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'The Outsiders' Cast and Character Guide (And What They're Doing Now)

What are the Greasers up to after 40 years?

The Outsiders are celebrating their 40th anniversary. The coming-of-age story directed by Francis Ford Coppola ( The Godfather ) was released in March 1983. It featured an ensemble cast of up-and-coming talent who became Hollywood's biggest stars. Based on the book by S.E. Hinton , the film was a critical and financial success. It has earned a cult following thanks to its impressive ensemble, Coppola’s direction, and the film's source material was a fixture in many high school curriculums for years. Here’s a look at the cast of The Outsiders three decades after the film's debut.

Related: What ‘The Outsiders’ Gets About Teens That Other Brat Pack Movies Don't

C. Thomas Howell as Ponyboy Curtis

C. Thomas Howell stars as Ponyboy Curtis, the youngest of the Curtis children who are raised by their eldest brother Darrel after their parents died. Born in the poor slums of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Pony and his fellow “Greaser” friend Johnny are constantly harassed by the “Soc” rich kids. When Johnny kills a Soc in self-defense, he and Ponyboy go on the run.

Howell made his film debut in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial , before making his breakthrough as the lead in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Outsiders . Howell would star in cult classics Red Dawn and The Hitcher . Alongside his film work, Howell was also a fixture on TV screens, with notable turns as unpredictable LAPD officer Bill “Dewey Dudek” in the TNT drama Southland and as serial killer The Boston Reaper in Criminal Minds . Howell will next be seen in cinemas in the upcoming biopic Reagan starring Dennis Quaid and on TV screens in the Netflix series Obliterated by the creators of Cobra Kai .

Matt Dillon as Dallas “Dally” Winston

Matt Dillon stars as Dallas “Dally Winston, a Greaser and criminal whose violent tendencies are matched by his intense loyalty to his friends. Dallas helps Ponyboy and Johnny on the run and always carries an unloaded gun in his pocket.

Dillon debuted in the coming-of-age crime thriller Over the Edge , with his acclaimed performance leading to roles in successful teen comedies Little Darlings and My Bodyguard . Dillon would go on to be cast by Francis Ford Coppola in The Outsiders and Rumble Fish , both adaptations of S.E. Hinton's novels. Dillon would win critical acclaim for his performance in Drugstore Cowboy . He also received an Oscar nomination for his performance in Crash . Dillon will next be seen in the Wes Anderson film Asteroid City and the Apple TV+ series High Desert .

Ralph Macchio as Johnny Cade

Ralph Macchio stars as Johnny Cade, Ponyboy’s best friend. Small in stature, Johnny is constantly tormented and picked on by the Socs, who scarred him before events in the film. As a result, the fearful and paranoid Johnny carries a switchblade wherever he goes, a weapon he will use to kill in self-defense when he and Ponyboy are set upon again by the Socs.

While The Outsiders was the breakthrough film for Ralph Macchio, it would be his next movie, The Karate Kid , that made him a star, resulting in a cultural phenomenon. Between waxing on and off, Macchio starred in the music drama Crossroads and the hit comedy My Cousin Vinny . Starring roles for Macchio were few and far between, however, as the star focused on family life and the theater. Macchio will next be seen in the sixth and final season of Cobra Kai , where he reprises the role that defined his career, Daniel LaRusso.

Patrick Swayze as Darrel Curtis

Patrick Swayze stars as Darrel “Darry” Curtis, the oldest brother of the Curtis family who has taken on the responsibility of breadwinner after their parents died. He is stern and protective of his brothers, especially Ponyboy, who he urges to take school seriously and go to college, an opportunity he and his middle brother SodaPop didn’t have.

The late Patrick Swayze appeared on stage and TV before landing his breakthrough role in The Outsiders . After receiving acclaim for the Civil War miniseries North and South , Swayze would star in Dirty Dancing , a box office success propelling Swayze to superstar status. He would continue to be a household name with performances in the action thriller Roadhouse and the supernatural love story Ghost . Swayze later returned to the action genre in the Kathryn Bigelow film Point Break , where he starred alongside Keanu Reeves . Swayze’s final role before his passing was in the crime series The Beast , where Swayze played a hard-edged FBI agent, which resulted in career-best notices for the actor.

Rob Lowe as Sodapop Curtis

Rob Lowe stars as Sodapop Curtis, the middle sibling of the Curtis family who is raised by his older brother Darrel. Sodapop dropped out of high school and worked at the local gas station with his best friend, Steve.

Lowe’s breakout role was Sodapop, and in that same year, he also received a Golden Globe Award nomination for the TV movie Thursday’s Child . Lowe would next star in the Joel Schumacher movie St. Elmo’s Fire , from which the media named him a member of the young actor collective “The Brat Pack.” Lowe later reunited with his The Outsiders co-star Patrick Swayze in the ice-hockey drama Youngblood . As the ‘90s began, Lowe would prove his worth as a comedic actor in the Mike Myers films Wayne’s World and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me . A productive and acclaimed career in TV would keep Lowe’s star burning bright, with his role as Sam Seaborn in the Aaron Sorkin series The West Wing earning Lowe's career-best acclaim and several nominations. Lowe would continue to be a prolific presence in film and TV, with notable performances in the drama Brothers & Sisters , the NBC comedy Parks & Recreation , and a nearly unrecognizable turn in Behind the Candelabra . Lowe currently stars in the Fox procedural drama 9-1-1: Lone Star and will next be seen in the Netflix comedy Unstable, where he stars alongside his son John Owen Lowe .

Emilio Estevez as Two-Bit Matthews

Emilio Estevez stars as Two-Bit Matthews, a lad back member of the Greasers who has a love for all things Mickey Mouse. The son of actor Martin Sheen , Emilio Estevez made his film debut alongside his father in the crime drama In the Custody of Strangers . Estevez would follow with his memorable supporting role in The Outsiders, which quickly led to gigs in the cult sci-fi classic Repo Man , and the John Hughes teen classic The Breakfast Club . Estevez would continue cementing his status as a movie star with the film series Young Guns and The Mighty Ducks .

Estevez would become more prolific behind the camera as a writer and director, receiving solid notices for the ensemble drama Bobby and The Way , which starred Martin Sheen. Estevez is working on the next installment of the Young series titled Guns 3: Alias Billy the Kid , in which he will direct, write, and star.

