is tom cruise in young guns

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Tom cruise's young guns cameo explained.

Young Guns is known for its lead actors including Emilio Estevez and Kiefer Sutherland, but, surprisingly, the movie also features a Tom Cruise cameo.

• Young Guns, a Western film featuring a star-studded cast, includes a blink-and-you'll-miss-it Tom Cruise cameo.
• Although the movie gained commercial success, it remains relatively lesser-known compared to other Westerns.
• Tom Cruise's involvement in the film showcases his collaborative spirit and willingness to take on diverse roles, contributing to his enduring success in Hollywood.

Young Guns is known for boasting a roster of renowned actors like Kiefer Sutherland, Emilio Estevez, and Charlie Sheen, but not many know about its surprising Tom Cruise cameo. Based on American outlaw Billy the Kid's adventures during the Lincoln County War, Young Guns unfolds in New Mexico, where a group of young gunmen get embroiled in a game of cat-and-mouse. Upon release, although Young Guns primarily received mixed reviews from viewers and critics, it performed fairly well at the box office by raking in $56 million against a budget of $11 million.

However, despite being commercially successful, spawning a sequel, and having recognizable cast members, Young Guns remains relatively obscure compared to other mainstream Westerns. Nevertheless, the movie's cult status and the curiosity surrounding Tom Cruise's cameo in its ending moments continue to make it a subject of fascination. Given this fascination surrounding Cruise's part in the film, it is hard not to wonder how and why he landed the role and what is the significance of his cameo.

Young Guns Ending Explained

Tom cruise played one of lawrence murphy's henchmen in young guns.

Tom Cruise has not been credited as a cast member in Young Guns . However, he does have a blink-or-miss cameo as one of Lawrence Murphy's henchmen. Sporting a cowboy hat and a mustache that cover nearly half of his face, the Mission Impossible star can be seen when Casey Siemaszko's Charlie comes out of the house shooting at the 1:39:18 mark. Although this cameo is not as attention-grabbing and memorable as his unexpected Tropic Thunder appearance, the awareness that Tom Cruise shows up in Young Guns adds an element of fun and surprise to the movie's action and drama.

Why Tom Cruise Had A Cameo In 1998's Young Guns

Although no official reports reveal how Tom Cruise landed a cameo in 1998's Young Guns , rumors suggest the star was on the movie's set one day. Seeing it as an opportunity, director Christopher Cain thought it would be a good idea to give him a brief part in the film. Therefore, after dressing him up as a soldier and giving him a fake mustache, the director got him involved in Young Gun 's climactic showdown, turning it into a memorable trivia moment for the movie.

Although Tom Cruise is barely recognizable in the Young Guns scene, it serves as a testament to the collaborative spirit that drives the production of many movies. The cameo and the rumored story behind it also reflect how, despite being one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood, Tom Cruise has always been open to embracing everything from leading roles in big-budgeted franchises to easily overlooked cameos in relatively obscure Westerns. His behind-the-scenes collaborative spirit in movies like Young Guns , openness to taking up versatile roles, and love for cinema has perhaps been one of the primary driving factors for his long-lasting success as an actor.

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Tom Cruise’s Young Guns Cameo Explained

• Young Guns, a Western film featuring a star-studded cast, includes a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Tom Cruise cameo.
• Although the movie gained commercial success, it remains relatively lesser-known compared to other Westerns.
• Tom Cruise’s involvement in the film showcases his collaborative spirit and willingness to take on diverse roles, contributing to his enduring success in Hollywood.

Young Guns is known for boasting a roster of renowned actors like Kiefer Sutherland, Emilio Estevez, and Charlie Sheen, but not many know about its surprising Tom Cruise cameo. Based on American outlaw Billy the Kid’s adventures during the Lincoln County War, Young Guns unfolds in New Mexico, where a group of young gunmen get embroiled in a game of cat-and-mouse. Upon release, although Young Guns primarily received mixed reviews from viewers and critics, it performed fairly well at the box office by raking in $56 million against a budget of $11 million.

However, despite being commercially successful, spawning a sequel, and having recognizable cast members, Young Guns remains relatively obscure compared to other mainstream Westerns. Nevertheless, the movie’s cult status and the curiosity surrounding Tom Cruise’s cameo in its ending moments continue to make it a subject of fascination. Given this fascination surrounding Cruise’s part in the film, it is hard not to wonder how and why he landed the role and what is the significance of his cameo.

RELATED: Young Guns Ending Explained

Tom Cruise Played One Of Lawrence Murphy’s Henchmen In Young Guns

Tom Cruise has not been credited as a cast member in Young Guns . However, he does have a blink-or-miss cameo as one of Lawrence Murphy’s henchmen. Sporting a cowboy hat and a mustache that cover nearly half of his face, the Mission Impossible star can be seen when Casey Siemaszko’s Charlie comes out of the house shooting at the 1:39:18 mark. Although this cameo is not as attention-grabbing and memorable as his unexpected Tropic Thunder appearance, the awareness that Tom Cruise shows up in Young Guns adds an element of fun and surprise to the movie’s action and drama.

