Tom Cruise through the years – see his incredible transformation from heartthrob to Hollywood veteran

Tom Cruise was a movie star on the rise in the '80s, thanks to his roles in The Outsiders, Risky Business, Top Gun and Rain Man, and was the definition of fresh-faced with his floppy hair, bold brows and wide smile. 

During this time, Tom built an image of a roguishly handsome star with the talent to back it up.

The '90s undoubtedly belonged to Tom Cruise; during this decade, he starred in Days of Thunder, A Few Good Men, Jerry Maguire, Mission: Impossible and Eyes Wide Shut, to name but a few. 

He also earned three Oscar nominations during this time and became known for his daredevil stunt work, which also transformed his physique.

As a result of his frequent stunt work and physically demanding roles, Tom transformed his physique into one with incredible abs and rippling muscle. 

In order to maintain his figure, the star likes to do everything from kayaking and caving to fencing and rock-climbing, as well as working out in the gym and running. 

"I look at a body kind of like a car… I have to take care of it," he told Entertainment Tonight. "For me it's like brushing my teeth. You gotta brush your teeth – we're all like, 'Oh God, do I really have to?' But it just takes a minute. That's how I have to train my body."

The '00s marked another physical shift for Tom; not only did he grow out with luscious locks for films like The Last Samurai, but he also had significant work done to his teeth.

He was seen at the 2002 Minority Report premiere with ceramic braces on in an effort to perfect his teeth, and seemingly had them whitened over time.

In addition, Tom often sported a beard in the early '00s, making him look more rugged than a clean-cut movie star, and his eyebrows appeared more manicured than before.

Tom's penchant for completely transforming into a film character hit its peak in 2008 when he starred as Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder, complete with a fat suit, a bald cap and large, prosthetic hands.

"He wanted to have big, thick forearms that were hairy…and he wanted to dance," said his co-star, Ben Stiller, on Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend.

The role was instantly iconic and paved the way for his next major movie transformation in Digger, the 2026 dark comedy about an oil tycoon who tries to fix the global environmental catastrophe that he helped to create.

For the film, Tom transformed into an old man with gray, thinning hair, prosthetic teeth, a pot belly and wrinkles, making him entirely unrecognizable from his usual self.

"It's everything. It's the costume, it's the hair, it's the makeup, it's the movement, it's the voice, it's the musicality of the character," Tom said of the transformation at a press event. 

"You're gathering all these different elements... You're constantly discovering who this person is."

In 2026, Tom looks better than ever with his luscious hair, youthful visage and incredible physique, which he has managed to maintain well into his 60s. 

The actor recently showcased his figure on the cover of GQ, with his abs on full display, prompting fans to exclaim over his ageless look. 

"He looks like he's in his 40s," one fan wrote, while another noted that he was "aging like fine wine."

Tom shared his thoughts on aging with GQ and revealed that he had no plans to slow down anytime soon. 

"You're asking me about being 64. I'm going, there's so much life, and there's always another dream. I think that a person without a dream, they've decided not to live," he said.