Related: Tom Cruise's Only Directing Credit Is From a Neo-Noir Series You've Probably Never Heard of

Tom Cruise as Steve Randle

Tom Cruise stars as Steve Randle, a Greaser who, although cocky and rude at times, cares deeply for his friends, especially SodaPop, who he works with at the gas station.

Cruise is arguably the biggest movie star in the world. He first made his mark in the 1981 thriller Taps , where he played a crazed military academy student. His breakthrough star role followed this in Risky Business , a teen sex comedy in which he played a high-achieving high school who fell in love with a prostitute. Cruise would then be cast in Top Gun , portraying cocky Navy pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a role that blasted the then 24-year-old Cruise into the stratosphere. Cruise would go on to become the box office king with movies such as Rain Man , Minority Report , and War of the Worlds , as well as scoring Oscar nominations for Born on the Fourth of July , Jerry Maguire , and Magnolia .

During this time, Cruise would headline and produce the Mission: Impossible film series, resulting in a billion-dollar franchise that grows strong with every new installment. Cruise’s return as Maverick in the 2022 sequel Top Gun: Maverick resulted in the actor's biggest box office to date and multiple Oscar nominations, including for Best Picture. Cruise’s next film is Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One .

Diane Lane as Sherri “Cherry” Valance

Diane Lane stars as Sherri Valance, a Soc girl and cheerleader who is sensitive and kind to Ponyboy. It is Sherri’s boyfriend, Bob, who attacks Ponyboy and Johnny, resulting in Johnny killing him in self-defense.

Diane Lane first made her mark in 1983 with pivotal roles in The Outsiders and Rumble Fish , starring alongside Matt Dillon in both films. Lane would later receive an Emmy nomination for her role in the western miniseries Lonesome Dove which starred Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones .

Lane’s career would continue to go from strength to strength, earning an Oscar nomination for Unfaithful, in which she portrayed an adulterous wife alongside Richard Gere. Throughout the 1990s, Lane would take on supporting roles in Chaplin and Judge Dredd while taking on lead roles in acclaimed indies My New Gun and A Walk on the Moon . Lane will next be seen in season two of Ryan Murphy ’s Feud series titled Feud: Capote’s Women and the Netflix miniseries A Man in Full alongside Jeff Daniels .

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‘The Outsiders’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

Stay golden. Ralph Macchio , Rob Lowe , Patrick Swayze and more transformed into ‘60s teens for Francis Ford Coppola’s big screen adaptation of The Outsiders .

The coming-of-age drama, based on S. E. Hinton ‘s classic novel of the same name, hit theaters in March 1983 and helped to kickstart the careers of several of its stars. In particular, Macchio received rave reviews for his turn as Johnny Cade in the battle of the Greasers and Socs.

“I read the book when I was 12 years old in seventh-grade English class. It was the first book that I ever finished cover to cover,” the Karate Kid actor told Parade in 2017. “S.E. Hinton — like J.K. Rowling of today — started a lot of young kids reading in school. I was immediately connected to it.”

Macchio was drawn to Johnny before even being cast in the project. “I always felt [Johnny] sounded like I looked,” he recalled. “Big puppy dog eyes, dark hair. He was the runt. I was never the biggest guy in class. But I didn’t come from his backstory by any stretch. … Johnny was a kid whose mother was an alcoholic. His father was abusive, and home was the last place he wanted to be. Those were the challenges, but I embraced them.”

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Lowe, for his part, looked back on how Coppola turned Hollywood’s Brat Pack into “wrong side of the tracks guys,” sharing behind-the-scenes secrets with Kelly Clarkson in 2020. “[He] found a bunch of different actual greasers who were now grown-up adults and made us go spend the night and live with them,” the “Literally” podcast host said on The Kelly Clarkson Show at the time. “They came to us at rehearsal and, like, ‘OK, so we’re gonna divide you up. Rob, Tom, you guys are gonna go stay with Bill and Sandy whoever.’ And we just went to their little house and had dinner.”

The costars “ended up in the basement on two cots” — and neither of them were thrilled with the setup. “I mean, who vetted them? Really?” Lowe joked. “Do you think Francis Ford Coppola spent a lot of time vetting these people? I can tell you, he didn’t. He was [sitting] with an espresso and watching some fancy Fellini movie and went, ‘Yeah, yeah that sounds great’ and went back to his espresso.”

Decades after its release, The Outsiders is still widely recognized as an all-time classic film. Scroll down to see what the cast is doing now:

Credit: Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock

'The Outsiders' Cast: Where Are They Now?

Stay golden. Ralph Macchio , Rob Lowe , Patrick Swayze and more transformed into ‘60s teens for Francis Ford Coppola’s big screen adaptation of The Outsiders . The coming-of-age drama, based on S. E. Hinton 's classic novel of the same name, hit theaters in March 1983 and helped to kickstart the careers of several of its stars. In particular, Macchio received rave reviews for his turn as Johnny Cade in the battle of the Greasers and Socs. “I read the book when I was 12 years old in seventh-grade English class. It was the first book that I ever finished cover to cover,” the Karate Kid actor told Parade in 2017. “S.E. Hinton — like J.K. Rowling of today — started a lot of young kids reading in school. I was immediately connected to it.” Macchio was drawn to Johnny before even being cast in the project. “I always felt [Johnny] sounded like I looked,” he recalled. “Big puppy dog eyes, dark hair. He was the runt. I was never the biggest guy in class. But I didn’t come from his backstory by any stretch. … Johnny was a kid whose mother was an alcoholic. His father was abusive, and home was the last place he wanted to be. Those were the challenges, but I embraced them.” Lowe, for his part, looked back on how Coppola turned Hollywood’s Brat Pack into “wrong side of the tracks guys,” sharing behind-the-scenes secrets with Kelly Clarkson in 2020. “[He] found a bunch of different actual greasers who were now grown-up adults and made us go spend the night and live with them,” the “Literally” podcast host said on The Kelly Clarkson Show at the time. “They came to us at rehearsal and, like, ‘OK, so we’re gonna divide you up. Rob, Tom, you guys are gonna go stay with Bill and Sandy whoever.’ And we just went to their little house and had dinner.” The costars “ended up in the basement on two cots” — and neither of them were thrilled with the setup. “I mean, who vetted them? Really?” Lowe joked. “Do you think Francis Ford Coppola spent a lot of time vetting these people? I can tell you, he didn’t. He was [sitting] with an espresso and watching some fancy Fellini movie and went, ‘Yeah, yeah that sounds great’ and went back to his espresso.” Decades after its release, The Outsiders is still widely recognized as an all-time classic film. Scroll down to see what the cast is doing now:

