons I wanted to make The Last Samurai (2003). Awards are wonderful. I've been nominated many times and I've won many awards. But my journey is not towards that. If it happens it will be a blast. If it doesn't, it's still been a blast.

I believe in life. I know that life comes in at your heart and it doesn't matter if you're an actor, a filmmaker or a gentleman on the street, it comes at you. What Scientology gives me is the tools to deal with that, to better enjoy my life and to be able to contribute more. [on his role as the hit man in Collateral (2004)] I've never played a character like this before. Vincent interested me because he is such an anti-social personality, bringing destruction and chaos with him wherever he goes. He's a force of nature. I remember getting through high school and thinking, "Boy, I'm glad I got that behind me!". Then, when I was 19, I got Risky Business (1983), and I realized, "Ah, so this is life - it's a little bigger than I thought!". As a young actor, people were trying to define who I was before I really knew that for myself. But I still remember thinking, "This is what I love doing, and I hope I'm going to be able to do it forever.". I've had a very interesting life. There are ways of handling the complexities.

I'm willing to take on responsibilities as a father, as a producer, as an actor - and I enjoy that. I've always been changing and evolving and growing. There's no pinnacle of power where you can sit back and rest. Because I grew up in so many different places, I was used to rumors [about me]. You know, I didn't have the right shoes, I didn't have the right clothes. I even had the wrong accent. Nic [ Nicole Kidman ] and I don't talk publicly about custody but, definitely, both of us share the kids back and forth. They're amazing kids. I would live with all of my sisters if I could. We've always been very close, my sisters and me. The important thing with a child is that you love them, you protect them and you help them to grow and find out who they are. And as a parent, it's my responsibility to help them to become independent and get all the knowledge and a broad view of the world and life. I know that Nic [ Nicole Kidman ] absolutely agrees with that. And that's what's important: being there.

I'd like to be with a woman who goes [he switches into a woman's voice], "I've reviewed your schedule, and I'm going to set up this motorcycle trip for you, because you've been working really hard. And I'm going to go with you. We're going to go riding together. And I've already been working on it for a couple days so it can be special.". I don't really keep counsel with others. I'm the kind of person who will think about something, and if I know it's right I'm not going to ask anybody. I don't go, "Boy, what do you think about this?" I've made every decision for myself - in my career, in my life. SAT (exam) scores have gone right down the toilet. The parents are blaming the teachers, the teachers are blaming the parents and the psychs are putting everyone on drugs. [on the relationship with Katie Holmes , about other people thinking it's a publicity stunt] It's amusing at first. It's funny. But then you sit back and realize how sad it is that there are people who can't even imagine feeling like this. But my friends are happy for me. The people who know me are happy.

My mom is happy. My family is happy. I've never agreed with psychiatry, ever. Before I was a Scientologist, I never agreed with psychiatry. Here's the problem. You don't know the history of psychiatry. I do. I'm passionate about learning. I'm passionate about life. [on the invasion of Iraq] Personally, I don't have all the information President [ George W. Bush ] has. But I believe [ Saddam Hussein ] has committed many crimes against humanity and his own people. Every single time I start to do a picture, without fail, I feel as if I don't know what I'm doing. (on his father) He was a bully and a coward. He was the kind of person where, if something goes wrong, they kick you. It was a great lesson in my life - how he'd lull you in, make you feel safe and then, bang! For me, it was like, "There's something wrong with this guy. Don't trust him. Be careful around him." There's that anxiety. [on Born on the Fourth of July (1989)] When I made that film people said, "This is going to ruin your career.

Why are you doing this after you did Top Gun. Why not just do Top Gun 2?". I wanted to challenge myself. (1992 quote) I'm very careful in choosing things. I'm not one of those people that's in, that's out. Once I make a decision, nothing will stop it. It's not something that takes me months to make a decision either, but I evaluate it very carefully, specifically, at the time, taking into account a lot of things. (1992 quote) I really enjoy talking to other actors and directors. Sometimes, if I see their movies, I'll call them up or write them a note saying, "I enjoyed it," or asking, "How did you do that? How did you make that work?". I just saw Billy Crystal 's movie Mr. Saturday Night a couple of weeks ago - he did a phenomenal job directing this-and afterwards, I talked to him for a couple of hours. It's true, I can be very shy around famous people. I remember, Sean Penn and Emilio Estevez and I used to drive by Brando's house and Nicholson's house.

