The success story of Tom Cruise | One of the biggest superstars in the world

Tom Cruise is one of the biggest superstars in the world. His success story is inspiring to many others. He has starred in numerous blockbuster films and has millions of fans all around the world. Cruise has ruled the box office for more than 30 years and shows no signs of stopping. His journey to stardom, however, was filled with hardships. He never wanted to become an actor but hard work and being at the right place at the right time paved the way for his success.

Tom Cruise’s early life and struggles

Tom Cruise was born on July 3, 1962, in Syracuse, New York. He was the only boy out of four children. His father was an electrical engineer and, his mother was a special education teacher. Cruise had a difficult childhood. His family struggled with poverty and, his parents worked tirelessly to provide for him and his siblings. From a young age, he dreamt of doing great things and help his family come out of poverty.

Cruise also had a difficult time in school. In school, he struggled to keep up with his peers. At the age of 7, he was diagnosed with dyslexia. Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words. He spent his childhood trying to hide his dyslexia from his classmates and friends. He could barely read in high school or through his earliest film roles. But Cruise did not let this setback affect him in achieving his dreams. 

In 1971, he moved to Canada with his family. While living in Canada, Cruise began to show interest in performing and organized various musical plays with his classmates. When he was twelve years old, his parents split up and Cruise moved back to the United States. Things got harder for his family and they were on the brink of poverty. To support her family, Cruise’s mother started working three jobs. One day, she slipped a disk in her back and was bedridden for eight months. Cruise was the man of the house now and he took upon the responsibility of taking care of his mother and sisters.

Despite the struggles at home, Cruise never gave up his dream of becoming a performer. He knew that he wanted to pursue a career as an actor. Cruise never lost hope, even when his family was going through the worst times. He worked various jobs and looked after his mother and sisters while regularly performing in school plays. 

Cruise’s first step towards success

After graduating from high school, he moved to New York to follow his dreams. In New York, he waited tables, worked as a busboy while going to various auditions as possible. In less than five months after moving to the Big Apple, he bagged his first role in the 1981 Brooke Shields movie Endless Love. It was a small role but, Cruise knew that this was just the beginning. 

Top Gun was released in 1986 and, it quickly helped him gain recognition in the industry. After the success of Top Gun, Cruise went on to star in several successful Hollywood movies. In 1988, his film Rain Man took home the 1988 Oscar for Best Picture, Director, Actor and, Screenplay. Soon, he became one of the top actors the industry has ever witnessed.

Cruise’s work ethic and his immense belief in himself have made him one of the most recognized actors in the world.

Lessons we can learn from Cruise’s story

Had he given up at the beginning of his career, Tom Cruise would have never made it this far. To taste success, you must always face failure first. Not everyone born on Earth is successful. Success comes to those who pursue their goal with persistence, purpose, and dedication. They are the ones who can convert their dreams to reality.

Recent Update:

In June 2022, Tom Cruise’s ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ entered the $1 Billion Club. The film has become one of the highest-grossing movies of the year. Currently, it’s the biggest global and domestic grosser movie in the non-fantasy action category. Keeping in mind, it movie was not released in China’s massive movie market. It has also become Tom Cruise’s first movie in the Billion Dollar Club. Through a tweet, Tom thanked the audiences for their love and support. Tom was extremely confident and proud of Top Gun’s sequel before anyone even saw it. Here’s the trailer:

Also read: Akio Morito | The failure to success story