Credit: Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock; Courtesy of C. Thomas Howell/Instagram

C. Thomas Howell (Ponyboy Curtis)

Before The Outsiders , which earned him a Young Artist Award, Howell made his movie debut in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial . He later appeared in The Hitcher, Grandview U.S.A., Secret Admirer and Red Dawn and was one of the actors considered for the role of Marty McFly in Back to the Future , which ultimately went to Michael J. Fox. More recently, Howell has starred in The Amazing Spider-Man, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox and LBJ , with TV roles on Grimm, Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce, Animal Kingdom and The Blacklist. The California native previously dated Kyle Richards before marrying Rae Dawn Chong in 1989. The twosome called it quits one year later, and Howell tied the knot with Sylvie Anderson in 1992. They split in 2016.

Credit: Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock; Karl Schoendorfer/Shutterstock

Matt Dillon (Dallas Winston)

Following appearances in There's Something About Mary and Wild Things , Dillon made his directorial debut in 2000 with City of Ghosts . His performance in Crash won him an Independent Spirit Award and earned him nods at both the Oscars and Golden Globes. The New Yorker is a Grammy nominee, gaining recognition in 2001 for narrating Jack Kerouac's On the Road . Dillon has also appeared in Employee of the Month, You, Me and Dupree, Herbie: Fully Loaded and Capone .

Credit: Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock; Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

Ralph Macchio (Johnny Cade)

Macchio is best known for playing Daniel LaRusso in the original Karate Kid franchise, a role he reprised on Netflix’s Cobra Kai, which began in 2018. He went on to star in ​​ My Cousin Vinny, Crossroads, Hitchcock and Psych: The Movie . On the small screen, the New York native had roles on Ugly Betty, The Deuce and Eight Is Enough . He landed in fourth place with pro Karina Smirnoff on season 12 of Dancing With the Stars in 2011. The Distant Thunder star shares daughter Julia and son Daniel with wife Phyllis Fierro .

Credit: Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock; Paul Hawthorne/Starpix/Shutterstock

Patrick Swayze (Darrel Curtis)

Apart from The Outsiders, Swayze’s most memorable performance was as Johnny Castle in Dirty Dancing , which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical. His popularity grew after 1990’s Ghost , receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame seven years later. Following roles in Point Break, Donnie Darko, One Last Dance and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights , the actor died of pancreatic cancer in 2009. His final film credit was 2009’s Powder Blue . He is survived by wife Lisa Niemi , who wed Albert DePrisco in 2014.  

Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock; MediaPunch/Shutterstock

Rob Lowe (Sodapop Curtis)

A member of the Brat Pack, the Virginia native is known for his work in Oxford Blues, St. Elmo's Fire, About Last Night... and Square Dance . Lowe later turned to television, starring in Aaron Sorkin ’s The West Wing from 1999 to 2003. The Code Black alum has experienced a few ups and downs throughout his career, including a sex tape scandal and a sobriety journey. He made a major comeback with Parks and Recreation , playing Chris Traeger from 2010 to 2014 before joining the cast of 9-1-1: Lone Star in 2020. The Emmy nominee shares sons Matthew and John Owen with wife Sheryl Berkoff . In March 2023, John Owen and his dad teamed up for the Netflix series Unstable , in which they play a father-son duo who work together at a biotech research facility. 

Credit: Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock; Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

Emilio Estevez (Two-Bit Matthews)

Martin Sheen’s son joined Lowe as part of the Brat Pack, also starring in The Breakfast Club and ​​St. Elmo's Fire. The filmmaker is also known for appearing in the Mighty Ducks franchise as hockey coach Gordon Bombay. After three of the sports movies, a series titled The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers debuted on Disney+ in 2021. Estevez raised eyebrows when he exited the show amid rumors he disagreed with the set’s COVID-19 vaccine policy. He later clarified to Deadline that his departure was due to “nothing more than a good old fashioned contract dispute” and “a myriad of creative differences.”

Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock; Carlos Tischler/Eyepix Group/Shutterstock

Tom Cruise (Steve Randle)

A three-time Oscar winner, Cruise is one of the hottest actors in Hollywood, with iconic roles in Top Gun, Risky Business, Jerry Maguire, The Mummy and more. Apart from his work on screen, the New Yorker’s personal life has been making headlines for years. He has been married thrice: to Mimi Rogers from 1987 to 1990, Nicole Kidman from 1990 to 2001 and Katie Holmes from 2006 to 2012. Cruise, who is a member of the Church of Scientology, welcomed a daughter with Holmes in 2006 and shares two adopted children —  Isabella (born 1992) and Connor (born 1995) — with Kidman.

Credit: Warner Bros.

Glenn Withrow (Tim Shepard)

Along with The Outsiders, the Kentucky native has worked in movies such as Rumble Fish and Peggy Sue Got Married . He jumped behind the camera in 2012, directing his first full-length feature film, The Mooring. Withrow has been married to Hallie Todd , with whom he shares daughter Ivy, since 1991.

Credit: Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock; Matt Baron/Shutterstock

Diane Lane (Cherry Valance)

Lane has been a working actress since age 14, making her movie debut in A Little Romance . Other notable credits include The Perfect Storm, Unfaithful, Under the Tuscan Sun, Must Love Dogs, Man of Steel and more. She was previously married to producer Christopher Lambert — with whom she shares daughter Eleanor — from 1988 to 1994 and to Josh Brolin from 2004 to 2013.

Credit: Warner Bros.; Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

Leif Garrett (Bob Sheldon)

Garrett was a child star and a teen idol, signing a five-album record contract in 1976. Two decades later, he released a greatest hits compilation, The Leif Garrett Collection , which included covers of songs by the Beach Boys, Dion and more. The Fear Factor alum had a number of legal troubles over the years, from personal bankruptcy to driving under the influence. He was arrested several times throughout the ‘90s and early 2000s for drug possession and later dropped out of a court-ordered rehab program. Garrett entered treatment once again in 2010.