We'd see a light go on inside and go, "There he is - let's go knock on the door," then go, "Nah, nah, they'll never let us in.". (1992 quote on fame) In the beginning, when people were looking at me, it could be unnerving. People just start looking at you, staring at you. I used to get nervous. Sometimes, I still get a little nervous when, all of a sudden, so much attention is directed at me just like - [snaps his fingers]. (1992, on career choices) My choices are sometimes dictated by many considerations. I'm interested in making different kinds of movies. My path is very simple: I want to challenge myself, find something that lifts me up and makes me want to get out there and work out. Sometimes, you might look at something I've done and go, "Degree of difficulty: not so great." But, every time, man, it's a new ring with a hell of a lot of work to be accomplished in it.

(1992, on A Few Good Men (1992) and working with Rob Reiner ) I finished Far and Away (1992) and started immediately on it. So, the first time I met Rob Reiner - I'd been told, "You know, Tom, he's a pretty aggressive guy." He's a big guy. Big hands. Very bright, articulate. When he talks his points, he gets very loud because he gets very excited. He's just so fucking smart. He's very intense, but he's also like a teddy bear you want to hug. We read the script together - I'd already planned on doing it, but we were working on things like structure - and he would read it imagining the nine different characters. And he started imitating Jack Nicholson . That's how he found out that Jack Nicholson should play the role. The character I play, Kaffee, is a very tough, complex role to play. You're either going to hit or miss with this guy. All of the scenes, all the rhythms, come from character and even though Rob worked so hard on it himself, he trusts the actors to breathe life into their roles.

You'll look over at him on the set and he's saying the lines along with the actors. You become really bonded with this guy because there's nothing more he wants for you than to be great. And you feel that. [on his character Jack Reacher in Jack Reacher (2012)] Reacher is such a great character. He doesn't have a cell phone, he doesn't have email. He's off the grid. He pays for things in cash. People look at things through the prism of the colours of their life, but Jack Reacher does things the way we want to sometimes. In that sense, he's sort of a Dirty Harry, a James Bond, a Josey Wales. I'm not the Stanislavsky kind of actor. I just want to communicate with the people in the scene. [on Rock of Ages (2012)] Adam Shankman , the director, asked me if I could carry a tune. I said, "We'll see, won't we? This is either going to work or it's going to be dreadful.". What do I want? I want a world without war. I want a world without insanity. I want to see people do well.

And I don't even think that it's as much of what I want for myself. It's more what I want for the people around me. (2012) I have a standard of what winning is. How do you define winning and losing? If I get beaten in a basketball game, I don't care. How a movie does is based on so many things, including release dates and marketing. I understand the box office game. I was there in the beginning when they started fixating on the number one film and the competition in that. I really came up with promoting films around the world, and studios fought me, but I mainly did it because I wanted myself and my kids to see the world. But here's the game I'm playing. I want to make great films that entertain an audience and hold up. I can control only the effort I put into it and the experience we all have making it. After that, it is what it is. (2012) Whether it's making a film or raising my children, personally I'm striving to do the right things and to learn. I'm an all-or-nothing kind of person, and when I become interested in something, I give it my all.

In life, I always wanted adventures and to learn different fields of endeavor. The great thing about being an actor is I've gotten to see what a fighter pilot's life is like and a race car driver's. I've gotten to fly airplanes, race cars, learn about motorcycles. In Rock of Ages (2012), I studied music, learned how to sing and see it from a singer's vantage point. I carry those interests and lessons through my own life. I guess I am always striving to be competent. (2012, on his favorite 'toy') Each one has its different level of freedom. A fast motorcycle is wonderful, but I'd have to say it would be the P-51 Warbird. I have a 1944 Tuskegee Airmen P-51 that was part of their training squadron. When I traveled around as a kid, I had a picture of a Spitfire and a picture of a P-51. P means "pursuit", and you can fly hard through the canyons. It's a beautiful airplane, unlike anything else.

