15 Celebs Who Are Friends With Tom Cruise (And 10 Who Keep Their Distance)

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Tom Cruise has been a central player in Hollywood for the last three decades, ranking up more classic Hollywood titles than most of us have time to watch! As an actor, Cruise was once seen as the Hollywood every-man; the diverse roles in his longstanding career help portray him as one of the nicest men in Hollywood. For some, the news of Mr. Cruise being Mr. Hollywood-Nice-Guy might appear to be a bit surprising, considering his status as one of the most frequent tabloid fixtures of the last fifteen years!

With the wall-to-wall coverage of Tom Cruise's personal life, it can be difficult to figure out a consistent snapshot of Tom's actual personality. Before Tom was known as a tabloid fixture, he held a Hollywood reputation as one of the nicest men in Hollywood, and many of these accounts of Tom's positive personality come from fellow members of Hollywood elite. If your Tom Cruise reading material comes from supermarket tabloids portraying Tom as being unhinged and only having a single word known as "glib" in his vocabulary, it can be slightly jarring to comprehend Tom Cruise is an actual human being, who has worked hard to build a positive Hollywood every-man akin to many of his film roles.

However, it is an impossible mission to be the most well-liked celebrity in Hollywood. While Tom might have a close cast of characters in his celebrity friend repertoire, some members of the Hollywood elite don't feel the warm and fuzzy feelings reminiscent of Jerry MaGuire, toward Tom; some celebrities have had encounters with Tom, which could be found in the pages of gossip magazines. Tom Cruise arguably had some famous faces at hello, but others have made their way to the exit from the Tom train!

Friend: Zac Efron

The film where High School Musical's Troy Bolton receives constant kind advice from his crime-fighting father with a huge heart would be a box office hit! While we wait for someone to pen the screenplay, we can tide ourselves over with the news Zac Efron and Tom Cruise are good friends in real life!

Vulture gave details of Zac and Tom's relationship, and we're waiting for a basketball game to go down between the two friends. According to the article, Tom "asked him if he knew how to write a motorcycle." Zac was so moved by the encounter. He told Details, "I don't know. I don't even want to know" in response to why he believed Tom would do such a nice favor for the young actor.

Foe: John Travolta

It's like a tragic tale of the Hollywood elite; two decade-defining actors aren't able to find space alongside each other on the same legendary actor couch. John Travolta and Tom Cruise won't be hanging out at any Hollywood reunions anytime soon!

For nearly two decades, Tom Cruise has made countless magazine covers for his devotion to the church of Scientology. Travolta, too, is an active member and is outspoken about his relationship to the church. The two actors have been known to be competitive for elite titles within the church.

The Daily Beast wrote a comprehensive outlook on the actors' relationship. A former member of the church spoke out about their rivalry; there was reported jealously from Travolta for not having as solid of a relationship with the head of the church, David Miscavige. The interviewee stated, "Cruise is the only celeb with a direct line to Miscavige. Travolta didn’t have that. Travolta doesn’t get anything free, no one is giving him absurd gifts like an airplane hangar, custom-made bikes, or over-the-top favors."

Friend: Dakota Fanning

Wondering about the legitimacy of Hollywood friendships is normal. They are often played out to mind-numbing detail on the covers of magazines, it only makes sense! If you have had the desire to follow a celebrity friendship which could be described as a breath of fresh air and knocks out all of the tired speculations about celebrity relationships, indulge yourself in the story of the friendship between Dakota Fanning and Tom Cruise!

Dakota and Tom met on the set of War of the Worlds, and the actor marks their friendship every year with a super sweet gift. Tom takes time to gift Dakota something special every year for her birthday! Fanning revealed in an interview, "He has sent me a birthday gift every year since I was 11 years old. Beautiful gifts!"

Foe: Kirstie Alley

Kirstie Alley has held a place in popular culture since the Eighties. She starred on the legendary show Cheers, delighted an entire generation in the Olsen twin classic It Takes Two, and she is currently a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother! If you prefer to peruse the pages of magazines, you may know Kirstie from the pages of tabloids for her complicated relationship with Tom Cruise.

Like Tom, Kirstie is a member of the Church of Scientology. The celebrity followers of the controversial religion seem like they're participating in their own elite sub-club; former Scientologist, Leah Remini, revealed many bits of information in her memoir, surrounding fellow celebrity Scientologists. According to News.au, Leah revealed, "I had heard Tom didn't like them [Alley, and John Travolta]."

Friend: Cameron Crowe

Cameron Crowe, film director, and friend to famous figures across the board in entertainment has Tom Cruise to thank for a motivational boost after a career slump!