Why Tom Cruise Had A Cameo In 1998’s Young Guns

Although no official reports reveal how Tom Cruise landed a cameo in 1998’s Young Guns , rumors suggest the star was on the movie’s set one day. Seeing it as an opportunity, director Christopher Cain thought it would be a good idea to give him a brief part in the film. Therefore, after dressing him up as a soldier and giving him a fake mustache, the director got him involved in Young Gun ‘s climactic showdown, turning it into a memorable trivia moment for the movie.

Although Tom Cruise is barely recognizable in the Young Guns scene, it serves as a testament to the collaborative spirit that drives the production of many movies. The cameo and the rumored story behind it also reflect how, despite being one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood, Tom Cruise has always been open to embracing everything from leading roles in big-budgeted franchises to easily overlooked cameos in relatively obscure Westerns. His behind-the-scenes collaborative spirit in movies like Young Guns , openness to taking up versatile roles, and love for cinema has perhaps been one of the primary driving factors for his long-lasting success as an actor.

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Tom Cruise’s Young Guns Cameo Explained: The Unseen Sparkle in an Underrated Western Gem

I. A Glimpse into the Hidden Gem of Young Guns

In the vast and storied landscape of Hollywood Westerns, “Young Guns” might not be the first name that comes to mind. Released in 1988, this film often falls under the radar when discussing the genre’s classics. However, despite its relatively modest reputation, “Young Guns” boasts a star-studded ensemble, led by the likes of Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, and Lou Diamond Phillips. While the movie’s commercial success might have been overshadowed by other Western giants of the era, its appeal has gained a newfound spark of curiosity, largely owing to a brief yet notable appearance by none other than the ever-dynamic Tom Cruise.

II. Tom Cruise’s Blink-and-You’ll-Miss-It Cameo: Unraveling the Mystery

In the realm of cinematic mysteries, one that often piques the curiosity of fans and critics alike is Tom Cruise’s cameo in “Young Guns.” The fleeting nature of his appearance in the film leaves audiences questioning whether they indeed caught a glimpse of the Hollywood superstar. Cruise’s cameo, brief as it is, occurs during a scene in the film’s latter half, a moment that flashes by so swiftly that viewers could easily overlook the superstar among the ensemble cast. This obscure moment has become a topic of intrigue for film enthusiasts, urging them to revisit the film with a more vigilant eye.

III. The Context: “Young Guns” in the Landscape of Western Cinema

When discussing the canon of Western films, “Young Guns” often finds itself positioned in the periphery of mainstream discourse. Despite the formidable talent that the film presents, it has failed to secure the same level of acclaim as some of its contemporaries. Released in the late 1980s, a period dominated by action-packed blockbusters and iconic franchises, “Young Guns” struggled to carve out a prominent space in the cultural zeitgeist. However, its relative obscurity has not diminished the quality of its storytelling or the contributions made by the cast and crew, including the unexpected involvement of Tom Cruise.

IV. Tom Cruise’s Involvement: The Mark of a Collaborative Spirit

In an era where the lines between big-budget blockbusters and niche projects were increasingly defined, Tom Cruise’s participation in “Young Guns” stands as a testament to his collaborative spirit and willingness to explore diverse roles. Known for his charismatic presence and action-packed performances, Cruise’s decision to make a cameo in a relatively lesser-known Western underscores his commitment to the craft of acting. This move reflects his eagerness to engage with projects that may not guarantee massive commercial success but offer creative challenges and opportunities for artistic growth.

V. The Impact: Elevating the Film’s Legacy Through Star Power

While “Young Guns” might not have enjoyed the same level of critical acclaim or box office triumph as some of the more iconic Westerns of its time, Tom Cruise’s cameo has undeniably injected a renewed interest in the film. The revelation of his brief appearance has prompted audiences to revisit the movie with fresh eyes, encouraging a deeper appreciation of its narrative and the performances of its ensemble cast. Cruise’s star power has served as a catalyst for generating discourse around the film, prompting discussions about its place in the Western genre and the significance of its thematic elements.

VI. The Enduring Success: Tom Cruise’s Versatility in Hollywood

Tom Cruise’s illustrious career in Hollywood has been defined by his versatility and adaptability as an actor. From high-octane action flicks to compelling dramas, Cruise has continuously demonstrated his range and prowess in bringing characters to life on the silver screen. His cameo in “Young Guns” serves as yet another testament to his willingness to take on diverse roles and collaborate with filmmakers from various genres. This enduring success not only underscores his commitment to the art of storytelling but also solidifies his position as one of the most revered and enduring figures in the history of American cinema.

Conclusion: A Hidden Gem Rediscovered Through the Glimmer of Tom Cruise

In the annals of Western film history, “Young Guns” might not have shone as brightly as some of its contemporaries. However, Tom Cruise’s ephemeral cameo in this relatively overlooked gem has rekindled interest in the movie, prompting audiences to reevaluate its significance and place within the broader spectrum of Western cinema. Cruise’s unanticipated appearance serves as a reminder of the enduring allure of the silver screen, where even the briefest of moments can leave an indelible mark on the trajectory of a film’s legacy. As “Young Guns” continues to garner newfound appreciation, Cruise’s cameo remains an enigmatic spark that ignites a deeper understanding of the film’s historical and cultural significance.

