Action star Tom Cruise is often regarded as one of the last stars in Hollywood right now. The actor is known for his commitment to the cinematic experience through films such as the Mission Impossible franchise and Top Gun: Maverick. The actor has also delivered amazing dramatic performances in films like Magnolia and Jerry Maguire.
While Cruise is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, the actor has also faced many struggles in life. The Risky Business star has come under fire for his association with the Church of Scientology and for his failed marriages. The actor has also revealed his childhood struggles with abuse from his father. However, none of that seems to have stopped the ‘savior of cinema’ from being a juggernaut.
Tom Cruise Had An Abuse-Filled Childhood
Though Tom Cruise’s signature smile is plastered in the minds of his fans, there have been many struggles behind his smile. The actor has spoken about his struggles while adjusting to school as he was diagnosed with dyslexia and about his rough childhood, which was filled with bullying and abuse from his father (via Parade).
The actor has mentioned how he changed many schools due to his father pursuing jobs at many places and that he was always the one to get picked on in school as he was the new kid. He said to Parade,
“I had no really close friend, someone who understands you. I was always the new kid with the wrong shoes, the wrong accent. I didn’t have a friend to share things with and confide in.”
Tom Cruise also mentioned his difficult relationship with his father. The actor described his father as a ‘merchant of chaos’ and spoke about how he could never hold down a job as an electrical engineer, putting most of the burden on his mother. Cruise also mentioned how he would get physically and verbally abused by him on multiple occasions,
“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.”
Cruise’s mother reportedly took the kids and separated from his father when he was twelve years old. The Top Gun star reportedly did not see his father for ten years and only reconnected with him much later. He told Parade that his father of battling cancer when he met him for the final time before his death.
Tom Cruise Went On To Become One of The Biggest Stars In Hollywood
While his home was always in a state of turmoil, Tom Cruise reportedly also faced issues at school as he was usually the new kid who was yet to catch up with the rest of the class. The actor claimed that he went through fifteen schools in ten years due to his father’s inability to hold down a job and that he was viciously bullied at these schools. He said to Parade,
“So many times the big bully comes up, pushes me. Your heart’s pounding, you sweat, and you feel like you’re going to vomit. I’m not the biggest guy, I never liked hitting someone, but I know if I don’t hit that guy hard he’s going to pick on me all year. I go, ‘You better fight.’ I just laid it down. I don’t like bullies.”
The actor was also diagnosed with dyslexia, which reportedly confused him even more. He mentioned that the diagnosis affected his dignity as a child and since then he has been skeptical about psychiatry. The actor had a public fallout with actress Brooke Shields regarding the issue.
Despite the struggles faced by him during his childhood, the actor has broken all these barriers and made a mark as one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Tom Cruise has worked with acclaimed directors such as Paul Thomas Anderson, Cameron Crowe, Martin Scorsese, John Woo, and more. He has been nominated for Oscars and has won the Golden Globe thrice.
Cruise is also one of the highest-grossing stars in Hollywood with many of his films being blockbuster. The star has a net worth of $600 million due to his earnings from his films, which have grossed millions at the global box office (via Celebrity Net Worth).
