tom cruise real friends

Inside Tom Cruise's Inner Circle of Friends Including Will Smith, Val Kilmer and More

Tom cruise's inner circle includes famous friends and celebrity collaborators, 'interview with the vampire': brad pitt, tom cruise and kirsten dunst share behind-the-scene secrets, tom cruise made no money from death-defying olympics closing ceremony stunt, tom cruise dives into olympics closing ceremony with epic stunt, remembering robin williams: sally field reveals touching moment from 'mrs. doubtfire' set, glen powell says he has a start date for ‘top gun 3’ filming, glen powell's parents share their wish list for his dating life (exclusive), glen powell jokes dog brisket is helping him with 'thirst traps' (exclusive), miles teller on wife keleigh turning him into a tiktok star (exclusive), tom cruise and glen powell reunite at ‘twisters’ premiere, taylor swift 'still swooning' over travis kelce's eras tour cameo: how they pulled it off (source), watch tom cruise, mila kunis and ashton kutcher ‘shake it off' at taylor swift concert, tom cruise victim of russian propaganda campaign targeting paris olympics, hurricane helene relief: mike colter and katja herbers on giving back and making a change, joy behar exposes sara haines' 'lesbian relationship' in front of her parents on 'the view', kate hudson recreates 'how to lose a guy in 10 days' scene at world series, richard simmons’ estate battle: brother lenny speaks out against house manager, cruise has quite the a-list crew..

Tom Cruise  is celebrating his birthday with fans!

The  Mission Impossible  actor rang in the big 6-1 at the  Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One  premiere in Sydney, Australia, with some of the film's stars and a bevy of excited Australian fans by his side.

"It was great to spend my birthday with fans today. Thanks for coming out to the premiere!" Cruise captioned the tweet on Monday, which featured photos from the red carpet, a fireworks show and pics of the actor signing autographs for fans.

While it's no secret that Cruise has a mega fanbase, ET is helping celebrate his 61st birthday by looking at the action star's inner circle, which includes the likes of other A-list actors such as  Will Smith , Val Kimer and more.

Cruise and Smith's friendship dates back to the early aughts, with Cruise even surprising Smith at this hand and footprint ceremony at Hollywood's TCL Chinese Theater in 2007.

"He's truly an exceptional, exceptional human being," Cruise told ET of the  King Richard  actor.

"Wherever Will Smith is, that's where the party is," he added. "Everybody knows that. When I was doing  Born   on the Fourth of July , his music got me through that picture."

The pair has even engaged in some friendly competition over the years, with Smith noting in Mark Manson's book,  Boom , "I started quietly monitoring all of Tom's global promotional activities, and I vowed to do two hours more than whatever he did in every country."

They've worked together as well, with Cruise doing some uncredited work on the Smith-led  I am Legend  that same year.

"He's read five drafts of the script, sent me notes. We are committed to helping each other be able to be the best that we can be," Smith told ET at the time.

Jerry Bruckheimer

In addition to working together on  Top Gun , Cruise has a close relationship with the famed producer. First collaborating on the original film in 1986, the pair teamed up again 36 years later for the Oscar-winning sequel, Top Gun: Maverick .

"Great actor. Great partner. If you're in a foxhole, you want Tom Cruise next to," Bruckheimer told ET 2016.

The award-winning producer said of Cruise's character, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, "It's an iconic character that he helped create."

As for what took the film so long? Both Bruckheimer and Cruise said that it had to be "perfect" before bringing back the beloved story to fans.

"He's the hardest working actor I've ever worked with," Bruckheimer added in 2021.

Cruise and Kilmer developed their friendship on the  Top Gun  set, with Kilmer starring as Tom Kazansky, a top naval aviator and Mitchell's rival turned friend in the film. Their friendship stood the test of time, with Cruise including Kilmer in the sequel amid ongoing issues with his voice following a battle with throat cancer. The reunion was an emotional one, with the producers using AI to help bring Kilmer's voice back for the short cameo.