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Emilio Estevez Wants To Show You ‘The Way’ And Has Ideas For Three More ‘Young Guns’ Movies

In 2010, Emilio Estevez released The Way , a movie that premiered at the Toronto Film Festival that year, got pretty good reviews, but kind of, sadly, came and went. But this is a movie that obviously means the world to Estevez (he wrote it, directed it, and it stars his father, Martin Sheen) and when the company that owned the rights went bankrupt, Estevez swooped in and reacquired the rights. (It’s a little longer story than that, as he tells us ahead.) And now, The Way gets a rare second life, returning to theaters on May 16th.

The Way stars Martin Sheen as Thomas Avery, a man whose world is turned upside down when he learns his son, Daniel (played by Estevez), is killed while walking Camino de Santiago in Spain. Thomas must travel to Spain to collect the body, but there as an epiphany and decides to walk the many months route himself to honor the memory of his son. And, yes, meets a lot of interesting characters and learns a lot about himself during his journey. It’s a movie about travel and wonderful scenic shots. And Estevez feels, after what we all went through with the pandemic, it’s a movie that might just strike a chord with people and maybe inspire people to get out there, too.

Also, Estevez caused quite a stir a couple of years ago mentioning a third Young Guns movie is in the works. (Now titled Guns 3: Alias Billy the Kid .) Though it’s been a while since we’ve heard about that and Estevez gives us quite the update. He’s ready to go as soon as some IP issues are ironed out, but now he has ideas for three more Young Guns movies. (As I told Estevez, sign me up.)

And ahead, with a seventh Mission: Impossible on the way, I ask Estevez about his role in the first one. And he says Tom Cruise told Estevez he regretted killing off Jack Harmon and actually tried to bring Estevez back for the second movie, but couldn’t figure out a way how.

How are you doing?

I’m doing very well. The last journalist went on and on. I’m sorry.

Well, you know what, to be fair, you’ve been in a lot of things. I don’t begrudge anyone who wants to ask you a lot of stuff.

[Laughs] Very well. Are you in New York?

We’re here as well for another couple of hours, so great. I’m glad we’re on the same time zone.

Yeah, I love those LA interviews when it’s like, “Hey, can you jump on the phone at 9:00 PM?”

Yeah, you’re already into your second cocktail by then.

It’s like, “I’m not talking to an actor.”

It’s funny, when I first read about you reacquiring this movie and wanting to put it out again, I’m just like, what’s this all about? And then I watched it yesterday and now I totally understand why this movie means so much to you.

Well, indeed. And especially coming out of COVID, it’s kind of the right medicine. It has struck a chord with people who, during the years of lockdown and isolation, it’s like this breath of fresh air and people are watching it again and saying, to your point, “Of course, this makes sense. Let’s travel again.” And they’re also at a place where there’s a lot of introspection going on. We just lost almost 1.2 million Americans, over five million people worldwide. So we’ve got to grieve. We have not taken a moment to grieve.

Well, that’s a really good point. As you mentioned when you first called, I’m in New York, I was here the whole time during COVID when it was at its worst… .

I can’t even imagine.

When people try to retcon things, saying it was overblown or whatever, there were mobile morgue trucks down the street from us. And then now we live in a society that’s so politicized people are trying to pretend it wasn’t even a big deal or it didn’t even happen. And to your point, we’re not allowing ourselves to grieve. We’re doing the opposite and trying to pretend it didn’t happen, and that’s not healthy.

Well, when you think about the Vietnam War, a similar thing happened. It’s like we never grieved coming out of that conflict. And then you look back further, Abraham Lincoln after the Civil War, he believed that it was so important to grieve the loss of so many Americans and that is one of the ways we got through it and moved past it. But why do we have to keep learning those lessons? But I believe the movie is, in some ways, way more relevant now than when it came out 12 years ago.

I would agree with that. It did hit me in a way that I don’t think it would’ve back then.

Right? And so here we are with this wonderful opportunity to not only reintroduce the movie to audiences, but get it back up on streaming platforms, which it’s been down for a long time. The DVD went out of print. The company that was distributing it, they had it in this library, went bankrupt. The movie was sitting in this motion to abandon rights in a Delaware Court. I mean, it was just one bad piece of news after another.

So this movie that obviously means the world to you and stars your father and you’re directing your father is just basically being sold off for parts?

Well, there was a term limit on how long the distributor had it. But, unfortunately, the movie changed hands so many times the licensing changed hands. And so it was coupled with the term of expiring and the film sitting, along with 1100 other titles, in this motion to abandon court in Delaware. And the judge ruled, okay, all these rights are up for grabs. And so I’ve stuck my hand back into the pot and said, let’s make this happen and let’s get these rights back.

And there was some legal entanglement that we had to get into and get those rights back. And then it was a matter of pulling it down off of all the various platforms where the deals had already terminated. So now all of that was done and I was approached by this company called Ocean Avenue Entertainment, which is a boutique distribution company, and they said, “We’d like to help you get this back out there.” Cut to Fathom Events saying, “This is a title, especially on the heels of coming out of the pandemic, we believe that there’s an audience for this.” And then the next phase was, why should people be re-interested in this film? In an older title? Because it’s not an anniversary. It’s not yet a classic. I mean, Fathom Events does things like they re-release Casablanca or Grease or It’s a Wonderful Life .

Oh, you know, I went to see Evil Dead Rise on Friday and there was a trailer for this before that played. So they are promoting it.

Of all movies!

