Several things have changed in the 21st century: from technology, McDonald's designs to Hollywood. Many people will be particularly grateful for Hollywood. Apart from ultra-high-definition videos and groundbreaking visual effects, Tinseltown has also blessed the world with incredible movie stars, many of whom have been perfecting their art since the last century.
Many of these celebs never had the brightest starts—for instance, did you know Leonardo DiCaprio almost quit acting on account of being jobless for a whole year?—yet they beat the odds and became the very best in their profession. Read on to discover how far your favorite stars have come since their humble beginnings.
Macaulay Culkin - Home Alone
"Home Alone" made Macaulay Culkin one of Hollywood's most famous child stars in the '90s. Culkin was just 10 when he starred in the movie. After getting a Golden Globe nomination and receiving up to $4.5 million from "Home Alone 2," he grew tired of acting in 1994 and decided to take a break to pursue a normal life.
His life probably didn't turn out as "normal" as he would have wanted because he went through a controversial phase that affected his career and reputation. Thankfully, he's bounced back and is back to doing what he knows best. He started starring in "American Horror Story" in 2021.
Sarah Paulson - American Horror Story
The beloved Sarah has been gracing our screens on "American Horror Story" since 2011. Interestingly, she's played not just one character on the show, but at least nine, including a new one in 2021. That's only a testament to the acting prowess of the Florida native, who's won a Primetime Emmy and a Golden Globe Award for her efforts.
She's certainly come a long way since she was a fledgling actress making her film debut in 1994. Her accolade as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2017 might just be a crowning achievement in her illustrious career.
Will Smith - Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Will Smith is another renowned movie star that might not need an introduction. From "Independence Day" to "Men In Black" and "Bad Boys," his blockbuster performances might be too many to mention. But of course, it's from the NBC series "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" that the world first got to know of the highly-entertaining Philadelphia native.
The series ran from 1990 until 1996 and launched Smith into stardom. To say his popularity has soared since then would be saying too little—he's earned two Oscar nominations and was recognized by Forbes as the world's most bankable star in 2013. He starred in the biographical movie "King Richard" in 2021.
Evan Peters - American Horror Story
Evan Peters is another talented lead actor that has played multiple characters on "American Horror Story." Before his stint on the show, he was a fairly unknown but promising actor starring in TV commercials in the early '00s. Now he's a famous movie star whom many people worldwide know as Quicksilver from the X-Men movies.
While he's remained an active regular on "American Horror Story" until 2021, at least, he's also found the time to be involved in other projects. He was in "Mare of Easttown" in 2021, winning his first Primetime Emmy Award as a result.
Kathy Bates - Titanic
Studying theatre in school doesn't necessarily mean you'll become a successful actor, but Kathy Bates had enough passion and talents to make her education count. It wasn't a smooth climb to the top for the Tennessee native, as she had to work several odd jobs to support her struggling career during the '70s.
Fast forward to several decades later, and the story couldn't be more different. She's the recipient of an Oscar, which she won for her breakthrough performance in the 1990 movie "Misery." She's also been in "Titanic," which remains the third highest-grossing film in the world. Bates was at her dramatic best in the 2020 movie "Home."
Frances Conroy - Six Feet Under
The world got another glimpse at Frances Conroy's cinematic brilliance in the 2019 movie "Joker." A detailed look into her acting career would reveal that such impressive performances are a regular thing for the "Casual" star. A Golden Globe Award and multiple Primetime Emmy nominations prove that the Georgia native is cut of the best cloth.
She's certainly more experienced and famous since she first came to the limelight as Ruth Fisher in "Six Feet Under." Conroy has been a series regular since she joined the cast of "American Horror Story" in 2011. She started playing two new characters in 2021.
Finn Wittrock - American Horror Story
The world waited to see what Finn Wittrock had to offer after he made his movie debut in the 2004 film "Halloweentown High." It's safe to say he hasn't disappointed so far, at least not if his notable TV appearances and Primetime Emmy nominations are anything to go by.
His stint on "American Horror Story" has made a big impact on his fame. Like many of the series' cast members, he's played different characters, including that of Harry Gardner in 2021. Wittrock hasn't let his time on the show hinder his other projects. He also starred in the drama "A Mouthful of Air" in 2021.