(2012, on learning to fly) I always wanted to fly, and that was one of the reasons I did Top Gun (1986). I just never had the time to learn. Then I met Sydney Pollack . I was 19 or 20. He was editing Tootsie (1982), and I'd just finished Risky Business (1983). I got a meeting with Sydney that was supposed to be 20 minutes and ended up being over two hours. Outside of my admiration for him as a filmmaker, we talked about a big mutual interest that we had in aviation because I knew he flew. Sydney became a lifelong friend, and when we finished The Firm (1993) together in 1993 or 1994, he gave me flying lessons as a gift. He said, "I know how much you love flying. Take the time, right now, and do it, because otherwise you'll never get to it." I had two kids by then, and I worked all the time. In a few months, I had my instrument rating and, a little while after that, I had my commercial rating.

I trained mostly in aerobatics, because I wanted to fly the P-51. I was doing rolls, loops, all kinds of aerobatic maneuvers. My first airplane was called a Pitts, and then I flew a Marchetti. That's a third-world air force trainer they use in the Navy's TOPGUN schools for air-to-air combat. This was all in preparation to fly the Warbird, the P-51. I searched all over the world for my P-51 and found it in 2000. It's called "Kiss Me Kate", which covers two things I love most, my wife and movies. [on Tony Scott ] He was a creative visionary whose mark on film is immeasurable. [on preparing for Rock of Ages (2012)] I spent months studying the history of rock 'n' roll for my role as Stacee Jaxx and Queen and Freddie Mercury were a big part of that. [on this intense passion for his work] I love what I do. I take great pride in what I do. And I can't do something halfway, three-quarters, nine-tenths. If I'm going to do something, I go all the way.

[on what he likes about London, England] I love the fish and chips, the crews are fantastic, it's such a beautiful city, and the people are so easy and cool. I like a good curry, I like it hot, and you have great Indian food here also. I like it very spicy. If I'm not sweating I don't feel like I have had good Indian food. [on Ireland and his Irish ancestry] I'm very proud to be Irish. There's a pride in America of being Irish. I can't wait to come back and I want to visit the land of my ancestors and the castle that they had. [on Edge of Tomorrow (2014)] The alien invasion is simmering in the background. It's kind of Back to the Future (1985). I love movies that ask, "If you did have to live your life over again, what would happen?". In 1988, Tom himself was quoted saying: "I have always been pretty much the same weight, 147 pounds - at 5 feet 9 inches.".

[People magazine - July 5, 2010] My first celebrity crush was Ingrid Bergman in Notorious (1946). [on Eyes Wide Shut (1999)] I didn't like playing Dr Bill. I didn't like him. It was unpleasant. But I would have absolutely kicked myself if I hadn't done this. [Edge of Tomorrow] It was a lot of fun. A once in a lifetime experience. Action is action, but if it doesn't have story and character it's not involving. [Edge of Tomorrow] I hope you enjoyed it. I can't wait for you to see the film. I think you're gonna love it. So thank you very much for coming on this adventure with us. [Edge of Tomorrow] It's a very ambitious movie, it takes you on a journey and its enormously entertaining. [Edge of Tomorrow] We made it for you all.

Salary (26) Thomas Cruise Mapother, IV - Genealogy Genealogy Join the world's largest family tree Gender Share your family tree and photos with the people you know and love Build your family tree online Share photos and videos Father of <private> Cruise; <private> Cruise and <private> Cruise Brother of <private> Mapother; <private> Mapother and <private> Mapother Occupation: Added 2013-04-27 13:23:56 -0700 by Private User Collection: NewspaperARCHIVE.com Text: "...Service TOM CRUISE Thomas Cruise Mapother IV File photo MADONNA Madonna Louise Ciccone Scripps Howard News Service WOODY ALLEN Allen ... Date: Added 2013-04-27 13:24:16 -0700 by Private User Collection: NewspaperARCHIVE.com Text: "...vital Tom Cruise Full Thomas Cruise Mapother IV July Current Impossible Past Cruise's Mary Lee and Thomas when he was 12. The family ...