The Venn diagram of people who go see Evil Dead Rise versus The Way , yeah they’re the same crowd. That’s who you want.

You know who would get a belly laugh? Sam Raimi, who’s an old friend of mine and he would just laugh so hard at that. The irony in the position of that.

That’s really funny actually.

Oh my God. So my girlfriend had an idea. We were talking about the added value. She says, “How about we reach out to Rick Steves,” who’s obviously this travel icon, and how can we incorporate him into that added value? A couple of weeks later, we jumped on an Amtrak train because I wanted to create another story in that we were making a pilgrimage to see Rick Steves, which I thought would be kind of funny and cute. So we got my parents on the train and we did the overnight to Seattle, and it was kind of a disaster. But we got there in one piece, exhausted because it’s very hard to sleep on an Amtrak. I don’t know when the last time it was you did it, but I don’t recommend it. Amtrak’s wonderful, but just not the overnights.

We set up a table and I acted sort of as moderator, and I sat between Rick and Martin and I asked them questions about life, and about culture, and about the film, and about Rick’s mission, which is why we travel and the road is church. And it became this wonderful conversation between the three of us. It just feels like people are getting it now, as opposed to 12 years ago. A movie like this was, in some ways, kind of dismissed as being a faith-based film…

You know what? I actually thought of that while watching this, that it’s not. Because doing this job, I have to sometimes watch the actual faith-based films, the ones that are promoted that way, and this is not that at all.

I’m sorry about that!

Well, yeah. So like in the movie, I grew up Catholic and for a lot of people I know who grew up Catholic who, like me, don’t have anything to do with it anymore, this movie makes a lot of sense how it’s addressed .

And that was kind of the battle that I have with my father, who is a devout Catholic. I am not. And I said, “This movie has to appeal to everyone. You can’t just drop to your knees every time we pass a church. You’re a guy who is not a man of faith, you’re a guy who’s a lapsed Catholic. You’re like a lot of people in the world right now who struggled with their faith.” And this didn’t start out as a faithful journey, it becomes more of that for his character, but it’s certainly not the impetus for why you do it. So he pushed back a lot and I had to keep Martin from being Martin during a lot of this production.

Before we run out of time, there’s something I’ve always wanted to ask you. When I saw Mission: Impossible in theaters, I was so excited you were in it, and obviously you don’t last very long in that movie. I’ve always wondered if that was a friendly payback for killing Tom Cruise in his brief Young Guns cameo.

No, it wasn’t that at all. The way Tom had explained it, he said, “Look, I’d love for you to come and join the cast. The whole opening number where everybody gets wiped out, it’s going to be a lot of well-known people and all of them are going to go uncredited and it’s really going to set up the level of peril for Ethan.” And I said, “I’m in. You don’t have to ask me twice, I’m in.” And then afterwards, obviously, the movie’s a giant hit.

Right. They’re still making them. There’s one coming out this year.

Still making them! Tom was like, we were doing a run the year after that and he says, “Man, we made such a mistake killing you off.”

I agree with Tom.

He and John Woo were trying to figure out a way to bring me back for part two, but it just didn’t make sense. I thought you could have because with all the masks, right?

Right… That would’ve been tough though. I mean, you got smashed by an elevator. That’s a tough one to recover from in the hospital.

[Laughs] Right.

So my girlfriend works for Indiewire and she was interviewed by Andrew McCarthy for his upcoming documentary about the Brat Pack. He came to our apartment…

Yeah, he was here and interviewed her for that. And he mentioned you specifically. Basically, he didn’t know what your relationship was and didn’t know what to expect, but said it wound up being a very positive experience. Is that how you remember it?

It was. Without question, it was. And he and I had not been friends for the last 30 years. And when he asked, again, it was like Tom: The people who never ask, you just say yes. The people who never ask are the ones you sort of treat it… It’s like a Willy Wonka moment. You just say, “Yeah, of course. I’ll participate.” So the experience was positive, and I don’t know what the final outcome is going to look like, but I think he’s got a lot of footage. So whatever he ultimately puts together remains to be seen.

A couple of years ago you created quite a stir talking about making Young Guns 3 . And I haven’t heard about in a little bit, but I really hope this happens. Is this still a thing?

It all comes down to the legal minds that work out IP. Listen, I’m ready to go. We have a terrific draft and if we can figure out the copyrights on all of this, and if Morgan Creek can sort of untangle from some of the issues that they’ve got in terms of continuing the franchise, we’re ready to go. So it’s just a question of when. Of course, I’m not getting any younger, so I think we’ll drop the “young” from the title, which we’ve done. But I think that Westerns being revived certainly plays to our benefit. And I think that the Brushy Bill story, you have this guy who…there’s new evidence coming out, actually, in the next month. There’s a new photo that surfaced. It’s pretty strong evidence!

There’s a New York detective who is on the case, who’s a facial recognition guy, and he looked at several, especially this new picture, and said, “Without question, this is the same guy many years later and he is Brushy Bill.” So that’s going to be dropping pretty soon. And that, again, is just further evidence that there’s a story there. It’s almost like a Zelig or Forrest Gump . Brushy Bill Roberts, aka Billy the Kid, he fought alongside Pancho Villa in the Mexican Revolution. He was with Teddy Roosevelt at the Battle of San Juan Hill. Here’s a guy that was born with the advent of the Gatling gun and died in 1950 during the Atomic Age. I mean, think about what he saw over the course of his lifetime! And that really begs, I think, not only just one more film in the franchise, but I think you could do three, four, and five.