Jessica Lange - King Kong
As one of the few actresses to have ever won the Triple Crown of Acting, Jessica Lange might hardly need an introduction. Who could ever forget her breakthrough performance in the 1976 classic "King Kong"? The rest of her career has been a rollercoaster of sweeping achievements, which include two Oscars, five Golden Globes, and three Emmys, amongst many others.
She's one of the stars on "American Horror Story" since its inception. Lange hasn't starred in the series since 2018, but she's worked on other projects. In 2019, she appeared in the Netflix series "The Politician."
Lily Rabe - American Horror Story
Lily Rabe recalls the moment she knew she wanted to become an actress—it was when she was performing a monologue for a summer arts production in the '90s. Time has flown by since then, and the New York native has more than accomplished her dream. Over a decade of playing different characters on "American Horror Story" has established her as one of Hollywood's finest.
Her talents haven't gone unnoticed as well, as she's bagged a few accolades, including a Tony Award nomination. Rabe played the character of Amelia Earhart in "American Horror Story" for the latter part of 2021. She also starred in "The Tender Bar" in the same year.
Robert De Niro - Goodfellas
in the '60s, Robert De Niro was a young unknown actor starring in such movies as "Sam's Song" and "The Wedding Party." The critics didn't miss his performances, and he was recognized as a promising talent, but it wasn't until the next decade, when he starred in "The Godfather Part II," that his big moment came.
Since then, he's had an illustrious career spaced by performances in "Taxi Driver," "Goodfellas," "Silver Linings Playbook," among many others. Now a much experienced and accomplished actor with two Oscars under his belt, De Niro is still active and hardly thinking about retirement. He was in "The Comeback Trail" in 2020.
Adina Porter - True Blood
Television faithful might know Adina Porter for her role as Lettie Mae Thornton on the HBO series "True Blood." She's also popular for her regular appearances on "American Horror Story, where she's played different characters since 2011.
Porter has been onscreen since the '80s and '90s. She started with guest roles on procedural series like "Law & Order" and "NYPD Blue." Now with two Primetime Emmy nominations and several notable appearances under her belt, she has more than enough clout to grab major roles. She started playing the role of Chief Burleson on "American Horror Story" in 2021.
Leslie Grossman - What I Like About You
The beautiful and talented Leslie Grossman has been gracing our screens since she first appeared on the high school series "Popular" in 1999. Several years down the road and she's an accomplished actress with credits in "Grey's Anatomy," "Miss Congeniality 2," and "Black-ish."
What she'll mostly be remembered for, though, are her performances on "What I Like About You" and "American Horror Story." Since joining the latter in 2017, Grossman has portrayed different characters like other cast members. She played two roles in 2021, one of them being Calico.
Angelica Ross - Pose
You might know Angelica Ross as that actress from "Pose," but she's so much more than that. The Wisconsin native is also a self-taught programmer and CEO of TransTech Social Enterprises. The climb to the top was a hard one for Ross. She was shunned by her family and had to work as a waitress and an escort in the '90s and early '00s to make ends meet.
She can look back now and be thankful for her journey. While "Pose" brought her to the limelight, her appearance in "American Horror Story" boosted her acclaim. She took on the character of Theta on the latter in 2021.
Cody Fern - American Horror Story
Earlier in his life, Cody Fern couldn't be further from being an actor. He was trapped in the white-collar world of finance until he realized he hated it. Fast forward to more than a decade later, and his transformation has been complete. Thanks to the Heath Ledger Scholarship that promotes aspiring Australian actors, he could hone his acting skills.
Since making his major movie debut in the 2017 film, "The Tribes of Palos Verdes," Fern's career has soared. He's now one of the well-known stars from "American Horror Story." He took on his third different character in the series in 2021.
Matt Bomer - Magic Mike
Like many of his colleagues, Bomer realized his passion for acting early and decided to study performing arts in school to pursue his goal. That decision has paid off for him so far, and he has the Golden Globe award and multiple accolades to prove it.
He's achieved a lot since he made his television debut on "All My Children" in 2000. Now people from all over the world can recognize him from his performances in "Chuck," "Magic Mike," and "American Horror Story." He started playing the role of Michael on the series in 2021.
