13. He Left The Nest

As soon as Cruise graduated high school, he moved to New York City to begin his career as an actor, with the full support of his mother and her new husband, Jack South. However, it wasn’t always so warm. Cruise had been the man of the house. His relationship with South had a rocky start, but they ultimately bonded. In NYC, Cruise waited tables while looking for acting jobs.

After a few months of that, he decided to give Los Angeles a try. It was a decision he wouldn’t regret.

14. He Hit The Ground Running

The phrase “overnight star” is something of a cliché, but it definitely applies to Tom Cruise. First he got a bit part in a film, then two supporting roles. All of a sudden, it happened. Producers were lining up to throw lead roles at him—including the one that cemented his status as a star, Risky Business. Cruise had swagger, youth, good looks, and charisma. He was the total package—but his early years as a star were still filled with ups and downs.