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Tom Cruise's Dreamiest Throwback Photos in Honor of His 63rd Birthday

From being an 'Outsider' to becoming 'Top Gun,' the 'Mission Impossible' star turns 63 on July 3, 2025

Andrea Wurzburger, Brendan Le
3 min read
Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Tom Cruise in the '80s

Vinnie Zuffante/Getty

Tom Cruise in the '80s

Tom Cruise will forever be a Hollywood heartthrob.

The action star turns 63 on July 3, 2025, and to celebrate, we're going to kick back with a Cocktail, turn on the latest Mission: Impossible and maybe engage in some Risky Business. Or, we could just look back on these 20 dreamy throwbacks of the Hollywood all-star!

All-American Guy

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Tom Cruise in the 1980s

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Tom Cruise in the 1980s

A popped collar and double denim? Tom Cruise circa 1980 was totally dreamy. Cruise wouldn't get his acting break until 1981 , when he appeared in the film Endless Love, but he was already a star!

Totally Preppy

Barry King/WireImage Tom Cruise

Barry King/WireImage Tom Cruise

A young Tom Cruise wearing a corduroy jacket with elbow patches makes us wish he could tutor us after school.

Greaser Dude

Nancy Moran/Sygma via Getty Tom Cruise in 1982

Nancy Moran/Sygma via Getty Tom Cruise in 1982

Cruise hit the big screen in 1982 as Steve Randle in The Outsiders.

The Outsiders

Frank Edwards/Fotos International/Getty Tom Cruise in 1982

Frank Edwards/Fotos International/Getty Tom Cruise in 1982

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At the premiere of the film in 1982, Cruise, Rob Lowe and Emilio Estevez made a pretty great-looking trio.

Taking Risks

Warner Brothers/Getty Tom Cruise in 1983

Warner Brothers/Getty Tom Cruise in 1983

In 1983, Cruise starred in Risky Business and we will never look at a men's dress shirt and tighty-whities the same ever again.

Cool and Casual

Ron Galella Collection via Getty Tom Cruise in 1983

Ron Galella Collection via Getty Tom Cruise in 1983

At a screening for Risky Business , Cruise had us swooning with his long locks, T-shirt and jeans.

Long Hair, Don't Care

Barry King/WireImage Tom Cruise in 1985

Barry King/WireImage Tom Cruise in 1985

Cruise let his luscious locks fly free at the premiere of The Breakfast Club in 1985.

Tough Guy

Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Tom Cruise in 1985

Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Tom Cruise in 1985

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Is there anything more attractive than Tom Cruise going incognito in a leather jacket and sunglasses in 1985?

An Officer and a Gentleman

Paramount Pictures/Archive Photos/Getty Tom Cruise in 1986

Paramount Pictures/Archive Photos/Getty Tom Cruise in 1986

Well, okay, his character in Top Gun was technically a lieutenant, but you get the picture.

On the Dot

Ron Galella Collection via Getty Tom Cruise in 1986

Ron Galella Collection via Getty Tom Cruise in 1986

Cruise had a head of hair that defied physics and a jaw that could cut glass at the 1986 Top Gun premiere afterparty.

Suit Yourself

Vinnie Zuffante/Getty  Tom Cruise in 1986

Vinnie Zuffante/Getty

Tom Cruise in 1986

He sported an eccentric suit at The Color of Money N.Y.C. premiere that evoked the film's title.

Stare Down

Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Tom Cruise

Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Tom Cruise

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Sorry, we forgot what we were saying, we got lost in Cruise's blue eyes!

Cruise Control

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Tom Cruise in 1987

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Tom Cruise in 1987

A natural-born speaker, Cruise was full of charisma as he took the podium for the 1987 NATO/ShoWest Convention in Las Vegas.

Black Tie Affair

The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Tom Cruise in 1988

The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Tom Cruise in 1988

Cruise looks just as good dressed to the nines as he does dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.

Thirsty?

Mondadori via Getty Tom Cruise in 'Cocktail' (1988)

Mondadori via Getty Tom Cruise in 'Cocktail' (1988)

How about a Cocktail ? Cruise starred in the film (and rocked this blue floral shirt) in 1988.

Buzzcut Season

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Tom Cruise in 1989

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Tom Cruise in 1989

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At the 1989 Oscars , where he presented Best Actress with Dustin Hoffman , the actor opted for a daring buzzcut.

Winner, Winner

The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Tom Cruise in 1990

The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Tom Cruise in 1990

In 1990, Cruise won the People's Choice Award for his role in Born on the Fourth of July.

Cover Star

People Magazine Tom Cruise is PEOPLE's 1990 Sexiest Man Alive

People Magazine

Tom Cruise is PEOPLE's 1990 Sexiest Man Alive

In 1990, PEOPLE aptly named the Days of Thunder star the Sexiest Man Alive .

Poster Boy

Patrick Riviere/Getty Tom Cruise in 1992

Patrick Riviere/Getty

Tom Cruise in 1992

Along with Days of Thunder , he starred with his then-wife Nicole Kidman in the 1992 romantic drama Far and Away .

Standing Firm

Francois Duhamel/Sygma via Getty Tom Cruise in 'The Firm' (1993)

Francois Duhamel/Sygma via Getty Tom Cruise in 'The Firm' (1993)

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Cruise starred in the 1993 legal thriller, The Firm , in which he played a Harvard-educated lawyer, a.k.a. the man of our dreams (despite his character's shady business dealings).

Read the original article on People

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