Reflecting on his first encounter with Tom Cruise, Michael Caine recalls the young actor’s politeness and eagerness to learn. In an excerpt from his upcoming book, Don’t Look Back, You’ll Trip Over:
My Guide to Life, shared by The Sunday Times on November 3, the two-time Academy Award winner, now 91, reminisces about key moments in his career, including his early memories of Cruise, who is currently 62.
Having known Cruise for more than 40 years, Caine remembers meeting him at an event for his 1983 comedy-drama Educating Rita. “I turned around and there was this young actor, very polite, asking questions about how not to be just a flash in the pan,” Caine writes, noting that it was around the time Cruise starred in Risky Business.
Caine highlights Cruise as “one of the last true stars,” someone audiences flock to see
While Caine can’t recall his exact words during that encounter, he humorously acknowledges, “it obviously didn’t do him any harm,” as shared in the Sunday Times excerpt.
Caine further reflects on Cruise’s presence, noting that he felt there was “something special” about the young star. By the time of the event in September 1983, Cruise had already appeared in Risky Business, The Outsiders, and Losin’ It, just three years before his iconic role in Top Gun.
“He had a great attitude, this sense of poise. What interests me is that he is really one of the last true stars in movies,” Caine writes. “People will go to see a film just because he’s in it.”
In another part of the excerpt, Caine mentions that Cruise surprised him by attending his 90th birthday celebration last year, a gesture organized by his wife. He expresses that he was “touched” by Cruise’s presence. The birthday celebration in March 2023 also welcomed Mission: Impossible writer Chris McQuarrie and Britain’s Got Talent judge David Walliams.
Previously released photos from the event captured Cruise with his arm around Caine’s shoulder, both smiling together. At that time, Denise Welch from Loose Women provided comedic entertainment at the West London gathering.
“Such an honour to be asked by Shakira to say a few words at Sir Michael Caine’s 90th birthday!!!” she wrote last year. “He loves a dirty joke and so does @tomcruise it appears!!!! Great night and amazing company.”
Caine and Cruise shared the screen in Austin Powers in Goldmember in 2002. This summer, Caine announced that his new non-fiction book will be released on March 25, 2025, in the U.S. and Canada, serving as a follow-up to his 2018 memoir Blowing the Bloody Doors Off.
“I’ve seen a new generation grow up, among them my own grandchildren, facing the world with all its challenges and problems,” Caine previously shared with PEOPLE about the book. “I hope they’ll find Don’t Look Back, You’ll Trip Over: My Guide to Life helps them to be optimistic — and shows that anyone can blow the bloody doors off.”