Credit: Warner Bros.; Courtesy of Darren Dalton/Twitter

Darren Dalton (Randy Anderson)

After The Outsiders , Dalton starred in Red Dawn alongside Swayze, Howell, Jennifer Grey , Harry Dean Stanton, Charlie Sheen and more. He went on to make guest appearances on TV shows including Quantum Leap and Doctor Quinn, Medicine Woman . The Wyoming native was married to Kristin Dalton from 1993 to 2009.

Michelle Meyrink (Marcia)

The Canadian is also known for her work in 1984’s Revenge of the Nerds , but her last acting credit was just four years later in Permanent Record . She lives in Vancouver with her husband, John Dumbrille , and their three children.

Gailard Sartain (Jerry)

The Oklahoma native has been acting in small roles since the 1970s with credits including The Buddy Holly Story, Fried Green Tomatoes and The Replacements . His last known performance was in 2005’s Elizabethtown starring Orlando Bloom , Kirsten Dunst , Alec Baldwin and Susan Sarandon .

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The Outsiders Cast: Where Are They Now?

Stars including Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon and Patrick Swayze starred in 'The Outsiders'

Keith Langston is a contributing writer at PEOPLE. He has been working at PEOPLE since 2023. His work has previously appeared in Entertainment Weekly, Insider and Digital Trends.

Warner Brothers/Alamy

Kids all across the U.S. have grown up reading S.E. Hinton’s 1967 novel The Outsiders, which tells the story of Ponyboy Curtis and his gang of friends, known as the Greasers. Ponyboy and his friends encounter loss and grief and learn right from wrong.

Many schools also show Francis Ford Coppola ’s 1983 film adaptation, making The Outsiders an integral part of modern American culture — even 40 years after its release.

Virtually every young star of the film would become a massive Hollywood star with careers that have spanned decades. The young cast, which included Tom Cruise , Matt Dillon , Rob Lowe , Patrick Swayze and Diane Lane , was a who’s-who of the decade’s rising talent.

But what are the stars up to now? Here’s what to know about the Outsiders cast today.

C. Thomas Howell as Ponyboy Curtis

Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett ; Jason Mendez/Getty

C. Thomas Howell , 56, played Ponyboy Curtis, the Outsiders ’ protagonist. Ponyboy is a young Greaser who gets jumped by a rival gang, the Socs, instigating a deadly rivalry.

The Outsiders was Howell’s first starring role after having a small part in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial the year prior. Throughout the rest of the ‘80s and into the ‘90s, Howell landed other lead roles in hits such as Red Dawn (1984), Soul Man (1986) and Gettysburg (1993).

In more recent years, Howell has been seen in recurring roles on TV series like Southland (2009–2013), Animal Kingdom (2016–2018) and The Walking Dead (2018–2021).

In 2022, Howell released his first-ever single titled “Rose Hill” under the name Tommy Howell. When speaking to PEOPLE, Howell said he was inspired to write the song while walking through the Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon, Georgia, where members of the Allman Brothers Band are buried. “As I was standing there, I couldn't help but think how it wouldn't be bad to just lay down right there, jam with the Allmans and listen to the trains go by down by the river,” he said. “That's how this song was born."

Howell will next star alongside Dennis Quaid in the film Reagan , a Ronald Reagan biopic. Howell will star as Reagan’s secretary of defense, Caspar Weinberger.

Ralph Macchio as Johnny Cade

Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett ; Sean Zanni/Getty 

Ralph Macchio , 61, played Johnny Cade, Ponyboy’s friend who kills one of the Socs after they’re attacked one night.

The Outsiders was Macchio’s first major acting role. Speaking to Drew Barrymore on her show in 2022, he recalled the movie’s “unnerving” audition process. “Every actor was in one big soundstage … with all the actors sitting around the perimeter, and Francis would call different actors to read different roles and would mix and match,” he said.

Macchio continued: “You’re already sweating because you’re in the room with one of the great filmmakers and storytellers in American cinema history. Everybody wants to be in this movie because they love the book, and yet you’re watching everyone’s audition and watching the reaction of the director. … It was really important for him to mix and match and see the chemistry because these boys all knew each other and had history together.”

The following year, Macchio would find further success as Daniel LaRusso in The Karate Kid (1984). Over the next decade, Macchio landed leading roles, starring in The Karate Kid ’s two sequels in 1986 and 1989 and joining Joe Pesci in the hit comedy My Cousin Vinny (1992).

In 2018, Macchio returned to the “Miyagiverse” for the series Cobra Kai , reprising his role as Daniel LaRusso. In January 2023, Netflix announced that Cobra Kai ’s sixth and final season was on the way.

Off-screen, Macchio has been married to Phyllis Fierro since 1987. The couple met at a party when Macchio was just 15. In a 2021 interview with PEOPLE, Macchio recalled the party: "This is 1970 or whatever, so this is Cheez Doodles, 7Up, Tootsie Rolls, probably the Ruffles with onion dip,” he said. “She was a friend of my cousin, and we just smiled and talked and danced a little. Probably the Hustle!" The couple have two children, Julia and Daniel .

Matt Dillon as Dallas “Dally” Winston

Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett ; Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty

Matt Dillon, 59, played Dallas “Dally” Winston, one of the older Greasers who is hardened from his previous life of crime and poverty in New York City.

A few years before The Outsiders , Dillon had made a name for himself in movies including Little Darlings (1980) and Tex (1982). After starring as one of the Greasers, Dillon’s career flourished over the next two decades, and he landed starring roles in movies like The Flamingo Kid (1984), There’s Something About Mary (1998), Wild Things (1998) and Crash (2005). Next up, Dillon will star in Wes Anderson ’s Asteroid City .

In 2022, Dillon appeared on Danny Pellegrino’s podcast Everything Iconic , where he recalled his fond memories of working on The Outsiders . “I think everyone got along great when we made the film, but I was closest I think with Tommy [Cruise] and with Ralph because we had a lot of scenes together,” he said. “But we all got along. … It’s a very familial atmosphere, working with [Coppola].”

Off-screen, Dillon has been dating actress and dancer Roberta Mastromichele since 2014.

Patrick Swayze as Darrel “Darry” Curtis

Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett ; Barry Brecheisen/WireImage

Patrick Swayze starred as Darrel “Darry” Curtis, the oldest Curtis brother who raises his brothers Ponyboy and Sodapop after the death of their parents.

The Outsiders was Swayze’s first major role, but throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, he became one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, thanks to his leading roles in blockbuster hits including Dirty Dancing (1987), Road House (1989), Ghost (1990) and Point Break (1992). Swayze continued acting into the 2000s, working on smaller indie projects and straight-to-video releases.