Crowe and Cruise collaborated together on the blockbuster hit of the '90s, Jerry MacGuire, and maintained a solid relationship for twenty-two years. According to The Atlantic, Cruise displayed goal worthy levels of friendship when he actively encouraged his director friend to continue perfecting his craft.

Tom Cruise pumped Cameron Crowe up with an important pep talk. He created a brilliant plan where he introduced Crowe to fellow director Judd Apatow, who happens to be a hardcore fan of Crowe's early film Say Anything; following their introduction, Crowe said, "Cruise sidles up to me and goes: ‘See? Get out of your house, man, it’s fun, and that’s when it felt like, yeah, it’s time to direct again.'"

Foe: Leah Remini

Perhaps one of the most intense celebrity feuds of all time belongs to the nonexistent relationship between Leah Remini and Tom Cruise. For the last few years, Leah Remini has spent a significant amount of time revealing to the world the intricacies of Tom Cruise and his antics with the Church of Scientology. It's difficult to narrow down the exact reason why Leah and Tom do not get along, but Leah has provided us with an endless string of clues along the way.

Remini publicly left the church in 2013, and famously documented her time in her memoir, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, and included many stories about Cruise. Two years after its publication, she still finds it important to let the world know about his shortcomings. In a Us Weekly article from last year, she referred to Cruise as "diabolical" and "not a good person."

We'll save our fantasy hug-and-make-up scenarios for another pair of feuding celebrities!

Friend: Jonathan Lipnicki

Every piece of information involving Jonathan Lipnicki seems to be flat-out cute. You might remember him playing many iconic "cute kid" roles in the Nineties, including 1996's Jerry MacGuire, where he memorably played Tom Cruise's son!

Lipnicki has chosen to live life largely outside of the spotlight, but he is reportedly attempting a return to Hollywood! According to People, one of Jonathan's closest confidants happens to be his grown-up mentor, Tom Cruise. He sat down for an interview where he revealed Tom is still a valuable contact.

Lipnicki said, "I went over to his house because I actually — I cold-called his office at United Artists and asked for advice and, you know, he got back to me and I went over,” he explained. “A big part of his success he attributes to being on time and being polite to people and knowing people’s names and it was incredible to sit down with one of your favorite actors and have an hour-long conversation about acting."

Foe: Will Smith

The relationship between Tom Cruise and Will Smith varies, depending on who you ask. The gossip-filled sources enjoy pitting the legendary Hollywood actors against each other, considering Smith's involvement with the troubling Church of Scientology.

The duo seems to be foes for the sake of tabloids. Smith recently shared a throwback photo of the friends posing alongside Smith's Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-star, Alfonso Riberito!

The guys are seen posing together rocking straw hats, which implies Tom Cruise has a sense of humor for sure. Judging by the beauty of the awesome throwback, Will Smith and Tom Cruise seem to be brothers for life!

Friend: Renee Zellweger

The third Google search result for Renee Zellweger is "Renee Zellweger and Tom Cruise." Two decades after the actors memorably starred together in the legendary romantic comedy Jerry MacGuire, we're still trying to figure out the extent of their chemistry; it was so memorable, so who can blame us?

Renee Zellweger still holds similar fuzzy feelings about her co-star, which propelled the romantic comedy buff inside of me rejoice! She told the Daily Mail, "He's a really good person. He's a very, very good person."

Hearing Zellweger's commentary about her old friend is refreshing for his reputation, and it also works for the rom-com enthusiasts of the world!

Foe: Brooke Shields

Unfortunately, Tom Cruise's list of Hollywood fights could warrant its own spreadsheet, and Brooke Shields' column could take up the whole document. In one of the most memorable popular culture feuds of all time, Brooke Shields and Tom Cruise were reunited years after they co-starred in the film Endless Love, for some unfortunate reasons. Shields was very public with her battles with postpartum depression following the birth of her first child.

Cruise famously did not approve of Shields' personal decision to use medication to treat her depression. He ranted very famously, on an episode of the Today show, to which Shields responded, "I’m going to take a wild guess and say that Mr. Cruise has never suffered from postpartum depression."

In the years since the debacle, Tom has apologized, but the two celebrities continue to be put against each other in entertainment outlets. There doesn't seem to be a reconciliation in their future understandably, but it would be a quality conclusion to a Hollywood feud tale!

Friend: George Clooney

In a beautiful tale of a longstanding bromance, Tom Cruise knows how to reach out and keep in touch with his older friends, who also happen to be legendary actors!

George Clooney has long been a symbol of the ideal Hollywood man; he has a long-standing career of Blockbuster films and holds a reputation for being one of the nicest men in Hollywood. One of the other famous Hollywood men who reportedly resides in the "nice guy camp" is Tom Cruise, and he and George have bonded, after starring together in ER in the '90s.