"You see that scene, it's very special," Cruise told ET during the film's premiere in 2022. "The first one, I really rallied hard for him. I was like, 'Val, you gotta make this movie. You're gonna be amazing.'"

As for Kilmer, he told ET back in 2020 that his memories with Cruise were "filled with laughter," adding that while filming the original, the pair "laughed all day long."

Dakota Fanning

Cruise remained close with his  War of the Worlds  daughter after he and Dakota Fanning starred in the film together in 2005. 

"He has sent me a birthday gift every year since I was 11 years old. It's usually shoes," Fanning said on a  Watch What Happens Live  appearance. 

He also has kept a relationship with the film's director, Steven Spielberg , who had some kind words for the actor during the Oscars luncheon in February.

"You saved Hollywood, and you might have saved theatrical distribution," the Academy Award-winning director said of Cruise getting fans back to movie theaters following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other members of Cruise's circle include Tom Hanks , Kirsten Dunst, Jimmy Fallon and Rosie O'Donnell, who have all been recipients of the actor's famed white chocolate-covered coconut Bundt cake.

His  Mission Impossible  co-stars have gotten a taste of it too, with Henry Cavill telling ET, "It was the most decadent, the most amazing cake."

Angela Bassett  added, "I literally ate the entire cake except for one slice."

As for Simon Pegg, he said the cake was so good he couldn't wait for a fork, eating it with his fist instead.

RELATED CONTENT:

Tom Cruise Turns 61: Inside His Iconic $10 Billion Career

Inside Tom Cruise's Rise to Becoming the World's Biggest Movie Star

Tom Cruise Tackles Speedflying in New 'Mission: Impossible' BTS Clip

Updates on Celebrity News, TV, Fashion and More!

• Crazy Stunts He's Actually Done
• Scientology Rumors
• Wild Facts All Fans Should Know
• Over-the-Top Performances
• Favorite Characters
• Stunts That Could Have Ended Him
• What He's Like to Work With
• All His Movies, Ranked
• Moments That Are So Tom

Famous Friends of Tom Cruise

Steven Spielberg

• GNU Free Documentation License
• Birthplace : Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

• Birthplace : Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

David Beckham

• Birthplace : Leytonstone, London, England, UK

Ben Stiller

• Birthplace : New York, New York, USA

John Travolta

• Birthplace : Englewood, New Jersey

David Miscavige

• Birthplace : Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Adam Sandler

• Wikimedia Commons
• Birthplace : Brooklyn, New York, USA

Jerry Seinfeld

• Birthplace : Terrell, Texas

Jenna Elfman

• Birthplace : Los Angeles, California, USA

Jennifer Lopez

• Birthplace : New York City, USA, New York, Castle Hill

Penélope Cruz

• uploaded by mikeyisawesome1
• Birthplace : Madrid, Spain

Victoria Beckham

• Birthplace : Hertfordshire, England, UK

Brooke Shields

• uploaded by Juba
• Birthplace : Manhattan, New York, USA

Jada Pinkett Smith

• Birthplace : Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Kelly Preston

• Age : Dec. at 57 (1962-2020)
• Birthplace : Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Heath Ledger

• Age : Dec. at 28 (1979-2008)
• Birthplace : Perth, Australia

Dustin Hoffman

Marc Anthony

Leah Remini

Holly Marie Combs

• Birthplace : San Diego, California, USA

• Birthplace : Paddington, London, England, UK

Daniel Snyder

• Birthplace : Silver Spring, Maryland

Bodhi Elfman

Simon Fuller

• Birthplace : Hastings, East Sussex, England, UK

Paula Wagner

• Birthplace : Youngstown, Ohio

Jeff Burgar

• Entertainment
• Celebrities
• Watchworthy
• Pop Culture

All about the life and career of the ageless actor Tom Cruise.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

• Celebrity Relationships
• Celebrity Friendships

Inside Tom Cruise and Salma Hayek's Years-Long Friendship, from Ask the Dust to the Eras Tour

The pair first worked together in 2006 and have been spotted out several times in the years since

Tom Cruise and Salma Hayek are old pals!