In 2008, Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and initially had an encouraging prognosis; in March of that year, Swayze’s doctor said, “Patrick has a very limited amount of disease and he appears to be responding well to treatment thus far.”

A year later, tabloids began reporting that Swayze’s health was in decline, but the actor denied the reports, telling PEOPLE in part, “Once again, I am one of the lucky ones with pancreatic cancer that is responding well to the treatment.”

On Sept. 14, 2009, Swayze died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 57. His reps told PEOPLE, “Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months.”

Swayze married dancer and choreographer Lisa Niemi in 1975 and remained with her until his death. In 2023, Niemi told the Today show that she still loved him . "Just because somebody's gone doesn't end your relationship with them,” she said. “We spent 34 years together, and that's always going to be a part of my life and who I am."

Rob Lowe as Sodapop Curtis

Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett ; Rich Polk/Getty

Rob Lowe, 59, played Sodapop Curtis, the middle brother of Darry and Ponyboy, who often made jokes to mask his true emotions.

The Outsiders was Lowe’s first major film, which launched him straight into the Brat Pack. He starred in films including St. Elmo’s Fire (1985) and Wayne’s World (1992). He’s also had leading roles on TV shows including The West Wing (1999–2003) and Parks and Recreation (2010–2015), and he currently stars on 9-1-1: Lone Star , which premiered in 2020.

In 1991, Lowe married Sheryl Berkoff and the couple have been together since. They have two sons : Matthew Edward, a businessman, and John Owen , an actor. In early 2023, Lowe and his son John starred side by side in the Netflix comedy series Unstable .

Both 9-1-1: Lone Star and Unstable have been renewed for more seasons.

Emilio Estevez as Keith “Two-Bit” Matthews

Emilio Estevez , 61, played Keith “Two-Bit” Matthews, one of the Greasers and a good friend to the Curtis brothers.

Like much of the cast, The Outsiders was Estevez’s first major role, but it was far from his last. He went on to star in films like The Breakfast Club (1985), St. Elmo’s Fire (1986), Young Guns (1988) and The Mighty Ducks (1992).

Estevez also comes from a famous Hollywood family. His father is Martin Sheen , known for his roles in The West Wing and Grace and Frankie , and his brother is Charlie Sheen from Two and a Half Men .

In his personal life, Estevez dated model Carey Salley on and off throughout the ‘80s. The pair had two children, son Taylor Estevez and daughter Paloma Estevez. He was also briefly engaged to Demi Moore in 1986 and was married to dancer and singer Paula Abdul from 1992 to 1994. In 2006, he became engaged to journalist Sonja Magdevski, with whom he started a winery. They have since ended their relationship.

In May 2023, Estevez confirmed to Uproxx that he wrote Guns 3: Alias Billy the Kid , the third installment in the Young Guns franchise. The release date has yet to be announced.

Tom Cruise as Steve Randle

Moviestore Collection Ltd / Alamy ; JC Olivera/Getty

Tom Cruise, 60, played Steve Randle, a member of the Greasers and Sodapop’s best friend who works with him at a gas station.

Though The Outsiders was Cruise’s first major film, he would shoot to fame just a few months later when Risky Business premiered. Throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, Cruise continued to star in hit movies such as Top Gun (1986), Rain Man (1988), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Mission: Impossible (1996) and Jerry Maguire (1996).

In recent years, Cruise has continued to star in blockbuster hits, including the Mission: Impossible sequels , the Jack Reacher franchise and Top Gun: Maverick (2022), which became one of the highest-grossing films of all time.

Cruise has been married three times, most recently to actress Katie Holmes from 2006 to 2012 with whom he had daughter Suri Cruise , born in April 2006.

Before Holmes, Cruise was married to Mimi Rogers from 1987 to 1990 and to Nicole Kidman from 1990 to 2001. He and Kidman welcomed two children , Isabella Jane and Connor Antony .

Diane Lane as Sherri “Cherry” Valance

Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett ; Paul Morigi/Getty

Diane Lane, 58, played Sherri “Cherry” Valance, a Soc girl and Ponyboy’s crush. Throughout the novel and film, she tries to de-escalate the tension between the Greasers and the Socs.

Before starring in The Outsiders , Lane already had a few notable roles under her belt, including starring opposite Kenny Rogers in Six Pack (1982). Though Lane continued acting throughout the ‘80s, her biggest roles came in the 1990s and 2000s when she starred in movies such as Judge Dredd (1995) and The Perfect Storm (2000). In 2003, she was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in Unfaithful (2002).

She eventually joined the DC Extended Universe as Martha Kent, Superman’s adoptive mother, in Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017).

During a 2017 Radio Andy interview, Lane recalled Coppola’s unique tactics to ensure tension between the actors portraying the Greasers and Socs. Coppola kept the two groups separated throughout filming and, according to Lane, the actors playing the Socs “actually got a little more [money] per diem” to help flare tensions between the two groups.

Off-screen, Lane was married to actor Christopher Lambert from 1988 to 1994. She and Lambert had a daughter, Eleanor Jasmine Lambert, in September 1993. Lane was later married to actor Josh Brolin from 2004 to 2013.

According to Deadline , Lane will star as American socialite and fashionista Slim Keith in season 2 of FX’s anthology series Feud . The new season, titled Capote’s Women , will feature a star-studded cast to portray controversial author Truman Capote and his entourage of conniving socialites. Tom Hollander will play Capote and Naomi Watts , Chloë Sevigny and Calista Flockhart will also star.

Leif Garrett as Bob Sheldon

Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett ; Albert L. Ortega/Getty

Leif Garrett , 61, played Bob Sheldon, Sherri’s boyfriend who, along with some other Socs, attacks Ponyboy and Johnny. Johnny stabs Bob in self-defense, ultimately killing him.

Before The Outsiders , Garrett had established himself as a musician best known for hits like “I Was Made for Dancin’ ” and “Feel the Need," and had starred in films like Walking Tall (1973) and God’s Gun (1976).

After his two hit albums in the late ‘70s, Garrett’s music career slowed down. After The Outsiders , he appeared in the now-cult classic Cheerleader Camp (1987) and the David Spade comedy Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003).