Recently, Clooney was involved in an unfortunate motorcycle accident. Cruise provided a note of support to his pal, saying, "He's great on a motorcycle and I hope he's okay. I really, George, I didn't know until I was here but I hope you're okay buddy."

Foe: Brad Pitt

In a celebrity photograph for the ages, Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt pose together in all of their '90s glory at a premiere. Both men are featured donning awesomely long-haired manes, appropriate for the era in heavy support for a fashion free-for-all, and the film the actors co-starred in together, Interview With A Vampire.

In the decades since the film's release, the two actors don't seem as chummy as they appear to be in the photo. Brad has since been interviewed speaking about the negative experience he had making the film. Pitt reportedly had a difficult time with the harsh London climate while filming on location.

He told EW as per an article in NOLA, "I'm telling you, one day it broke me. It was like, 'Life's too short for this quality of life.' I called David Geffen, who was a good friend. He was a producer, and he'd just come to visit. I said, 'David, I can't do this anymore. I can't do it. What will it cost me to get out?' And he goes, very calmly, 'Forty million dollars.' And I go, 'Okay, thank you.' It actually took the anxiety off of me. I was like, 'I've got to man up and ride this through, and that's what I'm going to do.'"

Friend: Jamie Foxx

Imagine an example of a Hollywood love triangle for the modern age, starring Tom Cruise, except it's not fiction! In recent months, Cruise's ex-wife Katie Holmes has been linked to the actor Jamie Foxx, whom Cruise starred alongside in the 2004 film, Collateral.

The news of a relationship between Holmes and Foxx comes alongside reports stating Holmes isn't allowed to date anyone until the fifth anniversary of her divorce from Cruise, due to Scientology rules. According to Radar Online, "The 37-year old's divorce agreement states she cannot publicly date anyone until five years have passed following her divorce from Tom Cruise."

Tom reportedly knows about their relationship, and it seems a little unclear if their friendship will survive what Hollywood Life calls "a bro-code violation!"

Foe: Kate Caberano

When discovering someone takes part in a unique organization or has something unusual in common with someone, you might wonder if the two people know one another. For Australian singer and fellow member of the Church of Scientology, Kate Ceberano has nothing to do with that theory, and she wishes you would stop asking.

The singer told the Sydney Morning Herald she and Tom were not friends. She said, "It's like [saying] every Catholic is good friends with the Pope."

The public attention toward Scientology due to Cruise's celebrity status has no appeal to Ceberano. She goes on to add, "I don't mention it, and for the most part I don't go there," when asked about her practice of the religion.

Friend: Val Kilmer

Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer were both big stars during their day, co-starring in the legendary Eighties film Top Gun together, and the pair will be reunited as they film the sequel to Top Gun three decades after the first film hit theaters!

With two legendary names in show business, the curiosity to whether the pair got along was understandably an interesting topic for fans. Kilmer and Cruise were close while filming Top Gun, and remain so to this day! Tom recently gave an endearing update to fans surrounding Val's battle with cancer.

Knowing the pair remain close will be a sweet bonus for those who are looking forward to more Maverick action!

Foe: Victoria Beckham

Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham's relationship status with Tom Cruise seems to be unclear, especially since her husband's friendship with Tom has been well documented.

The Beckhams had been spotted in public multiple times with Tom Cruise and his ex-wife Katie Holmes, enjoying dinner dates, but the dates seemed to have stopped seemingly for good reason! Some outlets have reported Victoria was a source of comfort for Katie Holmes in the wake of their divorce, and other reports have mentioned rumors of a rift between Victoria and David over his ongoing friendship with Tom.

There is also speculation of a Spice Girls reunion, but it's probably fair to assume Tom Cruise won't have front row seats to any of their concerts!

Friend: David Beckham

The second Beckham to appear in Tom's inner circle of friends would be soccer star David Beckham! David and his wife, former Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham, were constant dinner date companions, the couple received coveted invitations to Cruise's wedding to Katie Holmes, and David and Tom reportedly spent "hours together on the phone," as David would go to Tom for advice on "trying to make up his mind on whether to join The Galaxy [soccer team]", according to The Guardian.

The two have always been photographed in a friendly manner, enjoying each other's company!

Foe: Nazanin Boniadi

The scoop behind Tom Cruise's relationship with the actress Nazanin Boniadi is incredibly outrageous, much like a lot of Tom's public image. Whether the Scientology related reports surrounding the state of their relationship are true, they are straight out of a Hollywood film script!

Business Insider reported Nazanin was forced to take part in an awkward role, brought on by rules from the Church of Scientology. An HBO Documentary focusing on the church detailed "Tom was in Spain. They were opening a Scientology church in Madrid, and he was overheard complaining he needed a new girlfriend."

