Tom Cruise's birth name is Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, but he chose to use "Cruise" as his stage name.
Cruise initially considered becoming a Catholic priest before pursuing acting.
Cruise worked as a busboy and a porter while trying to establish himself as an actor in New York City.
Alongside his love for performing stunts, Cruise is a licensed pilot and enjoys flying airplanes.
Cruise received the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese government for his contributions to promoting Japanese culture.
Cruise has a passion for motorcycles and owns a collection of rare and customized bikes.
Cruise learned to play the piano for his role in "Interview with the Vampire."
In high school, Cruise was involved in wrestling and even earned a varsity letter in the sport.
Cruise has a strong interest in fencing and has trained extensively in the sport.
Despite his confident on-screen persona, Cruise has admitted to being shy in real life and has sought therapy for social anxiety.