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Garrett lived with drug addiction. He went to rehab in 1999 to avoid jail time. In 2006, Garrett was arrested for possession and avoided jail time again by agreeing to enter a “much more intense” treatment facility, per the BBC . There, he was sent to jail for a drug violation after he tested positive for drugs while at the treatment facility. He was arrested for possession again in 2010 and joined the fourth season of Celebrity Rehab later that year.

In 2019, he released a book, Idol Truth: A Memoir , chronicling his life as a former child star and his journey to sobriety. In early 2020, Garrett told Fox News that he was sober. “Right now, I’m just taking things one day at a time,” he said. “I’m not in jail and I’m not in rehab. It took a long time to get to a point where I don’t have to self-medicate myself to escape the pain. That feels good. Hard drugs are a difficult thing, especially if you’ve done it for a while. I play music because I love it. I will always love it.”

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• Film characters
• Series characters

Steve Randle

• View history

Steve Randle is a Greaser and a member of The Gang .

Description

Steve is seventeen years old. He is tall, lean, cocky, and smart. He likes to comb his thick, greasy hair in complicated swirls, and he's been Sodapop's best friend since grade school.

Steve's specialty is cars. He works at the DX gas station with Sodapop. Steve also considers Pony "a tag along." Steve is neither described much in the book nor in the movie.

According to Ponyboy, Darry is nicknamed "Superman" or "Muscles" by his fellow Greasers, but Steve once made the mistake of calling him "all brawn and no brain," and Darry almost shattered Steve's jaw. Although Steve acts rude and cocky at times, he cares for all his friends/gang members like when he told Johnny not to worry about the Socs coming into their neighborhood. Ponyboy said that if Sodapop were to be killed, Steve would kept on "fighting and hating".

He is played by Tom Cruise.

References and Citations

• 1 Dallas Winston
• 2 Ponyboy Curtis
• 3 Johnny Cade

Steven Spielberg Tells Tom Cruise: ‘You Saved Hollywood’s Ass’ and ’Top Gun: Maverick’ Might’ve ‘Saved the Entire Theatrical Industry’

By Zack Sharf

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Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise reunited at this year’s Oscar nominees luncheon, where the blockbuster filmmaker praised his “Minority Report” and “War of the Worlds” actor for saving the theatrical movie business with “ Top Gun: Maverick .” Both Spielberg and Cruise are in the running for best picture this year thanks to “The Fabelmans” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” respectively.

“You saved Hollywood’s ass and you might have saved theatrical distribution,” Spielberg said to Cruise in a video originally shared on Instagram by director Kartiki Gonsalves, whose film “The Elephant Whisperers” is nominated for best documentary short film. Cruise was left blushing.

“Top Gun: Maverick” was the second movie to gross over $1 billion at the worldwide box office amid the pandemic, following “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” With a $1.48 billion gross, “Maverick” ranks as the 11th highest-grossing movie in history worldwide (unadjusted for inflation). The film is the fifth-highest grosser at the domestic box office with $718 million.

Although “No Way Home” grossed more, that was a Marvel movie with three generations of Spider-Man actors in it. Although “Maverick” is a sequel, its success was hardly preordained. Yet the follow-up to 1986’s “Top Gun” became a rare old-fashioned hit that legged out at the box office for months based on worth of mouth. According to Paramount, repeat customers fueled the momentum for “Maverick.” By its fourth weekend in North American movie theaters, 16% of the audience had returned more than once and 4% had returned three times or more.

As Variety’s Oscars expert Clayton Davis previously reported , Cruise was the big hit of the nominees Luncheon. Spielberg was hardly the only nominee who fawned over the “Maverick” star. Brendan Gleeson, Paul Mescal, Baz Luhrmann, Michelle Yeoh, Austin Butler and more all made sure to approach Cruise during the event and take photos.

“Top: Gun Maverick” is nominated for six Oscars, while “The Fabelmans” is up for seven. The Oscars air March 12 on ABC.

steven spielberg telling tom cruise to his face, “you saved hollywood’s ass. and, you might have saved theatrical distribution. seriously. MAVERICK might have saved the entire theatrical industry.” i have to lie down. pic.twitter.com/nYbWbgadM7 — amanda (@marisatomay) February 14, 2023

Steven Spielberg tells Tom Cruise that “you saved Hollywood’s ass and you might have saved theatrical distribution. Seriously, ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ might have saved the entire theatrical industry.” pic.twitter.com/nPWR5BqiUV — DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) February 14, 2023

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Steven spielberg overheard telling tom cruise he “saved hollywood’s a**” with ‘top gun: maverick’.

"Seriously, 'Maverick' might have saved the entire theatrical industry," the filmmaker said to the 'Top Gun' sequel actor-producer.

By James Hibberd

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Steven Spielberg was overheard giving a massive compliment to Tom Cruise at the 2023 Academy Luncheon on Monday.

The iconic filmmaker told Cruise in his ear in what was seemingly intended as a private exchange that last year’s blockbuster sequel Top Gun: Maverick might have single-handedly saved theatrical moviegoing.

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Steven Spielberg tells Tom Cruise that “you saved Hollywood’s ass and you might have saved theatrical distribution. Seriously, ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ might have saved the entire theatrical industry.” pic.twitter.com/nPWR5BqiUV — DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) February 14, 2023

During the pandemic, Cruise adamantly pushed for studio Paramount to hold Maverick for theatrical release and resist the temptation to release the film to a streaming service.

Spielberg and Cruise have a long relationship, which includes working together on 2002’s Minority Report and 2005’s War of the Worlds .

Maverick ended up with the highest-grossing domestic box office of 2022, bringing in $718 million. Combined with foreign receipts, the sequel totaled $1.5 billion.

The 2021 blockbuster Spider-Man: No Way Home has also been widely credited with helping revive moviegoing post-pandemic. But Maverick was seen as busting through the usual superhero movie dominance, plus bringing older moviegoers back to the theaters.

Maverick has six Oscar nominations, including best picture. Spielberg’s acclaimed biographical drama The Fabelmans is up for seven Oscars, including best picture and best director.

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Steven Spielberg proclaims to Tom Cruise he 'saved Hollywood' with 'Top Gun: Maverick'

• "You saved Hollywood's ass," Steven Spielberg told Tom Cruise at Monday's Oscar luncheon.
• "Seriously, 'Maverick' might have saved the entire theatrical industry," he also told Cruise.
• Along with being Cruise's biggest box-office hit to date, "Top Gun: Maverick" is also Oscar-nominated.