Nazanin was the chosen candidate. She was forced to undergo a make-over and was told "her makeover was part of the church's humanitarian mission, because she had to look her best for conferences with world leaders." In reality, her transformation was due to her eligibility to be a suitable girlfriend for Cruise!

The relationship between the two didn't end very well. After reportedly insulting the leader of the Church, their relationship was called off.

Friend: Simon Pegg

Simon Pegg and Tom Cruise were co-stars on the set of the Mission Impossible franchise, and they have been known to get into fun antics on the set. More importantly, Tom Cruise was a legitimate friend for Simon Pegg, and their friendship has stood the test of Hollywood speculation!

Simon told The Guardian, "I have never discussed his beliefs with him, for example,” Pegg says. “Everyone always asks: ‘Did he try and convert you? Is it all Scientology?’ But I’ve never seen that. I have glimpsed it a little bit — people from the church have been on set now and again, but he doesn’t proselytize about it."

Foe: David Miscavige

One of the biggest key players in Tom Cruise's elaborate stage show is David Miscavige, the controversial leader of The Church of Scientology, to which Cruise has been extremely loyal to for decades, and has shaped his public image and public perception of his career for many. Tom's relationship with David Miscavige has had its ups and downs, seeming to correlate with whether Tom's public image has been positive or not.

David's father Ronald could be potentially to blame for David's fall out with Tom. In Ronald's memoir, he recalled a story where his son worked hard to get Tom to join the church, planning an elaborate party. Ronald apparently David "hit the roof when Cruise arrived four hours late and went to bed without dinner."

Friend: Paul Newman

By 1986, only three years after Tom Cruise's break through film Risky Business, he was starring alongside veteran actors like Paul Newman! The two co-starred in the film, The Color Of Money.

The two actors reportedly got along very well on set. When Newman and Cruise first met, Newman exerted his professionalism and referred to Cruise by "using his last name" every time they were on set together!

The Color Of Money set wasn't the first place the two had met; Newman greeted him with a "hey killer" when they were introduced in Newman's office after he had seen Cruise act in the film, Taps, as per a retrospective in MentalFloss.

Friend: Ben Stiller

It's probably a well-known fact that guys in Hollywood with a reputation for being labeled as "the nice guy" all know each other, but it's always pretty cool to find out it may be true! Tom Cruise and Ben Stiller have known each other for years on film sets, even starring together in Tropic Thunder.

The Cruise and Stiller friendship is reportedly so tight, they are passing it through the generations! According to The Observer, Tom's daughter Suri and Ben's daughter, Ella, met up for a playdate when their parents were in town together in 2008. No word on whether the girls are still friends a decade later, but a multi-generation friendship is always sweet!

Friend: Patrick Swayze

In a story made bittersweet by time and circumstance, Patrick Swayze and Tom Cruise's friendship began with the onscreen adaptation of male friendship where the two met on the set of The Outsiders, a classic coming-of-age film released in 1983.

Tom was reportedly in awe of Patrick on set of the film. When their co-star Rob Lowe recalled some behind the scenes stories about the cast, he wrote for Vanity Fair, "Lowe remembers hanging out with Cruise and the other actors in a gymnasium on set, when Patrick Swayze — who, Lowe writes, “makes Tom Cruise look lobotomized” — “begins to teach us a standing backflip, Cruise, not surprisingly, is all over it."

Sadly, Swayze and Cruise were never able to work together again, as Swayze passed away from cancer in 2009, but their performance in The Outsiders will always reflect the admiration Tom had for his friend, Patrick.

Friend: Matt Damon

Matt Damon seems to be the quintessential best guy friend in Hollywood. He's known for his decades-long friendship with Ben Affleck, and he's also friends with another Hollywood veteran of the '90s; Tom Cruise!

Damon and Cruise are like all of our dude friends we know; they have lunch together and compare their cool talents. In the case of two Hollywood actors, they compare their ability to perform Hollywood worthy stunts.

According to USA Today, Tom and Matt met over lunch because Matt "just had to know about the spectacular Burj stunt featured in Mission." The Burj refers to an extremely tall building in Dubai, where Cruise jumped off of, for the third Mission Impossible film!

Friend: Mark Ronson

In a career move only many could dream of, celebrity deejay to the stars, Mark Ronson, deejayed one of the most lavish weddings of the century so far; the 2006 nuptials of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Of course, 2006 was a long time away from Ronson's immense success with songs like the huge hit Uptown Funk, so playing tunes for the 'TomKat' wedding had to do as the most admirable career move for Ronson, for a little while.

References: Today, Vulture, The Daily Beast, Time, The Atlantic, Us Weekly, People, Today, Daily Beast, Daily Mail, Today, Hello, NOLA, Radar