Tom Hanks - Forrest Gump
When your movies have grossed over $9.96 billion worldwide, the title "movie star" starts to seem a bit insufficient. A long way from his breakthrough roles in '80s movies like "Splash" and "Bachelor Party," Tom Hanks has established himself as a foremost Hollywood icon and one of the highest-grossing actors in the world.
His famous performances in "Forrest Gump," "Saving Private and Ryan" among many others, would hardly be forgotten. With two Oscar wins and more than a dozen accolades in his illustrious career, you'd think he'd be thinking about retirement. Far from it, he's still very much active, as demonstrated when he starred in "Finch" in 2021.
Angelina Jolie - Tomb Raider
The world fell in love with Angelina Jolie after her breakthrough performance in the famous movie "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider." Although the film brought Jolie to the international limelight, it was far from the foundation of her career. She'd already been in her first movie as a child when she appeared in her father's comedy "Lookin' to Get Out."
Her career since then has been a huge rise to Hollywood supremacy, with two Oscars and three Golden Globes under her belt. Retirement is the last thing on Jolie's mind. She still has a lot to offer the industry, and you could see this in her performance in the 2021 movie "Eternals."
Jennifer Lawrence - The Hunger Games
Jennifer Lawrence has been named the world's highest-paid actress at least twice in her career. That is certainly a big leap from when she only got guest roles on TV series in the '00s. In a different world, Lawrence might have been a model, as her mother wanted. Instead, she followed her passion and can definitely be thankful for that.
She can thank her performances in The Hunger Games series and the X-Men movies for her rise to recognition as one of the best actresses. Lawrence can boast of an Oscar and three Golden Globes in her career so far. She was cast in "Don't Look Up" in 2021.
Val Kilmer – Batman Forever
Val Kilmer was a mega-famous actor in the '80s and '90s. He had a quick rise to fame, having started his professional career in 1981. His big break came following his appearance in the action-comedy "Top Secret." What the world will probably remember Kilmer for the most, though, is his portrayal of Batman in the 1995 film "Batman Forever."
Although he never returned for a Batman sequel, he didn't need to, as his career after that was an entourage of successful movies. Kilmer might no longer be as mainstream as he used to, but he's far from done with acting. In 2021, he starred in "The Birthday Cake."
George Clooney - Ocean's Eleven
George Clooney will forever be remembered for his unforgettable role as Danny Ocean in "Ocean's Eleven." Of course, the movie is far from his only major success, as Clooney has been around in Hollywood since the late '70s. He only started to gain primary attention in the '90s, thanks to his appearance in "From Dusk till Dawn."
With multiple decades of experience in the game and several accolades, including an Oscar and a very notable appointment as a United Nations Messenger of Peace, he might have achieved it all. That hasn't gotten him thinking about retirement, though, at least telling by his performance in "The Midnight Sky" in 2020.
Natalie Portman - Thor
Natalie Portman portrayed the character of a troubled ballerina in "Black Swan" in 2010, and the industry was stunned. They were so stunned that she was awarded an Oscar for Best Actress for the breathtaking performance. Such accomplishments have always been within reach of the Israeli-native, who started her career as far back as the early '90s.
She's recognized worldwide for starring in the Marvel blockbusters "Thor" and "Thor: The Dark World." Her earnings from the Marvel franchise established her as one of the world's highest-paid actresses. After achieving that much success, it's no wonder she was willing to reprise the role in the 2021 series "What If...?"
Cassandra Peterson - Elvira, Mistress of the Dark
Horror fanatics would remember the cult hero Cassandra Peterson. She was famous in the '80s and '90s for portraying the character of horror hostess Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, on a horror show that aired on KHJ-TV. Titled "Elvira's Movie Macabre,' the show had Peterson presenting horror B movies.
She capitalized on the show's success by starring in the 1988 movie "Elvira: Mistress of the Dark" which took her fame to new heights. Although her popularity appears to have dwindled over the years, Peterson has continued to portray Elvira throughout her career. She did so in the 2021 mini-series "Netflix and Chills with Dr. Elvira."
Kim Zolciak-Biermann - The Real Housewives of Atlanta
Kim Zolciak-Biermann was at the heart of the intrigue and drama that plagued "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" in its early years. Joining as one of the original cast members in 2008, Zolciak-Biermann stayed on the reality show until 2012.