In a rarely captured, candid moment between two movie titans, Steven Spielberg proclaimed Tom Cruise the savior of movies when the two had a brief encounter at the annual Oscars luncheon on Monday.

"You saved Hollywood's ass," Spielberg told his "Minority Report" star after the pair saw each other at the event. "And you might have saved theatrical distribution."

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"Seriously, 'Maverick' might have saved the entire theatrical industry," the legendary director told Cruise.

—amanda (@marisatomay) February 14, 2023

It's hard not to argue with Spielberg. The release of " Top Gun: Maverick " following the pandemic brought a vital jolt to movie theaters.

In a time when most studios were pushing their titles on streaming services, Paramount stood firm and held the movie's release until people felt more comfortable returning to theaters.

That finally happened in May 2022 when "Maverick" opened and led to a historic box office run. Its more than $1.4 billion worldwide gross is the biggest of Cruise's career to date, and the movie was the biggest box-office earner since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic until "Avatar: The Way of Water" was released in December.

The luncheon takes place every year in Los Angeles before the Oscars where nominees mingle and take photos.

Spielberg's "The Fabelmans" and Cruise's "Top Gun: Maverick" are both nominated for best picture at this year's ceremony, which will air on Sunday, March 12.

Cruise has starred in two of Spielberg's blockbusters: 2002's "Minority Report" and 2005's "War of the Worlds."

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Steven Spielberg Appears to Tell Tom Cruise the Actor ‘Saved Hollywood’s A**’

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Steven Spielberg thinks theaters are soaring, thanks to “ Top Gun: Maverick .”

The “Fabelmans” writer-director appears to have told Tom Cruise at the Academy Awards nominees luncheon that the “Top Gun” actor-producer “got the milestone” of the year.

“You saved Hollywood’s ass,” Spielberg says in a clip widely shared on Twitter. “And, you might have saved theatrical distribution. Seriously. ‘Maverick’ might have saved the entire theatrical industry.” (You can watch the video below.)

Cruise’s appearance at the annual daytime gathering of the Academy Award nominees was a surprise to most attendees. He’s been largely absent from the awards circuit and so became the center of attention at the event, with nominees like Ke Huy Quan and Angela Bassett stopping him to say hi and take photos.

Cruise and Spielberg have collaborated on two films, “Minority Report” (2002) and “War of the Worlds” (2005).

Cruise’s best Picture nominee “Top Gun: Maverick,” directed by Joseph Kosinski, has grossed $1.48 billion at the global box office since opening last May. The now six-time Oscar-nominated film later became the most-watched movie premiere on Paramount+. Amid the pandemic, Cruise was adamant that “Top Gun: Maverick” premiere in theaters only, courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

Paramount allegedly turned down offers from streamers to buy “Maverick,” shutting out Netflix and Apple to instead have a theatrical release. “Top Gun: Maverick” remains second only to “Avatar: The Way of Water” for top 2022 releases globally.

Spielberg previously called the Best Picture Oscar nominations for blockbusters “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Avatar: The Way of Water” an inspiring step for cinema — and specifically theatrical releases. “I’m really encouraged by that,” Spielberg told Deadline .

In an earlier interview, Spielberg told  The New York Times that the pandemic “created an opportunity for streaming platforms to raise their subscriptions to record-breaking levels and also throw some of my best filmmaker friends under the bus as their movies were unceremoniously not given theatrical releases.”

He continued that there is “no question” that “big sequels” and Marvel, DC, and Pixar films “still have a place in society,” especially as being theatrical draws among the likes of animated movies and horror films as a whole.

Spielberg is up for Best Director for “The Fabelmans” this year, as well as Best Picture as a producer on the film.

steven spielberg telling tom cruise to his face, “you saved hollywood’s ass. and, you might have saved theatrical distribution. seriously. MAVERICK might have saved the entire theatrical industry.” i have to lie down. pic.twitter.com/nYbWbgadM7 — amanda (@marisatomay) February 14, 2023

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It's official (according to Steven Spielberg): Tom Cruise saved cinema

By Lucy Ford

If ever there was a time to canonise some sort of living Patron Saint of Hollywood, Tom Cruise probably deserves a shot at the running. 

The movie business hasn't exactly had an easy few years. As we were stuck at home, cinemas shuttered, budgets got slashed, water cooler moments all but disappeared and VOD became the movie-watching experience de rigueur. The town was in a tizzy. ‘How will we ever get bums back in seats?’ Of course, there were some outliers. Marvel , for instance, never stopped making money, especially thanks to Spider-man: No Way Home . But then, swooping in on the wing of a plane , Tom Cruise appeared and solidified the blockbuster's place in the 2020s with Top Gun: Maverick .

This may sound hyperbolic, but at least Steven Spielberg agrees with us.

The pair were caught on camera at the annual Oscars luncheon, where they're both nominated for Best Picture ( Spielberg nabbing it for his semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans ). In a video captured at the event, Spielberg is seen gushing to a blushing Cruise “You saved Hollywood’s ass and you might have saved theatrical distribution. Seriously, Top Gun: Maverick might have saved the entire theatrical industry.” It's a pretty glorious moment, especially when you consider the pair's history working together on films like Minority Report and War of the Worlds, two titans of the box office at their release. 

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

Steven Spielberg knows a thing or two about boosting theatrical releases. Jaws , of course, is still one of the highest-grossing movies of all time, and you can throw in the Jurassic Park and the Indiana Jones franchises in for good measure too. And when it comes to Cruise, he's not wrong. 

Grossing over a billion dollars at the global box office and railing against the short window between cinema release and on-demand viewing, with Top Gun: Maverick , Cruise ensured a place on the big screen for films that aren't tethered to 30 other films packed with lore before it. Sure, Top Gun: Maverick isn't an original film, it's drenched in nostalgia for its 1986 predecessor which told the story of young fighter pilots. The movie more or less cuts and pastes that concept into a new mould, with Cruise leading a gaggle of young bucks, including the son ( Miles Teller ) of his late best friend Goose. But its existence as a sequel at this point is kind of overshadowed by the sheer feat it pulled that could rival any F/A-18. 

It's hard to call anything a bonafide, decades-spanning A-list celebrity does a ‘Cinderella Story’, but Top Gun: Maverick bucked not only a post-pandemic movie-going trend but reopened a window to a former golden age of blockbuster experiences. Considering, ahead of its release, many were sure Cruise's resistance to sending it to streaming right away was some kind of folly of ego, its continuing box office success is something like a fairytale.

