American actor and producer Tom Cruise has come a long way from his 1983 iconic role as Joel Goodsen in Risky Business. Since then, Cruise has been nominated for three Academy Awards, starred in the blockbuster Mission Impossible films and was named one of Barbara Walters's 10 Most Fascinating People 2008..

Cruise is currently in talks to team up with fellow Hollywood heavyweight Denzel Washington for the upcoming spy thriller The Matarese Circle.E Online: Tom Cruise Targets Denzel... (February 11, 2009)

In 2008, Cruise produced and starred in the film Valkyrie.Variety: Tom Cruise Profile During a promotional interview for the film, Cruise told a reporter, "I've always wanted to kill Hitler. As a child, I used to wonder why someone didn't stand up and kill him."PerezHilton.com: ...Killing Hitler (January 19, 2009)

In December of 2008, the FBI was reportedly called in after Cruise and wife Katie Holmes received death threats from what was believed to be anti-Scientology activists. Security was stepped up for the family and they were chauffeured around in bomb-proof vehicles. A source close to Cruise stated that Cruise was "terrified" and didn't "feel safe anywhere."Mail Online: Katie and Tom call in FBI... (December 28, 2008)

• Cruise's family relocated several times during his childhood. Ottawa, Ontario, Louisville, Kentucky, Winnetka, Illinois and Wayne, New Jersey were among the towns Cruise grew up in while attending 15 different schools.Variety: Tom Cruise Profile

Cruise was nominated for a 2009 Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Tropic Thunder. The Golden Globe Award show aired on January 11, 2009.Cinematical: Golden Globe Nominations In!

• 1981: Endless Love as Billy
• 1981: Taps as Cadet Captain David Shawn
• 1983: The Outsiders as Steve Randle
• 1983: Risky Business as Joel Goodsen
• 1983: All the Right Moves as Stefen Djordjevic
• 1986: Top Gun as Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell
• 1986: The Color of Money as Vincent Lauria
• 1988: Rain Man as Charlie Babbitt
• 1989: Born on the Fourth of July as Ron Kovic
• 1992: A Few Good Men as Lt. Daniel Kaffee
• 1994: Interview with the Vampire as Lestat de Lioncourt
• 1996: Mission: Impossible as Ethan Hunt
• 1996: Jerry Maguire as Jerry Maguire
• 1999: Eyes Wide Shut as Dr. William (Bill) Harford
• 1999: Magnolia as Frank T.J. Mackey
• 2003: The Last Samurai as Nathan Algren
• 2005: War of the Worlds as Ray Ferrier
• 2008: Valkyrie as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg

Cruise is an outspoken advocate for the Church of Scientology. He was introduced to the church during his marriage to Mimi Rogers. Cruise reportedly believes that Scientology helped him to overcome dyslexia.Variety: Tom Cruise Profile

• Note: The majority of the links in this timeline are to IMDb, which has pop-ups.

• 1983 Risky Business: IMDb | Mahalo

• 1986 Top Gun: IMDb | Mahalo

• 1988: Rain Man: IMDb | Mahalo

• 1989 Born on the Fourth of July: IMDb | Mahalo

• 1992 A Few Good Men: IMDb | Mahalo

• 1994 Interview with the Vampire: IMDb | Mahalo

• 1996 Mission: Impossible: IMDb

• 1999 Eyes Wide Shut: IMDb | Mahalo

• 2001 Vanilla Sky: IMDb | Mahalo

• 2005 War of the Worlds: IMDb | Mahalo

• 2007 Lions for Lambs: IMDb | Mahalo

• 2008: Tropic Thunder: IMDb | Mahalo

• 2008: Valkyrie: IMDb | Mahalo