I’m in for all five of them.

Listen, and we’ll hand it off to Martin to play him. I don’t have to wear all that makeup again.

‘The Way’ opens in theaters across the country on May 16th. You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter.

Tom Cruise’s 7 Greatest Cameos and Minor Roles, Ranked

"A G5 airplane?... Yes. And lots of money. Playa."

Sure, we know him as Ethan Hunt and Maverick —and Jerry Maguire — but Tom Cruise was not always this well known. He started out, as many actors do, with very small, and sometimes even unnoticed roles. There have even been a few instances when he has played a part in a film, and as an actor, remained uncredited for the film.

While many of his roles have been well-known, or downright iconic, there are a few that might go unseen if you aren’t actively looking for him. It just goes to show that Tom Cruise, despite being one of Hollywood’s greatest leading men, understands there is no such thing as too small of a role. If it adds to the quality of the film, he is all about joining the party and being part of the beautiful history of film.

7 ‘Young Guns’ (1988)

The year was 1988, and we were introduced to the greatest reasons why the West was wild with the film ‘Young Guns’. With Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, and Lou Diamond Phillips , all at the peak of their greatness, this was bound to be a success. And a success it was, grossing a little more than $45 million in the box office! Unfortunately, despite the financial success of the film, it received a heavy batch of mixed reviews from critics.

But wait a second, where is Tom Cruise in this adolescent Western? Well, this is one of those rare appearances that you truly will miss if you aren’t actively looking for it. In a very brief moment, Tom Cruise shows up as a henchman for Jack Palance’s character, Lawrence Murphy. Cruise is on-screen for hardly a moment before he is shot down. If you look hard enough, and if you can see past the truly glorious mustache, you’ll see a young Tom Cruise in all his cowboy glory.

6 ‘Austin Powers in Goldmember’ (2002)

Yes, believe it or not, Tom Cruise was in this marvelously silly Austin Powers film. In this third installment of the franchise, we once again get to watch as Mike Myers brings the titular character to life with his fantastically awkward way of doing just about everything. In this installment, Powers revisits the pain of his father, Nigel Powers ( Michael Caine ) being so absent all his life and feeling that deep sense of loss.

RELATED: 6 Tom Cruise Movies That Could Use A Sequel Like Top Gun Maverick

The film plods along with all the typical ups and downs of an exciting ‘Austin Powers’ rollercoaster, but towards the end, there is a moment of surprise. During a sequence that shows the entire story of the film was being turned into a film (how very mise-en-abyme ). This sequence shows the one-and-only Tom Cruise starring as famous Austin, alongside Gwyneth Paltrow and directed by Steven Spielberg as their director. It is a wonderful nod to the industry giants.

5 ‘Rock of Ages’ (2012)

While not a cameo, this is one of Cruise’s smaller roles, but likely one of his most memorable. Portraying Stacee Jaxx, a legendary rocker in Rock of Ages , Cruise saunters shirtless, covered in tattoos, long hair flowing righteously, and eyeliner for days. Not only does Cruise look the part of the quintessential 1980s hair metal rockstar, but he sounds the part, too. That’s right, Cruise did all his own singing in this wonderful rendition of this wildly entertaining story.

Cruise is joined by a talented cast of Julianne Hough , Alec Baldwin , Russell Brand , Diego Boneta , Bryan Cranston , Catherine Zeta-Jones , and Paul Giamatti . Seeing Cruise show off not only his chiseled Hollywood physique, but his diamond level vocals, proved to be one of the most amazing roles he has ever taken. While the film suffered as a box office flop, Cruise received universal praise for his incredibly dynamic and fantastic role.

4 ‘Endless Love’ (1981)

In what is Cruise’s first credited film role, he briefly appears as Billy, a troubled young man, in Franco Zeffirelli’s Endless Love that stars Brooke Shields , Shirley Knight , Don Murray , James Spader , and a young Ian Ziering . It would have been no surprise that such a full cast of A-listers would have gone on to be a huge success, but that was, unfortunately, not the story with this film.

RELATED: 'Mission: Impossible': 10 Wildest Stunts, Ranked

Despite high hopes for the film, based on the success of the novel it was adapted from, and the brief box office success, it was a critical failure. Critics detested it and reviews were universally negative towards the plot and presentation of the story. Some praised Shields’ performance, but other than that, the film was not received well.

3 ‘Taps’ (1981)

A group of military school students decide that to save their school, they are going to take it over at gunpoint, hoping that somehow saves it from closing. Despite the maybe taboo subject matter at the time, ‘Taps’ was a box office success. With a budget of just $14 million, the film left the box office having made a little more than double that.

In what was Cruise’s second role in a film, he showcased a new set of talents and performance abilities, as well as showing how well he works with an ensemble cast – as this film boasts the talents of Sean Penn (in his first role), Evan Handler , Timothy Hutton , and George C. Scott . This film served as a springboard from which Cruise launched his career.

2 ‘The Outsiders’ (1983)

Finally, this film is likely the film that really put Cruise on the map in Hollywood. While his role was still not as prominent as his later films, Cruise was noted for his performance in the film. Along with Cruise, ‘The Outsiders’ had the incredible cast of up-and-comers Rob Lowe (in his film debut), C. Thomas Howell , Matt Dillon , Patrick Swayze , and Diane Lane .

