Tom Cruise Autograph on photo with Brad Pitt. COA

Tom Cruise is member of the Church of Scientology

While he was working with Paul Newman in 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.

After the completion of the musical Guys & Dolls, he decided to dedicate his life to professional acting, and left for New York where he performed in a biblical-type of play by the name of Godspell. This is where the Italian director Franco Zeffirelli discovered him. He gave him his first role of Billie Harris in the drama Endless Love. And after this role, his agressive character of David Shaw in Taps made him noticeable, and Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in "Top Gun" made him a Star. From then on, the offers kept coming faster than lightning.

Tom turned down the role in "Always" by Steven Spielberg and "Edward Scissorhands" by Tim Burton. He was also considered for the musical "Sunset Boulevard".

Item ID: col4944