To celebrate the Top Gun star’s 62nd birthday on Wednesday, July 3, Hayek posted a sweet shot of the two of them dressed to the nines at Victoria Beckham’s birthday party earlier this year.

But Hayek and Cruise have known each other for years, first working together on the 2006 film Ask the Dust . The movie — which stars Hayek, 57, alongside fellow Hollywood A-listers Colin Farrell , Donald Sutherland and Idina Menzel — was produced by Cruise and released in between his more well-known roles in War of the Worlds and Mission: Impossible III . 

After their collaboration, Cruise and Hayek clearly stayed in touch, becoming semi-regular dinner partners over the next two decades.

Salma Hayek/Instagram

In February 2015, the actors turned heads when they were spotted out to dinner in London alongside Cruise’s ex, Penélope Cruz — specifically because he donned a bright-red lipstick stain on his cheek as he stepped out of the restaurant. (Hayek and Cruz, 50, also go way back, starring together in the 2006 film Bandidas .)

Fast forward to July 2022, and Cruise was again spotted out to dinner with Hayek , this time joined by the Frida actress’s husband, François-Henri Pinault .

FameFlynet.uk.com / SplashNews.com

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

In between bites, the stars even made time to take photos with fans — footage of which Hayek posted on her Instagram with the caption, “When you take your friend Tom out to dinner.”

But that wouldn’t be the last time Cruise would hear from Pinault, whose investment company, Artémis, acquired a majority stake in Creative Artists — the talent agency that represents Cruise among other big names — for a reported $7 billion in September 2023, per the Los Angeles Times .

Most recently, Cruise and Hayek rubbed shoulders at Taylor Swift ’s global smash Eras Tour during a London show in June. The two stars were both spotted in the VIP tent among throngs of other celebrities in attendance at Wembley Stadium.

And clearly Hayek wanted to keep the good vibes going, sending warm birthday wishes to her fellow actor on social media.

"Happy birthday dear @tomcruise 🥳🥳🥳," she wrote alongside a photo of the pair posted to her Instagram Stories on Wednesday.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now !

Related Articles

Inside Tom Cruise's celebrity friendships in tight-knit circle - from Will Smith to Val Kilmer

Although tom cruise recently spent his birthday with fans, the hollywood actor has a tight-knit circle of celebrity friends, including will smith, fellow co-star val kilmer and many more.

• 08:00, 9 Jul 2023

Tom Cruise recently revealed that he spent with 61st birthday with fans as he promoted his latest Mission Impossible film.

He took to his Twitter account to thank the fans he spent the special day with, writing: "It was great to spend my birthday with fans today. Thanks for coming out to the premiere!"

Despite seemingly enjoying his day on the red carpet and surrounded by those who admire him, Tom could've spent it with his small circle of celebrity pals. The iconic actor is said to have a close-knit circle in the world of showbiz from which to pick from. Let's take a look at some of his close pals.

Tom and Will Smith 's friendship goes way back to the early noughties, with Tom surprising Will at his hand and footprint ceremony at Hollywood's TCL Chinese Theater in 2007. "He's truly an exceptional, exceptional human being," Tom previously told Entertainment tonight of Will.

"Wherever Will Smith is, that's where the party is, everybody knows that. When I was doing Born on the Fourth of July, his music got me through that picture."

Despite some friendly competition between the pair in Hollywood films, the pair have worked together, with Tom going uncredited for his work on Will's hit movie I Am Legend. "He's read five drafts of the script, sent me notes. We are committed to helping each other be able to be the best that we can be," Will said at the time.

Val Kilmer and Tom famously worked together on the 1980s film Tom Gun and developed a life-long friendship. Tom ensured Val be included in the recent sequel, which Val accepted despite issues with his voice following a battle with throat cancer.

