Tom Cruise Credits Sister for Landing Rain Man Role

Tom Cruise credited his sister Cass for encouraging him to approach Dustin Hoffman at a New York City restaurant, a pivotal moment that led to Cruise landing his role in the Oscar-winning film Rain Man. Despite initial hesitation, Cruise gave in to his sister's insistence and introduced himself to Hoffman, who immediately recognized him and later invited Cruise and his sister backstage after his Broadway show. Hoffman told Cruise, "I want to make a movie with you," which materialized a year later when Hoffman sent him the script for Rain Man. The 1988 film became a major breakthrough for Cruise, earning eight Academy Award nominations and winning four, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Hoffman. Cruise shared this story during a conversation at the BFI in London, where he was being honored with the BFI Fellowship. The encounter underscores the significance of chance meetings and persistence in shaping Cruise's career trajectory.