She left that year to start her spin-off show titled "Don't Be Tardy for the Wedding." The series ran for eight seasons until it ended in 2020. Having started a business line of skincare products and enjoyed a great TV career, some might think she's ready to take a seat back. But if anything has been learned about the Florida native, it's that there's always something up her sleeve.
Valerie Bertinelli - One Day At A Time
People from the '70s might remember Valerie Bertinelli from the series "One Day at a Time." Only a child at the time, she played the role of Barbara Royer on the show and impressed the industry so much that she won two Golden Globes for her efforts. Now all grown up and experienced, Bertinelli belongs to a unique class of Hollywood veterans.
She's starred in a huge number of series and movies over the years, most notably "Hot in Cleveland," where she played the character of Melanie Moretti. She's since directed her efforts to culinary shows. Since 2015 she's been hosting "Valerie's Home Cooking" on Food Network.
Heather Locklear - Melrose Place
"Melrose Place" was one of the most popular soap operas in the '90s. Many people discovered and fell in love with Heather Locklear for her performance as Amanda Woodward on the series. Since "Melrose Place" ended in 1999, Locklear has built a reputation as one of the world's foremost TV stars.
Over the course of her career, she's starred in series like "Dynasty" and "Spin City." She's also earned the accolades—she can boast of five Golden Globe nominations and a few notable awards. Of course, Locklear isn't done yet. In 2021, she appeared in "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff: The Kristine Carlson Story."
Amal Clooney – Barrister At Doughty Street Chambers
Amal Clooney's moments in the media spotlight began the day she started dating the Hollywood legend, George Clooney. That's not to say she was never a star in her own right. On the contrary, she'd built quite a reputation as an international lawyer, with Nobel laureates, presidents, and prime ministers amongst her many clients.
Getting married to George Clooney, however, means having Hollywood's nose up in your business, and so she's had the extra bit of attention since she married the "Ocean's Eleven" star in 2014. Already a practicing barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, she became a senior fellow with Columbia Law School's Human Rights Institute in 2015.
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road
In the early '90s, Shannon was a fledgling actor that was virtually unknown when he made his film debut as a groom in "Groundhog Day." He wouldn't remain that way for long, as he went on to star in several movies that brought him to the limelight. Movies like "Pearl Harbor," "8 Mile," and "Kangaroo Jack" come to mind.
He reached new heights of acclaim with his performance in the 2008 movie "Revolutionary Road," which earned him an Oscar nomination. A few decades after he started and Shannon is still going strong. He was in the Hulu series "Nine Perfect Strangers" in 2021.
Jerry Messing – Addams Family
People who watched the teen cult comedy "Freaks and Geeks" would be familiar with Jerry Messing. As a young actor, he played the role of an optimistic geek called Gordon Crisp on the series. He was also in "Addams Family Reunion," where he portrayed Pugsley Addams.
Save for the time he became viral on the internet as a meme called the "Fedora Guy," Messing has been off the radar. Although he never announced his retirement, it could be safe to assume he's called it quits. He did start a Youtube channel called Fedora Productions in 2020. His most-watched video on the channel has received more than 4K views.
Chrissy Metz - This Is Us
Actress Chrissy Metz became a role model for women struggling with weight and body-image issues when she began playing Kate Pearson on 'This Is Us.'
Previously an unknown actress with only a handful of TV and movie credits, Chrissy Metz shot to stardom for a lead role not often seen in a prime-time TV drama – a plus-sized woman whose story struck a chord with thousands of women who were just like her.
Bobby Cannavale - Antman
The world was reintroduced to Bobby Cannavale in the 2015 Marvel blockbuster "Antman." Due to the overwhelming popularity and success of the franchise, Cannavale's international fame received a boost. The New Jersey-born actor has been around since the late '90s where he became known for playing Bobby Caffey on "Third Watch."
He started to become something of a television favorite after portraying Vince D'Angelo on "Will & Grace." Now an international movie star, Cannavale has appeared in several big-screen movies. One such movie is the animation "Sing 2," in which he voiced a role in 2021.
Tommy Dorfman - 13 Reasons Why
One of the younger stars on this list, Tommy Dorfman, came to attention in 2017 for her role as Ryan Shaver on the Netflix series "13 Reasons Why." She'd actually started acting in 2009, but she wasn't so active, and she mostly only appeared in short films. Her stint on the Netflix show turned her career around and made her one of the promising Hollywood talents.
