Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise, the star of blockbusters such as Top Gun, Mission Impossible and Jerry Maguire seems to have put a painful past year behind him as he turns 51. The Hollywood hunk, whose last birthday was marred by the announcement of his divorce from third wife Katie Holmes, seems to have moved forward since then. On the personal front, he has been linked with his Oblivion co-star and former Bond Girl Olga Kurylenko. Professionally, the actor is excited about the much awaited sequel to Top Gun. Besides confirming Mission Impossible 5, Cruise has also revealed that he will make a comeback as his Tropic Thunder character Les Grossman on the big screen.
Here's a pictorial look at his journey as he turns 51.
A year ago, Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise's 50th birthday was marred by the announcement that he and wife Katie Holmes were divorcing. Since then, the star of blockbusters such as Top Gun, Mission Impossible and Jerry Maguire has been busier than ever. He appeared in the big budget Jack Reacher and Oblivion, announced the sequel to Top Gun and a fifth Mission: Impossible film and also revealed that his Tropic Thunder character Les Grossman would be making a comeback. On the personal front, he has been linked with his Oblivion co-star and former Bond Girl Olga Kurylenko.
Here's a pictorial look at his journey as he turns 51.
Tom Cruise was born in Syracuse, New York. His mother was a special education teacher and his father was an electrical engineer. His parents separated when he was just twelve.
In school, Tom was very active in sports. He played floor hockey and once even chipped his front tooth. Apart from sports, Tom also was involved in drama, under the tutelage of George Steinburg. The first play he participated in was called IT.
In high school Tom played football, but he was thrown out from the squad after getting caught drinking beer before a game.
Tom Cruise married actress Mimi Rogers in 1987, but their relationship didn't last long. They got divorced in 1990 but not before Mimi introduced Tom to Scientology.
Tom met actress Nicole Kidman on the sets of the film Days Of Thunder and the couple married in December 1990.
Nicole and Tom had adopted two children, Isabella Jane and Connor Antony. The couple got divorced in 2001 when Nicole was three months pregnant.
In 2005, Tom began dating actress Katie Holmes and proposed to her at the top of Eiffel Tower in Paris.
In 2006, Katie gave birth to their daughter Suri Cruise.
The same year, Katie and Tom got married at the 15th-century Odescalchi Castle in Bracciano, Italy.
Tom and Katie were married for five-and-a- half years until Katie filed divorce papers anonymously on June 30, 2012 in New York citing 'irreconciliable differences'. She admitted that life with the actor made her feel like a 'robot'. By all accounts, Tom didn't see it coming.
Tom began his movie career in 1981 with the film Endless Love in which he played a supporting role.
The next year, Tom featured in a movie called Taps, which also starred Sean Penn. The film followed a group of military school students who decide to take over their school in order to save it from closing.
In 1983, Tom Cruise was part of an ensemble cast for the film The Outsiders that also starred Matt Damon and Patrick Swayze among others. The same year, Tom tried his hand at comedy in Losin' It, also starring Shelley Long. In his next movie All the Right Moves, Tom played the role of a football player who seeks a college football scholarship to escape his economically depressed town.
1983's Risky Business, co-starring Rebecca De Mornay as a call girl, launched Tom Cruise to stardom. A scene featuring Tom clad in a shirt, underwear and socks dancing to the song Old Time Rock And Roll is considered a cult classic. He received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor.
Tom's first superhit movie was Top Gun (1986) in which he played Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a young Naval aviator on board the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise.
Tom Cruise received a Worst Actor (Razzies) nomination for his role in the film Cocktail, which released in 1988.
In 1988, Tom teamed up with Dustin Hoffman for the critically acclaimed film Rain Man.
In 1989, Tom appeared as Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic in Oliver Stone's acclaimed Born On The Fourth Of July. He won the Golden Globe for Best Actor and was nominated for an Oscar.
His next films, Days Of Thunder (1990) and Far And Away (1992) both starred second wife Nicole Kidman.
In 1992, Tom worked with the legendary Jack Nicholson in the film A Few Good Men. Tom was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance as a Naval lawyer.
In 1993, more success came Cruise's way with the film The Firm, co-starring Gene Hackman, Ed Harris and Jeanne Tripplehorn.
One of the defining films of Tom Cruise's career was Mission: Impossible, which released in 1996. The film has since been developed into a franchise starring Tom as secret agent Ethan Hunt.
In 1996, Tom Cruise won a second Golden Globe for his performance as the eponymous sports agent in Jerry McGuire opposite Renee Zellweger. He was also nominated for an Oscar.
1999's Magnolia won Tom a third Golden Globe, this time for Best Supporting Actor, for his performance as an estranged son. He was also nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
Tom entered the year 2000 with the second and most popular of the Mission: Impossible films, co-starring Thandie Newton and Dougray Scott.
In 2001, Tom acted opposite rumoured real-life girlfriend Penelope Cruz in Vanilla Sky.
In 2002, Tom Cruise created waves with the sci-fi film Minority Report.
In 2003, Tom Cruise acted in the period drama The Last Samurai, receiving a Golden Globe nomination.
In 2005, Tom received a Razzie nomination for sci-fi movie, War Of The Worlds, an adaptation of H G Wells' classic novel co-starring Dakota Fanning.
This was also the year Tom famously jumped on Oprah Winfrey's couch declaring his love for Katie Holmes.
In 2006, Tom was back as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible III. Although the film grossed over $400 million in worldwide sales, it still remains the least successful of the series. It received generally positive critical reviews.
In 2007, Tom appeared with Meryl Streep and Robert Redford in Lions For Lambs, directed by Redford.
Next, Tom starred in Valkyrie (2008), based on the real life plot by a group of German officers to assassinate Adolf Hitler during World War II. Tom's casting caused controversy in Germany because of his belief in Scientology, a religion viewed with suspicion by Germans.
Cruise's casting caused controversy among German politicians and members of the von Stauffenberg family because of the actor's practice of Scientology, which is viewed with suspicion in Germany. The actor was reportedly introduced to Scientology by his first wife Mimi Rogers and has since been its outspoken champion.
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, co-starring Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton and Simon Pegg, released in 2011 and did fairly well at the box office. The star recently revealed that a fifth Mission: Impossible film is in the works.
Tom Cruise's Rock of Ages, which released in 2012, was a box office disaster. However, Tom's performance as rock star Stacee Jaxx was singled out for praise. Jack Reacher, which released the same year, also bombed at the box office.
Oblivion, starring Tom Cruise, released in 2013. The movie received mixed reviews but did well at the box office. Up next for release is All You Need Is Kill (2014).
Here's wishing Tom Cruise a very happy birthday and a great year ahead.
