#10: From Thomas Mapother IV to Tom Cruise

Born Thomas Mapother IV, Tom Cruise became one of cinema’s highest earners, distancing himself from his father’s last name due to their strained relationship, embracing a new identity that resonated with action movie enthusiasts.

Adopting ‘Tom Cruise’ by shortening his first name and adopting his middle for simplicity and charm, the actor’s decision illuminated marquees worldwide. His relation to William Mapother, the ‘Lost’ actor, remains a lesser-known fact, underscoring a family tie in Hollywood.