Tom Cruise, also known as “Tom Cruise”, once starred alongside the famous actor Dustin Hoffman in the Oscar-winning film “Rain Man.” Recently, Tom Cruise revealed how he landed the role in “Rain Man” during a chance encounter with Hoffman, thanks to his sister’s encouragement.
On Sunday, May 11th, at a wide-ranging discussion held by the British Film Institute (BFI) in London, Cruise reflected on a movie that marked his career and shared the story of how he met Dustin Hoffman in a restaurant in New York. It was his sister’s encouragement that led him to secure a role in “Rain Man.”
In 1984, at the age of 22, Cruise had just finished shooting Ridley Scott’s “Legend.” He returned to the United States to visit his sister Cass, who immediately recognized Hoffman at a restaurant.
According to reports from “Vanity Fair” magazine, Cruise described the scene, saying, “She (my sister) said, ‘That’s Dustin Hoffman.’ I looked up, and there he was, wearing a hat – he was appearing in ‘Death of a Salesman,’ and he was ordering takeout.”
His sister urged him to approach Hoffman and introduce himself. Despite Cruise’s initial hesitation not to disturb Hoffman, his sister was persistent.
“If you don’t go, I will go over and tell him who you are,” Cruise revealed his sister’s words at the time. To which Cruise responded, “He wouldn’t know who I am, that would be embarrassing!”
Eventually, Cruise said his sister was “being too persistent,” so he compromised and approached Hoffman. Hoffman immediately recognized Cruise and warmly greeted him.
“As I was leaving, he said, ‘I want to make a movie with you.’ I said, ‘That would be great, sir,'” Cruise told the audience. “That’s how it happened, and about a year later, he made ‘Rain Man.'”
The encounter with Hoffman in the restaurant became a turning point in Cruise’s career. In 1986, he solidified his stardom with roles in “Top Gun” and “The Color of Money.” In 1988, “Rain Man” was finally released and won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Cruise also became one of the most dazzling movie stars globally.
“Rain Man” tells the story of Charlie (played by Tom Cruise), whose father passes away, leaving a $3 million inheritance to a brother, Raymond (played by Dustin Hoffman), whom he doesn’t know. Charlie decides to find his brother, only to discover that Raymond resides in a mental institution, having been diagnosed with autism from a young age. Initially driven by greed, Charlie tries to manipulate Raymond into giving up the inheritance. However, as they spend time together, Charlie realizes the value of brotherly love outweighs the pursuit of the $3 million inheritance he sought.
While the self-introduction of the two movie stars in the restaurant differs from the typical workplace introductions, the encouragement from Cruise’s sister aligns with expert advice on professional development.
Gorick Ng, a Harvard University career advisor, expressed in an interview with CNBC Make It last year that introducing yourself to professionals you admire is an excellent way to advance in your career.
“Attend events, share your story, and inquire about their backgrounds,” Ng advised.