Tom Cruise or Not? The Truth Behind the A-list Actor's Real Name

Without a doubt, Tom Cruise is one of the biggest actors in Hollywood right now, starring in the most popular franchises and movies every year, doing his own stunts and showing off his acting chops at every opportunity.

At the same time, the actor is notoriously private about his personal life, rarely talking to the press about it.

It has been known that Cruise had changed his name prior to embarking on a Hollywood career, and now the reason for his decision is no longer a secret.

While many people still think that the actor's real name is Tom Cruise, he was actually known as Thomas Cruise Mapother IV in his youth when he studied to be a Catholic priest. When young Tom decided to become an actor, he refused to be known by his father's last name, and here's why.

According to the actor himself, his father was a really abusive man who often beat Tom and his other children for every little mistake they made. When his career took off, Tom decided to change his name to separate himself from his abusive father, as being associated with the man hurt the young actor deeply.

'[My father] was a bully and a coward… the kind of person where, if something goes wrong, they kick you,' Cruise said. 'It was a great lesson in my life — how he'd lull you in, make you feel safe, and then, bang!'

It's hard to imagine what Tom had gone through in his childhood and teenage years, so knowing that, fans of the actor fully support him in his decision to drop his father's last name.

However, even if Cruise's father was a good and caring man, it might have been a good idea to shorten his original name anyway. Long names are hard to remember, which is why many aspiring actors choose to tweak their names a bit to make themselves stand out in Hollywood — Aaron Paul (born Aaron Paul Stutevant) is just one famous example.

Since changing his name early in his career, Tom Cruise has achieved astonishing heights in the industry and ultimately proved that one can become a great man even if their parents are less than supportive.

Source: CBS News.