Tom Cruise has demonstrated, in this small role and each of his other small and cameo roles, that he is absolutely a force to be reckoned with. He can make an impact on the big screen, whether he is the singularly greatest star in the movie, or if he simply appears without credit. Cruise is and continues to demonstrate that he really is Hollywood’s most versatile and valuable leading man.

1 ‘Tropic Thunder’ (2008)

In one of his most incredible and well-known, albeit uncredited, roles, Tom Cruise sneaks onto the screen as Les Grossman, the fat handed, foul-mouthed, movie studio executive. This wildly ridiculous character was thought up by none other than Cruise, himself, and that just adds to the sheer genius of Cruise. He decided, after speaking with Ben Stiller , that Les Grossman would take shape as he did, and while Stiller may not have been fully on board at first, it ultimately paid incredible dividends.

RELATED: Every Tom Cruise Movie Ranked from Worst to Best

While the film could likely not be made in today’s culture, Tropic Thunder was something of a comedic masterpiece with a truly wonderful cast including Oscar-nominated Robert Downey, Jr. , as well as Jack Black , and Matthew McConaughey (among others). Even though his part is so small, Cruise’s character of Grossman is, without a doubt, the best part of the film. The wonderful unexpected nature of his appearance is what makes it so delightfully enjoyable.

NEXT: Every 'Mission: Impossible' Movie Ranked From Worst to Best

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How old was Tom Cruise in the movie Young Guns?

Tom Cruise was 24 in Young Guns when he played the character 'Soldier Who Gets Shot (uncredited)'.

That was over 36 years ago in 1988.

Today he is 61 , and has starred in 86 movies in total, 71 of those since Young Guns was released.

How old do you think he looks in the movie?

In Young Guns, I think Tom Cruise looks:

Did you know?

• Director Christopher Cain has worked with Tom Cruise just once in his career.
• Tom Cruise's first movie was as 'Billy' in Endless Love, released in 1981 when he was 18
• Young Guns scores 6.7 out of 10 on TMDB .

The cast of Young Guns

Tom Cruise's other movies

This Is The Worst Tom Cruise Cameo, According To Movie Critics

Tom Cruise has been in over 40 movies, but it's his uncredited 1988 role that's being called his worst cameo.

• Tom Cruise's short cameo in Young Guns was not well-received, but the movie was still a box office success.
• Even in his uncredited role in Young Guns, Tom Cruise displayed his early interest in performing stunts.
• Known for his daring stunts in Mission: Impossible, Cruise's early days of heart-stopping action started with Top Gun.

Tom Cruise has delivered many memorable roles over his four decades on-screen. He's not just known as a leading man, he has also made numerous cameos and uncredited appearances in movies.

Despite successful cameos in Tropic Thunder, Austin Powers in Goldmember and The Outsiders , not all his minor roles have landed. His appearance in 1988's Young Guns is one of Cruise's less successful appearances. Although it allowed him to showcase his love of stuntwork and starred some of the hottest actors of the generation, the film was poorly received.

With just 43% on Rotten Tomatoes, Young Guns was considered a disappointing Western that chose style over substance. Despite the less-than-stellar reviews, the movie grossed $45.7 million in the US and Canada and was a box office success.

In the following, we take a look at Tom Cruise's uncredited role in Young Guns and why movie critics say it's Tom Cruise's worst cameo. We also reveal how Cruise's small role in Young Guns was actually major for his career performing his own stunts.

Tom Cruise's Worst Cameo In 1988's Young Guns

Tom Cruise makes a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo in Young Guns . The 1988 film is a fictionalized version of Billy the Kid's adventures during the Lincoln County War. Due to its star-studded cast, which featured Kiefer Sutherland, Emilio Estevez, and Charlie Sheen, the film is associated with the brat pack.

For a brief moment, the Tom Cruise appears as a henchman for Jack Palance's character Lawrence Murphy. Cruise is on screen for a short time, hidden behind a mustache and a cowboy hat , before he is shot down. If you didn't know it was the Mission Impossible actor in the role, he would be easy to miss.

Does Kelly McGillis Still Keep In Touch With Tom Cruise After Playing His Love Interest In Top Gun?

Tom Cruise's appearance in the movie is uncredited. It is thought that Cruise was just on set visiting when the director, Christopher Cain, thought it would be fun to add him to the movie for the final battle. Although his cameo adds nothing to the story, it's a nice little slice of trivia for movie fans.

Compared to his Tom Cruise's other cameos , Young Guns is an insignificant addition to his filmography. His other cameos use Cruise's star power and charisma to make an impression. In Tropic Thunder, he plays a morally corrupt Hollywood exec; in Austin Powers in Goldmember , he appears as a meta version of himself; in Rock Of Ages , he briefly appears as a flamboyant rockstar.

Although Young Guns was met with mixed reviews, the 1988 movie did well at the box office, and a sequel was made in 1990 with the principal cast returning.

Why Tom Cruise's Young Guns Cameo Was Important To His Career

Although Tom Cruise's role in Young Guns is unremarkable and far-fleeting, it does display his early interest in stunt work . Since his appearance in the movie about gunslingers seeking revenge, Cruise has become known for his dangerous stunt work.