Dorfman received further clout in 2021 when she came out as being transgender. Despite the mixed reactions and paparazzi that followed, she remained focused on her career. She starred in "The Shuroo Process" in 2021.
Leonardo DiCaprio - Titanic
Calling Leonardo DiCaprio one of the most successful actors of his generation would be stating the obvious. Not only is he consistently ranked as one of the world's highest-paid actors, but he's also the recipient of many accolades, including an Oscar and three Golden Globes. His story wasn't always so rosy, though—in the late '80s, he almost quit acting because he had been jobless for a year.
His appearance in the 1997 blockbuster "Titanic" was the beginning of his international stardom. Now a world-renowned movie star, Di Caprio doesn't shy away from appearing in small-screen projects. An example is the 2021 short movie titled "Welcome Back Future."
Courteney Cox - Friends
Who wouldn't know or love Courteney Cox? Her role as the adorable Monica Geller in the iconic series "Friends" can hardly be forgotten. Cox started her career in the '80s, long before she starred in "Friends." At the time, she appeared in Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" music video and guest-starred in several TV series—a few notable mentions include "Murder, She Wrote" and "Family Ties."
Now a long way from where she began, Cox has become one of the world's most famous actresses. She's also a well-known scream queen, thanks to her role in the Scream franchise. She reprised her role when she was cast in 2022's "Scream."
Johnny Depp - Pirates of the Caribbean
It's not enough that Johnny Depp is one of the most successful actors of his era, he's also one of the most unique. Originally a teen idol because of his appearance on "21 Jump Street," he began building his reputation as an eccentric actor in the '90s. He achieved this successfully thanks to his performances in standout movies like "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" and "Dead Man."
His most unforgettable eccentric role of all would be that of Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. The franchise helped establish Depp's current status as an international star. In 2020, he starred in "Minamata."
Robert Downey Jr. - Iron Man
Not many actors have had quite an adventurous career as Robert Downey Jr. Having started his career under the guidance of his father in the '70s; he rose to fame as a teen idol after starring in teenage movies with the famous Brat Pack. His path to stardom seemed set in stone until the infamous incident that destabilized his career.
Against the odds, Downey returned to the industry as a changed man with a renewed focus. He's since gained an international reputation for portraying "Iron Man" in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Now one of the world's wealthiest actors, he's on a trailblazing path. He starred in "Dolittle" in 2021.
Chris Hemsworth - Thor
Before he became known as Thor, Chris Hemsworth was a local star in his home country of Australia in the '00s. He was known for playing the role of Kim Hyde on the Australian soap "Home and Away." His path to stardom began after he was cast as the superhero in the 2011 movie "Thor."
Hemsworth's role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has helped him become one of the world's highest-paid actors. Still, relatively at his peak, the world can expect a lot more from the Victoria native. In 2021, he reprised his role as Thor in a Marvel hero animated series titled "What If...?"
Morgan Freeman - The Dark Knight
Who would have guessed the distinguished Morgan Freeman was a dancer in the '60s? He started his acting career that same decade, but it wasn't until two decades later when he starred in "Street Smart" that the world began to take notice.
Since then, Freeman has established himself as one of the world's finest actors. His role as Lucius Fox in The Dark Knight Trilogy is still one of his most internationally recognized performances. You can assume he's done comprehensive retirement planning since he's reached such a fine age, but judging by his performance in the 2021's "Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard," he doesn't seem too keen on quitting his career soon.
Denzel Washington - Training Day
As a young promising actor, Denzel Washington caught his first big break after starring as Dr. Phillip Chandler in St. Elsewhere during the '80s. His career rose quickly after that, as he went on to deliver several award-winning performances in movies like "Glory," "Malcolm X," and "The Hurricane."
By the time Washington starred in "Training Day" in 2001, he was already internationally recognized, but the movie brought him to new heights of fame. Already with two Oscars and several notable accolades under his belt, the "The Equalizer" star appeared hungry for more with his much-praised performance in the 2021 movie "The Tragedy of Macbeth."
