Tom Cruise in “Rain Man”: thanks to his sister the important role

Tom Cruise (62) owes one of the most important roles of his career to his sister. The superstar revealed this at an event at the British Film Institute (BFI) in London. The organization honored the American for his life’s work. In a conversation with the BFI, Cruiseaus chatted the sewing box and told how he got the part in “Rain Man” (1988).

On the side of Dustin Hoffman (87) Tom Cruise played a Yuppie who spends time with his autistic brother to get his legacy. “Rain Man” meant a big step for Cruise on the way to the serious actor.

Tom Cruise told his little sister Cass Mapother in New York in 1984. He had just turned the fantasy film “Legende” by Ridley Scott (87).

The siblings sat in a restaurant when Cass Mapother Dustin Hoffman spotted. He got food to take away in the restaurant. According to Cruise, the noble mime was currently in the city because he appeared in “Death of an action traveler” at Broadway.

“You go over and say hello to him,” said Tom Cruise’s sister, who was sitting in the audience in London. But he refused because that was not his way. “He won’t know who I am, that will be very humiliating,” he said. In 1984 the actor had earned a modest reputation in the scene with teen films such as “loose shops” and “the right shoot”, but it was not until 1986 that he became a star with “Top Gun”.

Cass remained “persistent” and put an ultimatum to her brother: “If you don’t do it, I’ll just go to him and tell him who you are”. Tom Cruise gave in and spoke to Dustin Hoffman. He also recognized him and addressed Cruise with his name.

After the conversation in the restaurant, Hoffman Cruise and his sister invited to a performance of “Death of an action traveler”. There the two actors talked behind the stage. As a farewell, Hoffman said to Cruise “I want to make a film with you”. A year later, the older colleague sent him the script for “Rain Man”.

The rest is history. “Rain Man” came to the cinemas in 1988 and won four Oscars, including for the best film and for the leading actor Hoffman. Tom Cruise received no Oscar nomination, but his first followed the following year for “born on July 4”.