Michael Caine is an actor of legendary status and has brushed shoulders with some of the world’s most famous. In his new book, Don’t Look Back, You’ll Trip Over: My Guide to Life, he explores some of these encounters. Specifically, he recalls the first time he met Tom Cruise, whom he describes as a “very polite” young man who asked him a very curious question.
Michael Caine and Tom Cruise meet for the first time
Michael Caine and Tom Cruise met a long time ago. As he says so himself, Caine’s known the actor for “over 40 years,” and he can even remember the evening of their first encounter, which took place at an event for Caine’s 1983 comedy-drama, Educating Rita.
When Cruise approached Caine, he had a surprising question on his mind. “I turned around and there was this young actor, very polite, asking questions about how not to be just a flash in the pan,” he writes, explaining how this was right around the time that Cruise was starring in Risky Business (1983). “I can’t remember what I said, but it obviously didn’t do him any harm.”
While he may not have remembered what he said, Caine recalls how there was “something special” about the young star – and he was correct in his impression, as Cruise went on to appear in his first major role, Top Gun (1986), just three years later.
Michael Caine feels Tom Cruise is one of the last true movie stars
While both actors have had long and successful careers, they’ve only starred in one film together: Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002). However, even in it, they didn’t share any scenes together.
Despite this, they’ve still been able to establish a long and happy friendship. Speaking about his longtime friend, Michael Caine writes that Tom Cruise is one of the few actors left to really have that “it” factor.
“He had a great attitude, this sense of poise. What interests me is that he is really one of the last true stars in movies,” he writes. “People will go to see a film just because he’s in it.” Other actors he includes in this category are John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart and Cary Grant.
A 90th birthday celebration brought the actors together
The pair reunited after Tom Cruise surprised Michael Caine at a special 90th birthday celebration thrown in his honor by his wife, Shakira Baksh, in 2023. It was held on the same evening as the 95th Academy Awards, which Cruise notably skipped, so he could be there for his good friend’s milestone birthday. Unsurprisingly, Caine was “touched” by Cruise’s attendance.
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We’re so happy to hear these two share an unexpected friendship. We simply wish they shared a film together – we’re convinced they’re dynamic would be of epic proportions.