Cruise admitted that he has always loved doing dangerous things , spending his childhood doing "flips off of [his] house into the snow" and performing precarious bicycle jumps over ditches.

Tom Cruise Refused To Discuss His Worst Box Office Film Ever After The Final Version Differed From The Director's Cut

Cruise explained to Graham Norton on his chat show that he has "always loved fast cars, motorcycles, hiking, and climbing."

“I feel that [when] acting you’re bringing everything, you know, physically and emotionally, to a character in a story, And I’m able to do it [stunts], and I’ve trained for 30 years doing things like this that it allows us to put cameras in places where you normally are not able to.”

During an appearance at Cannes in 2022, Cruise admitted he doesn't intend to give up the dangerous stunts anytime soon .

“No one asked Gene Kelly, ‘Why do you dance? Why do you do your own dancing?’”

How Tom Cruise's Stunt Work Has Grown Over The Years

Tom Cruise has become known for performing death-defying stunts in many of his movies, most notably the Mission: Impossible franchise. Over the last two decades, the Minority Report actor has climbed the world's tallest building, hung from helicopters, and held his breath underwater for a significant amount of time.

Even before he took on the role of Ethan Hunt, he was doing his own stunts in 1986's Top Gun . The scene in which Maverick (Cruise) and Goose (Anthony Edwards) are ejected from the jet and parachuted into the water nearly caused the Rain Man star serious injury.

Actor Barry Tubb told the New York Post on the film’s 25th anniversary that “Cruise came as close to dying as anybody on a set I’ve ever seen.” Cruise almost drowned during the scene as his parachute filled with water, and the actor started to sink.

“They were refilling the camera or something, and luckily, one of the frogmen in the chopper saw his chute ballooning out,” Tubb, who played Wolfman in the movie, explained.

“He jumped in and cut Cruise loose right before he sank. They would have never found him. He would have been at the bottom of the ocean.”

Tom Cruise Pushes For ‘Top Gun 3’ After Nearly Losing His Life During 'Mission: Impossible' Stunt

One of Tom Cruise's earliest Mission Impossible stunts involves his character, Ethan Hunt, blowing up a huge aquarium in the 1996 film. The stunt saw the actor running with 16 gallons of water following behind him. He followed this up in the sequel with his rock climbing stunt, where the actor had only a safety cable to help soften any impact.

In Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, director Brad Bird referred to watching Tom Cruise take on death-defying stunts as “just another day at work." Most noticeable on the set of the 2011 movie, the actor scaled Dubai’s 163-floor Burj Khalifa.

Tom Cruise's love of doing his own stunts has also caused him some issues over the years . When filming Mission: Impossible Fallout, the actor broke two bones in his ankle when leaping between two buildings. The video footage of the accident soon went viral, with many praising him for the lengths he goes to for cinema.

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Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski: ‘Of all Tom Cruise’s characters, Maverick might be closest to his real personality’

The belated sequel to Top Gun is easily the highest-grossing film of 2022 – as well as Tom Cruise’s most successful movie ever. Its director explains how hard it was to make the film and why its star never, ever gives up

In 1990, Tom Cruise told Playboy he wouldn’t make Top Gun 2, for fear it might glorify or gamify war. What changed? It’s a film about competition and friendship and sacrifice. It was never a film about war. We wanted to give people insight into a world and to experience what it’s like to ride in one of these machines. But the desire was to tell an emotive story about a guy in his 50s. The push was: what’s the audience feeling about that? We were pretty ruthless in making sure that we were always pushing that story, even in an action scene.

Does it feel strange to still be discussing something you shot in 2018? It is a little weird. The pandemic is a strange, two-year gap we all have. I’m just relieved the movie worked out and was released in the way we wanted. There was a lot of pressure on Tom [Cruise] and Jerry [Bruckheimer, the producer] to put it out on streaming. I’m glad we waited because we made it for the big screen and I think it was the movie that a lot of people came back to cinemas to see.

Maverick is a mortal person, if quite an unusual and resilient one. Do you think there’s waning interest in superheroes? I do feel like the movie probably hits differently post-Covid. We are all in a different headspace. Every sequence in this movie was flown by real navy pilots: real people doing extraordinary things. People tell me that they’re gripping on to the edge of their seat in the third act. That’s exactly what we hoped for.

It’s also quite an earnest film. There’s not a lot of sarcasm. It wears its heart on its sleeve. It’s OK to show some genuine emotion. Men crying in the movie is a good thing. We approached it in a very honest, straightforward way. What Tom does dramatically in a film that also requires such incredible action skills – you just can’t take that for granted. I can’t think of anyone else who would be able to do both things and produce the film.

You’ve spoken about how Cruise mentored the younger stars on the film. Yet his charisma is so singular it’s hard to see how they could ape him. Of all the characters he’s played, I think Maverick might be kind of the closest to his real personality. He’s always pushing the envelope. The young actors were so curious to just pick his brain. Here’s a guy who has the career that they all dream about and he’s willing to talk about how he got there.

Glen [Powell] read for the part of Rooster and didn’t get it; Miles Teller did. He didn’t want the part of Hangman; he wanted the lead. Then Tom explained to him that as a young actor, you have to choose great movies, not great roles. It totally changed Glen’s approach.

