If you have been in love with Tom Cruise’s acting, Top Gun has to be one of your favorite movies. Besides Tom Cruise, there are so many reasons why the audience loved this film. However, most people have been curious about the actor since the release of the movie.
How old was Tom Cruise in Top Gun? Who was the Top Gun actress? We have noticed a lot of questions on the internet. It happened because of the sequel. Yes, the sequel of the movie was released 35 years after the first one. So, a lot of people became curious about the cast members.
Sure, most of the cast members didn’t join the new movie. However, we found some questions regarding the star actor. In this article, we will cover everything regarding both of these movies, especially about Tom Cruise. Keep reading to explore more.
About Tom Cruise
It’s not a secret that Tom Cruise is one of the most reputed actors in America. He worked in various movies and his outstanding performance made him a Hollywood icon. And that’s why he received some prestigious titles including an Honorary Palme d’Or and Golden Globe Awards. On the other hand, he also got nominations for four Academy Awards and a BAFTA Award.
Tom Cruise’s Early Life & Career
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV aka Tom Cruise was born on 3rd July 1962 in Syracuse, New York. His father Thomas Cruise Mapother III was an electrical engineer while his mother Mary Lee was a special education teacher.
Tom has three sisters named Lee Anne, Marian, and Cass. On the other hand, his cousin William Mapother is a well-known actor who also appeared in five movies with Cruise. His relationship with his father wasn’t that good as Tom later stated that his father was a ‘bully’ and ‘coward’.
However, Tom’s father died of cancer in 1984. Cruise spent his childhood in Canada because of his dad’s job. On the other hand, he attended multiple schools including Robert Hopkins Public School, Carleton Elementary School, Henry Munro Middle School, Glen Ridge High School, etc.
Cruise was only 18 when he moved to New York City to pursue his acting career. At first, he used to work as a busboy in New York. Tom’s debut film was Endless Love in 1981. Later that year, he bagged a major role in a movie named Taps.
Top Gun: An Overview
Top Gun is one of the best action drama movies of the 1980s era directed by Tony Scott. The movie was released on 16th May 1986. After its release, the movie received a mixed review from the audience.
Plus, it earned around $357 million globally, making it one of the most successful movies of the year. This outstanding movie received some prestigious awards including Academy Awards, ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards, Brit Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Golden Screen Awards, and Grammy Awards.
It was 2022 when the makers released the sequel named Top Gun: Maverick. The movie was a global hit as well. According to some sources, they are also discussing a new movie. Until then, we have to wait for a new surprise.
Top Gun Cast
Now, you know the basics of Top Gun. Besides the amazing storyline, the cast played a crucial role in making this movie successful. Sure, Top Gun’s sequel took so long to release. However, these two movies’ casts were perfect with the storyline. Let’s find out about the Top Gun cast.
Top Gun Cast 1986
Top Gun played a significant role in making Tom Cruise successful. However, other actors and actresses played something exceptional to make this movie an all-time favorite among the audience. Let’s find out about the original Top Gun cast:
| Actor/Actress | Character |
| Tom Cruise | Pete “Maverick” Mitchell |
| Kelly McGillis | Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood |
| Val Kilmer | Tom “Iceman” Kazansky |
| Anthony Edwards | Nick “Goose” Bradshaw |
| Tom Skerritt | Mike “Viper” Metcalf |
| Michael Ironside | Rick “Jester” Heatherly |
| John Stockwell | Bill “Cougar” Cortell |
| Barry Tubb | Leonard “Wolfman” Wolfe |
| Rick Rossovich | Ron “Slider” Kerner |
| Tim Robbins | Sam “Merlin” Wells |
| Clarence Gilyard | Marcus “Sundown” Williams |
| Whip Hubley | Rick “Hollywood” Neven |
| James Tolkan | Tom “Stinger” Jardian |
| Meg Ryan | Carole Bradshaw |
| Adrian Pasdar | Charles “Chipper” Piper |
| Aaron and Adam Weis | Bradley Bradshaw |
Top Gun: Maverick
Now, you know about the original cast of Top Gun. Besides the first movie, the sequel also caught the attention of the audience. However, the cast members weren’t the same for this movie. Let’s explore the new cast of Top Gun: Maverick below:
| Actor/Actress | Character |
| Tom Cruise | Pete “Maverick” Mitchell |
| Miles Teller | Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw |
| Jennifer Connelly | Penelope “Penny” Benjamin |
| Jon Hamm | Vice Admiral |
| Glen Powell | LT Jake “Hangman” Seresin |
| Ed Harris | Chester “Hammer” Cain |
| Val Kilmer | Tom “Iceman” Kazansky |
| Lewis Pullman | Robert “Bob” Floyd |
| Charles Parnell | Solomon “Warlock” Bates |
| Bashir Salahuddin | Bernie “Hondo” Coleman |
| Monica Barbaro | Natasha “Phoenix” Trace |
| Jay Ellis | Reuben “Payback” Fitch |
| Danny Ramirez | Mickey “Fanboy” Garcia |
| Greg Tarzan Davis | Javy “Coyote” Machado |
| Manny Jacinto | Billy “Fritz” Avalone |
| Raymond Lee | Logan “Yale” Lee |
| Jake Picking | Brigham “Harvard” Lennox |
| Jack Schumacher | Neil “Omaha” Vikander |
| Kara Wang | Callie “Halo” Bassett |
| Lyliana Wray | Amelia Benjamin |
| Jean Louisa Kelly | Sarah Kazansky |
| James Handy | Jimmy |
| Chido Nwokocha | Mission Controller |
| Chelsea Harris | Admiral’s Aide |
How Old Was Tom Cruise in Top Gun (1986)?