Date: Added 2013-04-27 13:27:11 -0700 by Private User Collection: NewspaperARCHIVE.com Text: "...Nicole Kidman is that friends expect her to be Mrs. Thomas Cruise Mapother IV before the year is how they know is anyone's At 5 feet ... Date: Added 2013-04-27 13:25:24 -0700 by Private User Collection: NewspaperARCHIVE.com Text: ... was the most beau- baby born in a Syracuse hospital on My as Thomas Cruise Mapother But he is undeniably handsome and dimpled ..." Date: Added 2013-04-27 13:24:46 -0700 by Private User Collection: NewspaperARCHIVE.com Text: "...father Thomas Mapother III was a very complex individual and created a lot of chaos for the family before we left him He was very ver... Date: Added 2013-04-27 13:28:32 -0700 by Private User Collection: NewspaperARCHIVE.com Text: "...discovered Pa.

A Thomas Cruise Mapother now 28, was a young teenager when he attended parochial schools hi Kentucky and He was never ... Date: Added 2013-04-27 13:25:32 -0700 by Private User Collection: NewspaperARCHIVE.com Text: ... force myself to be because I always felt I had barriers to Bom Thomas Cruise Mapother IV on July third of four children and the only fac... Date: Added 2015-03-21 18:26:42 -0700 by Private User Collection: NewspaperARCHIVE.com Text: ... man born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV ... Thomas Cruise Mapother IV in Syracuse, July 3, 1962, and will thus be forever tied to Centra... Date: Added 2013-04-27 13:28:55 -0700 by Private User Collection: NewspaperARCHIVE.com Text: ... VOU TALKING ABOUT A LEISURELY ATTRACTED 10 A NAMED C O TwW THOMAS C.

MAPOTHER THAT'S TOM CRUISE'S REAL 64 Pedestal occupant 65 Author Br... Date: Added 2013-04-27 13:24:39 -0700 by Private User Collection: NewspaperARCHIVE.com Text: "...was a bully and a the actor says of his father Thomas Cruise Mapother III He was the kind of person where if something goes wrong the... Date: Added 2013-04-27 13:24:58 -0700 by Private User Collection: NewspaperARCHIVE.com Text: ... the friend to share tilings with and confide in Cruise bom Thomas Cruise Mapother IV grew up in near poverty in a Catholic family domina... Date: Added 2013-04-27 13:24:24 -0700 by Private User Collection: NewspaperARCHIVE.com Text: ... Newspapers How else to describe the star power and presence of Thomas Cruise Mapother known to movie simply as Tom Relentlessly this act...

Date: sibling About Tom Cruise Tom Cruise made a strong impression in the teen comedy Risky Business (1983) and then had his first box-office smash as the fighter jock Maverick in Top Gun (1986). Cruise and his cocky grin were propelled higher onto Hollywood's A-list thanks to a string of successful movies: Rain Man (1988, with Dustin Hoffman), The Color of Money (1986, with Paul Newman), A Few Good Men (1992, with Jack Nicholson) and Jerry Maguire (1996, with Cuba Gooding, Jr. saying "Show me the money!"). Cruise has remained one of Hollywood's busiest actors, taking on blockbuster franchises such as Mission: Impossible (Cruise played superspy Ethan Hunt in the original and two sequels in 1996, 2000 and 2006) as well as more diverse dramas such as Magnolia (1999), Vanilla Sky (2001) and the Steven Spielberg movies Minority Report (2002, co-starring Samantha Morton) and War of the Worlds (2005).

