Beau Bridges Praises Tom Cruise's Acting and Stunt Work as Actor Continues Defying Age
Actor Beau Bridges called his former 'Jerry Maguire' costar Tom Cruise a wonderful actor who 'gets better with age,' citing the 63-year-old's continued commitment to performing dangerous stunts. Cruise has built his reputation on real-world, high-risk stunt work across franchises including 'Mission: Impossible' and 'Top Gun,' most recently nearly injuring his back during a biplane sequence in 'Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.' The praise comes amid a broader Hollywood conversation about whether Cruise's stunt standards are raising the bar for all actors, with Ethan Hawke publicly expressing frustration over the shifting expectations.
Beau Bridges, who co-starred with Tom Cruise in the 1990s film 'Jerry Maguire,' praised the 63-year-old actor at a 'Matlock' For Your Consideration event, telling People magazine that Cruise is a 'wonderful actor' who 'gets better with age.' Cruise has long distinguished himself in Hollywood by insisting on performing his own increasingly dangerous stunts across blockbuster franchises including 'Mission: Impossible,' 'Top Gun,' and 'Jack Reacher.' In bonus content from the digital release of 'Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,' Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie described a harrowing biplane sequence in which Cruise clung to a wing mid-air, nearly broke his back, and suffered swollen, joint-separated fingers. Images from Cruise's career show him suspended by wire harnesses, hanging from helicopter skids at altitude, and performing aerial stunts beneath a burning parachute. Not all of Cruise's peers view his approach positively: actor Ethan Hawke told Variety at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival that Cruise has 'totally changed what's expected for actors,' saying he has grown 'angry' because the stunt standard makes others feel inadequate for relying on stunt teams. Cruise is currently set to return for 'Top Gun 3,' continuing a career that has notably avoided superhero franchises while maintaining blockbuster status through practical action filmmaking.
What's missing
Neither source clarifies the current production status or release timeline for 'Top Gun 3,' nor do they provide any response from Tom Cruise himself regarding Ethan Hawke's criticism.
What different sources said
- Fox NewsRight
Beau Bridges says Tom Cruise ‘gets better with age’ as ‘Top Gun' star keeps defying Hollywood odds
- New York PostRight
Beau Bridges says Tom Cruise ‘gets better with age’ as ‘Top Gun’ star keeps defying Hollywood odds
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