What do people fail to appreciate about Cruise? Everyone knows he gives 110% every day. But the amount of work it takes to make movies like this requires a level of commitment that’s pretty astonishing. He just never gives up.

What do you think he sees in you? What’s the kinship? He knows I’ll work as hard as I can on every frame. I’m always willing to have the conversation and be open to the best idea. We like fast cars, fast planes, you know, all that kind of kinetic movement. Two of the five films I’ve made have been with him.

Is there still snobbery around mainstream action hits? No, the critics embraced it, the audience embraced it, the industry embraced it. I got emails from the heads of every studio congratulating us on the film. Everyone’s rooting for us. And it played overseas bigger than it played domestically. The themes are very universal. We’re not pointing at a specific enemy. We’re not making a political statement. We’re just trying to tell this very honest story about a guy struggling with some things in his life set against the backdrop of this incredibly demanding, exciting job.

How delicate a dance was that depoliticisation? I actually enjoyed the creative challenge of saying: how can I make this enemy so unidentifiable that no matter how hard someone tries, they’ll never be able to pick them out?

Did the Pentagon involvement ever feel compromising? I know on the first film Jerry had to work hard to persuade them to participate. This time that wasn’t the case, because so many of the decision-makers joined the navy because of the first film. We lived on an aircraft carrier for a couple of weeks. That’s tough: 5,000 people on a ship operating 24/7. You get in your bunk exhausted at the end of a 15-hour day and there’s aircraft taking off 5ft above your head all night long. A constant din of activity: very loud and very busy. It’s intense.

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Is flying safe with sleep deprivation? I hear that if you live on the ship for a while, you have trouble sleeping when you come back home and there’s no sound.

Will it be hard to top this success? Yes. But this is Top Gun. It’s like such a special thing: 35 years of love and pent-up excitement. I don’t know if there are many other films out there so beloved and untouched. For me, box-office success is not how I gauge the films I work on. Your films are like your kids: you love them each the same.

Is culture today more nostalgic than 10 years ago? There’s this sense of pining for the way things were. The 80s seem like a simpler time. A nice naivety to life pre-internet. We weren’t bombarded with as much information. The film intentionally has a throwback sensibility. There’s very little in it that ties it to 2022. Maverick has a BlackBerry, but that’s about the only real piece of modern technology in the film. All the real emotional drama occurs in face-to-face conversations. It is a little bit of a fantasy world. Maverick can ride around without a helmet and the sun’s always setting.

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The New Top Guns: Meet Tom Cruise’s Young Mavericks

By Britt Hennemuth

Photography by Nick Riley Bentham

Styled by Rebecca Ramsey

Three years ago Tom Cruise set out to cast a new generation of magnetic, and chiseled, pilots for Top Gun: Maverick, the highly anticipated sequel scheduled to land on Memorial Day weekend next year. After scouring young Hollywood, he found his squad: Glen Powell, Jay Ellis, Lewis Pullman, Danny Ramirez, Monica Barbaro (playing the first female pilot featured in the franchise), and Miles Teller.

Cruise and director Joseph Kosinski wanted real stunts with cameras capturing actual flight patterns, so the star curated the training he wished he’d had back in 1986. “In anyone else’s hands, Top Gun is a CGI movie,” says Powell. “Only Tom puts real actors in real planes.” The aircraft were flown by pilots, but the cast were in the cockpit for such long, intense stretches that sometimes they had to do what they had to do: “I peed in the plane a few times,” says Ellis. “I peed in the plane almost every time,” says Pullman. The actors trained for three months in a progression of aircraft, then did maintenance flights for g-force tolerance. “Tom would go first,” says Ellis. “And then we’d have to go up there and try to keep up with what he just did.”

Fans of the original Top Gun ’s immortal beach volleyball scene will be relieved to hear that our new heroes find time to play shirtless football on the sand. The younger actors worked out and skipped carbs for months to prep—and did some last-second moisturizing so their muscles would glisten. “I was eventually cut off from the baby oil,” says Powell. After sunset, the cast celebrated with wings, tater tots, and beer, but later learned they had to shoot the scene again. “We were devastated,” Ellis says with a laugh.

Moviegoers everywhere will thank them for their service.

HAIR, CAILE NOBLE (BARBARO); MAKEUP, KATE LEE; MANICURE, ALEX JACHNO; GROOMING, KRISTEN SHAW (PULLMAN, RAMIREZ), SYDNEY SOLLOD (ELLIS, POWELL); SET DESIGN, COLIN PHELAN. PRODUCED ON LOCATION BY LOLA PRODUCTION. FOR DETAILS, GO TO VF.COM/CREDITS.

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Britt Hennemuth

West coast director.

Tom Cruise (born July 3, 1962) is an American film actor and producer whose notable films include Taps , Top Gun , A Few Good Men , Minority Report , The Last Samurai and Collateral in addition to the Mission: Impossible franchise of films. He has also been nominated for Academy Awards for his roles in the films Born on the Fourth of July , Magnolia , and Jerry Maguire . He also is the cousin of actor William Mapother and the adoptive father of Connor Cruise . Due to his height of 172 cm tall, Cruise is rarely seen using firearms with non-adjustable stocks.

Tom Cruise can be seen using the following weapons in the following films :

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