Tom Cruise has responded to being called the "last movie star" by referencing his longtime friend Brad Pitt, stating, "He’s a great actor, great star, great charisma and there’s many, many, many." The actor, who recently posed for a photoshoot for GQ, discussed his career in a rare interview with the publication.
Cruise, 64, pushed back on the characterization of being the sole remaining movie star, highlighting other contemporary performers. He emphasized that acting is a skill learned through experience and collaboration, noting, "I’m on the set with great craftsmen as a young kid and it’s not just 1981 where they’re there... it’s generational, so as you’re making movies, you’re learning from other people, and then you’re making it your own, but you’re learning it is a skill making films."
Cruise and Pitt have only appeared on screen together once, in the 1994 film "Interview with the Vampire." Cruise played Lestat de Lioncourt, and Pitt portrayed Louis de Pointe du Lac. Cruise has supported Pitt over the years, notably appearing with him on the red carpet for the F1 premiere in London in June 2025.
Both actors share a recent commonality: their children have dropped their famous last names. In July, Suri Cruise, the 20-year-old daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, legally changed her name to Suri Noelle, taking her mother's middle name as her surname. She registered to vote in Pennsylvania under this new name, as required by state law for legal name changes.
Suri reportedly has been estranged from her father since his 2012 divorce from Holmes and her subsequent decision to distance herself from Scientology. Suri’s name change follows a similar path to Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s children. Five of their children have reportedly filed to drop the Pitt surname amid estrangement.
Maddox Jolie-Pitt, 25, recently had his name change legally granted, officially becoming Maddox Chivan Jolie. His siblings Shiloh, 20, Zahara, 21, Vivienne, 18, and Knox, 18, have also either legally dropped or are in the process of dropping the Pitt surname. Zahara has a name change hearing scheduled for September 28, and Shiloh’s attorney announced her decision earlier this year.
Pitt was married to Jennifer Aniston from 2000 to 2005 before marrying Jolie, his co-star in "Mr. & Mrs. Smith." They split in 2016, and their divorce was finalized in December 2024.