There has been a lot of talking regarding the Top Gun cast then and now. In this case, we have seen a lot of questions about Tom Cruise. Many people have been wondering how old Tom Cruise was in Top Gun. If you have the same question, we are here to clear your doubts.
Tom started his acting career in the 1980s. In simple words, Top Gun was a turning point for Tom’s acting career. He became worldwide famous after delivering an outstanding performance in this movie. The best part is he was only 24 years old when the movie was released. So, it helped him enhance his career.
What Was Kelly McGillis’ Age in Top Gun?
Besides Tom Cruise, a lot of people want to know about Kelly McGillis’ age in Top Gun. Yes, the movie had an outstanding plot that hooked the audience. Since this movie was released in 1986, Kelly was around 29 years old back then. However, Kelly McGillis didn’t join the sequel movie. In this case, there was archival footage from the 1986 movie featuring McGillis.
How Old Was Tom Cruise in Top Gun 2?
It took almost 35 years to release the sequel of the movie. Since Tom Cruise was only 24 years old when Top Gun 1986 was released, he was able to do the next movie too. The best part is he was the face of Top Gun 2.
When this movie was released in 2022, Tom Cruise was around 60 years old. Despite the age difference between these two movies, the audience loved his performance. Hence the movie became a worldwide hit earning around $1.496 billion.
Why Did It Take So Long to Release Top Gun 2?
Since Top Gun: Maverick was released in 2022, many people asked the same question: why did it take so long? You see, Top Gun left the audience surprised because of the technology. That’s the reason why they delayed the sequel.
In simple words, the makers were waiting for more advanced technologies to make the movie as perfect as possible. Their plan worked and it was a gift for all action drama lovers. The best part is the makers are talking about yet another sequel titled Top Gun: Rooster.
Conclusion
It’s clear that Tom Cruise has been a star face for Top Gun. That’s the reason he was successful in leaving a mark on the sequel movie. If you haven’t watched the new one, you are missing a lot of things. We are hoping there will be a third movie soon.
FAQs
Q: Who played Goose in Top Gun?
Anthony Edwards played the role of Nick Bradshaw aka ‘Goose’ in Top Gun 1986. However, he didn’t join the sequel which was released in 2022.
Q: How old was Kelly McGrillis in Top Gun?
Kelly McGrillis, who played the role of Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Blackwood in Top Gun was around 29 years old during the movie’s release. Well, she didn’t join the sequel movie like most of the cast members.
Q: How old was Tom Cruise in Top Gun?
Tom Cruise was around 24 years old when the first Top Gun movie was released. On the other hand, the actor was 60 years old when the sequel movie was released.
Q: What are notable Top Gun characters?
Some of the notable Top Gun characters are Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, Tom “Iceman” Kazansky, Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood, Nick “Goose” Bradshaw, etc.
Q: Why did it take so long to release Top Gun 2?
According to the makers and cast members, they wanted to make the movie as great as possible. In short, they delayed the sequel for technical advancement.
Sharon Howe is a creative person with diverse talents. She writes engaging articles for WonderWorldSpace.com, where she works as a content writer. Writing allows Sharon to inform and captivate readers. Additionally, Sharon pursues music as a hobby, which allows her to showcase her artistic abilities in another creative area.