He struggled with dyslexia as a child but found confidence through acting.
Cruise once considered becoming a Catholic priest and even spent a year in seminary school before pursuing acting.
He was a high school wrestler, but an injury shifted his focus to drama.
At 18, he moved to New York City, working as a busboy while auditioning for roles.
His first film role was as a disco dancer in Endless Love (1981), for which he earned just $400.
He is known for performing his own death-defying stunts, including hanging off airplanes and scaling skyscrapers in the Mission: Impossible films.
Cruise once refused to have an action figure made in his likeness, despite being comfortable with Disney modeling Aladdin’s face after him.
He has a superstition about the number 33, as several major life events (including marriages) ended when he was 33 years old.