Speaking of the scene where Val and Tom's characters reunite, Tom said at the premiere: "You see that scene, it's very special. The first one, I really rallied hard for him. I was like, 'Val, you gotta make this movie. You're gonna be amazing.'"

Producers used AI to help bring Kilmer's voice back for the short cameo.

Jerry Bruckheimer

Jerry Bruckheimer and Tom also got close on the set of Top Gun and Jerry has only ever had kind words for the actor. "Great actor. Great partner," he said in 2016.

"If you're in a foxhole, you want Tom Cruise next to," Bruckheimer told ET 2016. Jerry also said that Tom's character in the film is "an iconic character that he helped create" before adding: "He's the hardest working actor I've ever worked with."

Dakota Fanning

Tom remained close with his War of the Worlds on-screen daughter, Dakota Fanning , after they worked together in 2005. As she took to Watch What Happens Live, Dakota told audiences that Tom had sent her birthday gifts every year since she was 11.

"He has sent me a birthday gift every year since I was 11 years old. It's usually shoes," she said.

Tom once told Oprah of Dakota: "She's ten, eleven... she's incredibly bright. You know what, I told her, 'You're a great actress, and so I'm here if you need anything.'"

Follow the Mirror US News page on Facebook

All the latest news, showbiz, lifestyle and sports updates, brought to you by our dedicated American team.

Follow the Mirror US News page on Facebook to make sure you're not missing out.

MORE ON Tom Cruise

Celeb obsessed get a daily dose of showbiz gossip direct to your inbox.

Find anything you save across the site in your account

Top Gun: Maverick 's Val Kilmer says he's still Tom Cruise's wingman

Thirty-six years on, Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise are still the best of pals (or, if they're anything like their Top Gun duo, frenemies — but probably not…) 

On Instagram last week, Kilmer shared a short n' sweet tribute to his Top Gun co-star. “[Thirty-six] years later… I'm still your wingman," the 62-year-old wrote. Kilmer has a cameo part in the latest Top Gun flick, Maverick , returning as the titular pilot's one-time flight school adversary Iceman, now ascendant to the status of admiral — and, perhaps more importantly, keeping Mav veritably employed after the hot-headed aviator loses his wings.

Instagram content

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

It'd be a sweet carry-over at the best of times, but Iceman's fleeting return carries special emotional weight owing to Kilmer's real-life swathe of recent health issues. Throat cancer, for one, has snatched away his ability to speak; so, in the movie, Iceman communicates almost wholly by text. That he delivers a couple of lines (put together with an AI programme as Kilmer can't speak at all IRL) is a frisson-inducing act of defiance. Movie stars might not actually be invincible, but even facing the brink, they're tough as can be.

In a recent LA Times interview, Kilmer wrote that he gets “hundreds of fan letters every week,” describing the response to his appearance in Maverick as “very humbling”. Director Joseph Kosinski says Cruise and Kilmer, the two Hollywood vets, had “tears in their eyes" as they shot Iceman's farewell. “Tom and I get along really well,” Kilmer writes. “We giggled like little kids in school between takes. I consider him a real friend. We shared intimate stories and challenges about our different lifestyles!” Ah, dudes being dudes.

Beyond what anyone could've imagined — aside from Cruise himself, perhaps — Top Gun: Maverick continues to soar at the global box office, set to break the billion-dollar barrier sooner than a hypersonic jet can hit Mach 10. Even Pixar's latest kid-friendly picture to hit cinemas, the Toy Story spin-off Lightyear , failed to ground the Mav, with just Jurassic World sequel Dominion able to take a chunk out of the high-flying throwback. 

Those afterburners have plenty of life in them yet…

Top Gun: Maverick is Tom Cruise's biggest hit ever

What the director of Top Gun: Maverick is planning next

How Tom Cruise created Top Gun: Maverick 's bittersweet Val Kilmer cameo