Tom Cruise Turns 61: He Thrills Fans with New Movie Stunts Decades after Saving 5 Lives from a Sinking Ship

• Tom Cruise turns 61! The actor received numerous messages of congratulations on social media from avid fans.
• Cruise has proved himself to be quite the onscreen stunt buff, but he has also proven his mettle by saving five people in real life.
• He's also a doting father to his adopted children, although he reportedly doesn't have a great relationship with his biological daughter.

Tom Cruise, famous for a slew of high-paced action thrillers, including the "Mission Impossible" films, as well as the "Top Gun" films, turned 61 on July 3. Despite his advancing age, the actor still manages to do all his own stunts for the movies he stars in, astounding fans and co-workers alike with his prowess.

In response to a clip Cruise shared on his Instagram promoting his new film "Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One," many fans wished the actor a wonderful birthday. The post's comment section soon filled up with numerous posts wishing the iconic actor a wonderful day and admiring his talents as an actor.

One fan wrote to Cruise, "Happy Birthday legend," while another commented, "You are amazing." Others followed suit, stating, "Happy birthday my god gifted action hero … love from India (sic)." Other adoring fans commented on the film Cruise was promoting, praising the actor and director for his talents.

Luckily, Cruise spotted the fire, and his training in keeping a relaxed demeanor under high stakes kicked in.

One Instagram user confessed, "Tom's movies [are] always amazing." Another fan gushed over the actor and the latest of his films, "I've watched the behind the scenes and the work that has gone into this movie has me salivating. I can't wait to see it in the cinema!!!" One fan simply noted, "We are all proud of you @tomcruise."

One avid Cruise supporter wrote, "Not hitting anything you didn't mean to hit must have been hard, but you make it look easy, which is par for the course!! Taking a moment to think about the filming of the scene and what went into it!!!!! Such a thrill - can't wait to watch!!! Happiest of Birthdays to you !!! ❤️"

Tom Cruise's Stunt Skills Came in Handy in Real Life

Over the years, Cruise has proven that his skills in doing stunts aren't just for show. On a few occasions, the actor has used his quick thinking and ability to work under high pressure to his advantage, saving more than a few lives that were in danger. The actor has apparently jumped in at the last second more than once.

This wasn't the only time Cruise managed to jump in and help a citizen in trouble.

The first time Cruise used his stunt skills for the greater good was in August 1996, when the actor was with his then-wife Nicole Kidman off the coast of the Italian resort island of Capri on a yacht. The couple had chartered the yacht Talitha G and were sailing through the Mediterranean with their two children and a few studio heads.

While they were enjoying the ocean breeze, another yacht nearby suddenly caught fire after an electrical short circuit wreaked havoc with the vessel's systems. Luckily, Cruise spotted the fire, and his training in keeping a relaxed demeanor under high stakes kicked in. He expertly piloted the Talitha G's skiff over to the burning ship, arriving in time to save the passengers.

On board were five passengers, all of whom were undoubtedly overjoyed to see Cruise sailing up to the sinking ship. Among the passengers were the paper tycoon Jacques Lejeune and his wife, Bernadette Lejeune. The two were floating on a rubber raft when Cruise stopped to pick them up. Luckily, the star got the whole thing on tape.

After all the passengers were safe on the skiff, Cruise piloted back to the Talitha G while the burning 63-foot yacht sank in the background – a scene right out of an action film. When news of the heroic incident broke, Cruise's publicist, Pat Kingsley, commented that the actor merely did what any other person with the skills and cool-headedness to traverse a disaster situation safely would have done.

This wasn't the only time Cruise managed to jump in and help a citizen in trouble. In March 1996, Cruise was once more on the scene when a speeding Acura Legend hit a then-23-year-old Heloisa Vinhas. While the offending driver sped away, leaving Vinhas in a terrible state, Cruise ran to another pedestrian, urging them to call an ambulance.

Despite his lack of a relationship with his youngest, Cruise has proven himself to be a loving father to his two other children, Isabella Jane Cruise and Connor Anthony Kidman Cruise.

Cruise's quick thinking got the ambulance on the scene in time to take Vinhas to the UCLA Medical Center, but the actor didn't stop there. He accompanied the injured Vinhas to the hospital, where she was treated for a broken leg and bruised ribs.

The treatment came out to $7,000, and although her injuries had been taken care of, Vinhas wasn't out of the woods yet. She had no medical insurance and, therefore, no way to pay her bill. But Cruise had been standing by the entire time, and when he heard she would have trouble paying, he paid for the whole bill.

Controversy over Cruise as a Parent

Although Cruise has proven himself ready to jump in at the drop of a hat, do what must be done, and help those in need, the actor hasn't gone without some controversy. The "Jack Reacher" star has been criticized for his parenting over the years, especially concerning his youngest daughter, Suri Cruise.

The actor welcomed his youngest with his third wife, actress Katie Holmes. The pair brought their only child into the world in 2006, shortly after they first got together. Although things seemed to start out happily, with the birth of their child and a grand wedding, Cruise and Holmes' marriage soon fell apart.

After their divorce, Holmes got full custody over their daughter, and in 2017, the actress said she was trying to give her daughter a normal childhood away from celebrity life. Cruise reportedly hasn't seen his daughter since, and some sources maintain that his connection to Scientology is what keeps him away.

Despite his lack of a relationship with his youngest, Cruise has proven himself to be a loving father to his two other children, Isabella Jane Cruise and Connor Anthony Kidman Cruise. The actor shares his two older children with the actress Nicole Kidman. Cruise has been seen with his kids on numerous occasions, and the kids have publicly thanked their dad for being there for them.

Subscribe to AmoMama on Google News!