His most recent movie Knight and Day will be released on June 23rd, 2010. Cruise was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV on July 3, 1962 in Syracuse, New York to Mary Lee (née Pfeiffer), a special education teacher, and Thomas Cruise Mapother III, an electrical engineer. Cruise's surname originates from his great-grandfather, Thomas Cruise O'Mara, who was adopted by a Welsh immigrant and renamed "Thomas Cruise Mapother". Cruise is of German, Irish, and English ancestry. His oldest sister, Lee Anne, was born in his parents' native Louisville, Kentucky, while his older sister Marian was born in Syracuse, as were Tom and his younger sister, Cass. He has been married three times. His first marriage was to actress Mimi Rogers, a fellow Scientologist, from 1986-1990. While filming one of Days of Thunder (1990), he met his second wife Nicole Kidman. He and Kidman were married in 1990. They adopted two children: Isabella (in 1993) and Connor (in 1995).

In 2000, Cruise and Kidman separated. Their divorce was finalized in 2001. He began dating actress Katie Holmes in 2005 and proposed to Holmes at the Eiffel Tower after a highly-publicized whirlwind romance. He came in for a ribbing from pundits after he hopped up and down on the talk-show couch of Oprah Winfrey while proclaiming his love for Holmes. Dubbed "TomKat" by the tabloids, they had a daughter, Suri, on 18 April 2006, and were married in Italy on 18 November 2006. Cruise is a prominent member of the Church of Scientology. Tom Cruise discovers his Irish roots on a visit to Dublin by Irish Abroad on 05 April 2013 18:04PM This week Tom Cruise discovered the truth of his Irish family history and that his Irish ancestors have been identified as knights, rebels and heroes in a family history that stretches back an incredible 800 years. The Hollywood actor and producer visited Dublin on the European leg of his tour to promote his new film 'Oblivion'.

Research commissioned by Tourism Ireland for Cruise’s visit, and completed by genealogy researchers Eneclann, has unveiled the amazing history of a family that contained knights in the 12th century, rebels in the 17th century and a hero – Patrick Russell-Cruise – who reinstated tenants on his lands in the 19th century, following their eviction against his wishes by an unscrupulous land agent. Tom Cruise is a fifth generation direct descendant of Patrick Russell-Cruise. Prior to the red carpet première of 'Oblivion' in Dublin, Cruise was presented with a Certificate of Irish Heritage by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore. The Certificate is an official recognition by the Irish Government of those who are proud of their Irish ancestry and heritage. When presented with his Certificate of Irish Heritage, Cruise said: “It’s a great honour for me and for my whole family – I can’t wait to bring it back to them and enlighten them on their history.” Cruise continued: “I’m very proud to be Irish. There’s a pride in America of being Irish.

I can’t wait to come back and I want to visit the land of my ancestors and the castle that they had.” As this is the year of The Gathering Ireland 2013, with a programme of over 300 clan gatherings and local history talks taking place throughout the year, Tourism Ireland has christened 2013 Ireland’s “Family History Year”. Tourism Ireland is encouraging those with Irish connections throughout the world to follow in Cruise’s footsteps and to visit in 2013 to learn more about their heritage and explore the places their ancestors came from. · The Certificate of Irish Heritage provides official recognition of Irish descent. Anyone with an Irish ancestor, born outside Ireland, is eligible. -Eneclann is an agency specialising in Irish genealogy and history research. Full details of the amazing family history of Tom Cruise can be found online at A summary is provided below. Tom Cruise's Irish Roots Research Overview Tom Cruise's Irish roots can be traced back 840 years to the arrival of Strongbow in Ireland. Tom was christened Thomas Cruise Mapother IV and the story of his Irish ancestors - the Cruises, the Russells and the Mapothers – is one of knights, rebels and heroes.