Meryl Streep - Sophie's Choice
Had things turned out a bit differently, Meryl Streep might have never become a film actress, let alone of the greatest actresses in the world. In the '70s, she almost decided to quit acting in movies after hating how she was portrayed in her first movie, "Julia." Thankfully, she never did. She instead spent the next decade building her reputation with unforgettable performances in films like "Sophie's Choice" and "Out of Africa."
Streep's popularity seemed to dwindle at a point, but she rose back to prominence after starring in several successful movies, including "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Mamma Mia!" She was in the 2020 movie "Let Them All Talk."
Keanu Reeves - The Matrix
Hardly any fan of action movies doesn't know Keanu Reeves. That's how famous he's become since he made his acting debut in 1984. He was already starting to get a bit of attention in the '90s with movies like "Speed" and "The Devil's Advocate," but it wasn't until he starred in "The Matrix" that he became an international superstar.
Reeves has since become known for another action movie franchise known as John Wick, but his role as Neo in "The Matrix" remains one of the most influential movie characters in history. His fans were in a frenzy when it was announced there would be a Matrix sequel in 2021.
Hugh Jackman - X-Men
You would hardly find any actor that has dominated a superhero role as much as Hugh Jackman. He's played the character of Wolverine in the X-Men movies for almost two decades in his illustrious career. Before he first assumed the role in 2000, he was a fairly unknown actor plying his trade in the short-lived Australian series "Correlli."
He's since become one of the planet's most successful actors. He has the accolades to show for it, having won a Golden Globe and a Grammy, amongst many others. Jackman isn't thinking about retirement, at least not if his 2021 cameo in "Big Mouth" is anything to go by.
Charlize Theron - The Fate of the Furious
It takes a very high level of talent and skill to consistently rank as one of the world's highest-paid actresses. Charlize Theron undoubtedly has what it takes, as she's remained at the top since climbing to stardom in the 90s with her performance in "The Devil's Advocate."
Not only has she starred in international blockbusters like "Mad Max: Fury Road" and the mega-famous Fast and Furious franchise, she's also the recipient of an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award. Theron is still very much in the business, judging by her voice role in the 2021 animation "The Addams Family 2."
Chris Evans - Avengers: Endgame
He's the man everyone knows as Captain America from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). But before he became Captain America, Chris Evans was an up-and-coming actor with roles in teen movies like "Not Another Teen Movie" and "The Perfect Score." Captain America isn't even his first Marvel Superhero character—he already played Human Torch in the 2005 movie "Fantastic Four."
Thanks to his famous role in MCU blockbusters like "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," "Avengers: Infinity War," and "Avengers: Endgame," Evans has become one of the world's highest-paid actors. In 2021, he appeared in "Free Guy."
Ryan Murphy - Glee
Many of you might have never seen Ryan Murphy, but you've no doubt seen his name in the closing credits of your favorite series. He's the esteemed writer and producer of several famous series such as "American Horror Story," "The Politician," and "Glee." Murphy began his rise to the top as a journalist working for the likes of "Los Angeles Times" and Entertainment Weekly."
Having won six Primetime Emmy Awards and a Tony Award amongst several other accolades, he's now among the very best in the business. Murphy proved he still has a lot more to give following his release of the series "American Horror Stories" in 2021.
Lady Gaga - Bad Romance
From singing at open mic nights to performing at the Super Bowl, Lady Gaga has had quite a journey to the top. She had a major break in 2007 after the music icon Akon was impressed by her singing. He convinced Jimmy Iovine, the CEO of Interscope Records at the time, to sign Gaga in a joint deal, and the rest is history.
She has since built a reputation as a pop icon thanks to her hit songs and unique and ever-changing fashion sense. Hits like "Bad Romance" and "Edge of Glory" are just a few in her library of famous songs. Gaga's was in the 2021 movie "House of Gucci."
Tom Cruise - Mission Impossible
Before becoming the world-renown "Mission: Impossible" star, Tom Cruise worked as a busboy in New York to make amends meet. His life changed in the '80s after he starred in the career-making movies "Risky Business" and Top Gun."
The height of Cruise's fame came after he started playing Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible movies. He's since achieved earnings that have made him one of the highest-grossing box office stars in history. He can also boast of notable accolades, including three Goolden Globes. Cruise reprised his role as Ethan Hunt in the 2018 movie "Mission: Impossible - Fallout."