The knights in Tom's family were among the first wave of Anglo-Normans to invade Ireland between 1169 and 1176. In 1176, Augustino de Cruce, one of Strongbow's knights, acted as a legal witness to a grant by Strongbow (Richard de Clare, Earl of Pembroke) of lands in Dublin. The Cruise family established themselves in Ireland and held lands in Dublin and Meath, including Naul in north Co Dublin (which included the townland of ‘Hollywood’) and the civil parish of Cruicetown in Co Meath, to which the family gave their name. Like other "old English" families, they continued in the Catholic faith even after the Reformation. In 1641, the Cruise family of the Naul took up arms in defence of the King but they lost out to the English Parliamentary army under Oliver Cromwell and forfeited their lands in north Co Dublin. In 1686, after the Restoration, they were restored to the lands of Cruicetown in Co Meath but their status and their land base was much reduced.

The rebellious streak in Tom's family was also evident amongst the Russell family who were also “old English” settlers, visible in the records from the 1200s. Their main seat was Seatown, situated in present day Malahide in north Co Dublin. In the 15th, 16th and early 17th centuries the Russell family lived in Seatown Castle, fragments of which survive today as part of a modern dwelling. It is highly probable that the Russells engaged in cross-channel trade as the family had amassed significant wealth by the early 1600s and in 1627 they completed a substantial new residence, Drynam House. Like the Cruises, the Russells held fast to their Catholicism and took up arms in the 1641 Rebellion. They consequently lost their lands at Seatown but retained Drynam House and 421 acres surrounding it and it passed by descent in the family until it was sold in the 1920s.

In 1766, the marriage of Bridget Russell “only child and heir at law of Robert Russell of Drynam” to Andrew Cruise united these two families and the children of all subsequent generations adopted the double-surname ‘Russell-Cruise’. Tom's family history also contains wonderful stories of heroism. Patrick Russell Cruise was born ca. 1799 in Drynam and in 1825 he married Teresa Johnson in Co Meath. The young couple determined that their future was in the USA and they settled in Haverstraw, New York. As a younger son, Patrick Russell Cruise had not inherited the family ancestral seat of Drynam House; however, he had inherited a half share in approximately 500 acres of land in Co Westmeath, comprising the townlands of Paristown and Dardistown. The tenants' leases on these lands were due to expire in 1843. Patrick had promised the sitting tenants that he would ensure they had a preference in renewal “because he felt he was bound in honour and conscience to look to the tenants in possession” but his Dublin-based land agent John Smith evicted the tenants regardless.

When news of the evictions reached Patrick Russell-Cruise in America he set sail for Ireland and personally restored his former tenants to the lands. As a vote of thanks, a public dinner was given in his honour in the town of Clonmellon in November 1844. Patrick Russell Cruise died in Dublin in March 1849 without returning to America and he was buried in Donabate in north Dublin. How Tom came to be known as Tom Cruise Maphother is a story of family tragedy. Tom's great-great-grandmother, Mary Pauline Russell-Cruise, was the youngest known child of Patrick Russell-Cruise, born ca. 1832 in New Jersey. Mary Pauline married Dillon Henry Mapother, the second son of Henry Mapother Esq. of Annadale Lodge, Co Dublin, in September 1858 in the RC Cathedral in Detroit. The Mapother family originated in Dorset in England but were in Ireland by 1588 when Richard Mapother was the Sheriff of Roscommon.

By the early 1600s, the Mapothers established their main residence in Kilteevan in Co Roscommon, where descendants remained down to the early 20th century. Dillon Henry Mapother held a degree in civil engineering and had immigrated to New York in 1850 before settling in Louisville, Kentucky, where he established a successful printing business. However, Dillon Henry died between 1873 and 1875 and Mary Pauline remarried, to Thomas O’Mara in 1876. There was only one known child of this second marriage: Thomas O’Mara Jr. born on 29 December, 1876. Sadly, Thomas O’Mara Sr. also died sometime before 1900 and Thomas O’Mara Jr. assumed the combined maiden name of his mother and the surname of his half-brother, becoming Thomas Cruise Mapother. This man was the great-grandfather of the actor Tom Cruise who was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV.

Question: What is the real surname of actor Tom Cruise?
Answer: Mapother IV