So there you have it, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Steven Spielberg, we now pronounce Tom Cruise the saviour of the film industry. 

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Steven spielberg gives tom cruise and 'top gun: maverick' the highest compliment ahead of the oscars, share this article.

You can count one of the greatest directors of all time as a fan of Top Gun: Maverick , the high-flying action drama starring Tom Cruise that dominated theaters last summer.

Steven Spielberg caught up with Cruise at this year’s Oscar nominees luncheon earlier this week. In an exchange between the former collaborators caught on camera — see below — Spielberg tells Cruise that he “saved Hollywood’s [butt]” with Maverick.

“And you might have saved theatrical distribution,” Spielberg tells Cruise. “Seriously, ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ might have saved the entire theatrical industry.”

Maverick was just the second film released amid the pandemic to gross more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office, joining the exclusive company of Spider-Man: No Way Home . And in the domestic box office, Maverick is the fifth-highest grossing film of all-time, topping $718 million. It’s the only non-Marvel and non-Avatar film in the top five.

steven spielberg telling tom cruise to his face, “you saved hollywood’s ass. and, you might have saved theatrical distribution. seriously. MAVERICK might have saved the entire theatrical industry.” i have to lie down. pic.twitter.com/nYbWbgadM7 — amanda (@marisatomay) February 14, 2023

Unlike the third installment of the third Spider-Man series, Maverick has been nominated for multiple Academy Awards, hence Cruise’s presence at the awards luncheon. In addition to starring in the film, Cruise is also credited as a producer.

Cruise and Spielberg’s films are both competing at this year’s Oscars . Both Maverick and Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans are nominated for Best Picture. The Fabelmans is up for six other awards – including Judd Hirsch for Best Supporting Actor – while Maverick is nominated for five others, including sound, editing, original song, visual effects, and adapted screenplay.

Despite great performances by Cruise, and co-stars Glen Powell and Miles Teller, Maverick didn’t land any nominations for acting . Cruise has never won an acting Oscar, but would be credited with a win as a producer should Maverick win Best Picture. Cruise was last nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2000’s Magnolia . Though, we all think he should’ve at least been nominated for pulling off this insane stunt in Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation .

Spielberg and Cruise haven’t worked together on a film since 2005’s War of the Worlds . Before that, they also teamed up for 2002’s Minority Report . Perhaps we’ll see them work on another film together if Cruise can take a break from death-defying stunts in Mission Impossible sequels.

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Webby awards winners list: taylor swift, olivia rodrigo, ryan gosling, keke palmer, shannon sharpe & julia louis-dreyfus among honored, steven spielberg tells tom cruise he “saved hollywood’s a**” & doesn’t regret turning down directing ‘harry potter & the sorcerer’s stone’.

By Armando Tinoco

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Steven Spielberg is seemingly crediting Tom Cruise for “saving Hollywood” with the theatrical release of Top Gun: Maverick .

The Fabelmans director caught up with Cruise at the Oscar nominees luncheon and their encounter was caught in a video that has now gone viral. Spielberg congratulated Cruise on hitting the “milestone” last year by bringing back audiences to the theaters.

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Top Gun: Maverick , directed by Joseph Kosinski, was released in May 2022 and has grossed more than $1.48 billion globally.

steven spielberg telling tom cruise to his face, “you saved hollywood’s ass. and, you might have saved theatrical distribution. seriously. MAVERICK might have saved the entire theatrical industry.” i have to lie down. pic.twitter.com/nYbWbgadM7 — amanda (@marisatomay) February 14, 2023

In a separate interview, Spielberg is saying that he has no regrets about turning down the offer to direct Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone , the film that established the whole franchise.

“There were several films I chose not to make,” Spielberg told “RRR” director S.S. Rajamouli during a conversation in India (via Insider ). “They offered me ‘Harry Potter’ and I chose to turn down the first ‘Harry Potter’ to basically spend the next year and a half with my family, my young kids growing up.”

Spielberg continued, “So, I sacrificed a great franchise — which today looking back I’m very happy to have done — to be with my family.”

Chris Columbus ultimately ended up directing the first adaptation of the J.K. Rowling book series that was released in 2001. Columbus also directed the sequel Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets which was released the following year.

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Steven Spielberg tells Tom Cruise he ‘saved Hollywood’s ass’ in viral clip from Oscars luncheon

‘top gun: maverick’ may have ‘saved the entire theatrical industry’, director told star, article bookmarked.

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Steven Spielberg was filmed heaping praise on Tom Cruise at the Academy Awards nominees luncheon on Monday (13 February).

Multiple outlets in attendance reported that Cruise was the centre of attention at the event, which he attended due to his producing nomination for Top Gun: Maverick .

In a clip that has widely circulated on Twitter, Spielberg – who is nominated for his semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans – can be heard pulling Cruise close in the noisy room and telling him: “You saved Hollywood ’s ass.”

He continues: “And you might have saved theatrical distribution. Seriously. Maverick might have saved the entire theatrical industry.”

Cruise is seen modestly shaking his head and smiling in response to the compliments.

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The famed director and star have collaborated twice in the past on Minority Report (2002) and War of the Worlds (2005).

Spielberg previously told Deadline he felt “encouraged” that blockbusters including Maverick and Avatar: The Way of the Water had been recognised by the Academy.

Maverick , the sequel to the 1986 classic Top Gun , was recently named the best film of 2022 by the American review-aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes.

The film directed by Joseph Krasinski, which is nominated for Best Picture at the 2023 Oscars, has grossed $1.48bn (£1.22bn) at the global box office since opening last May.

Before the nominations were announced, Cruise’s Maverick co-star Jennifer Connelly pushed for Cruise to receive an Oscar nod in the Best Actor category.

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“He’s extraordinary,” she said.

“He does an amazing job in the movie. He’s extraordinary as a person and fantastic as an actor, and I think that he is just perfect. He embodies that character so beautifully, and I think he absolutely deserves it.”

The 95th Academy Awards will take place on 12 March. UK viewers will likely be able to watch the show via Sky's NOW Cinema Membership, which costs £9.99 per month.

You can catch up on the biggest talking points from the Oscar nominations, including the seven biggest snubs and surprises, here .

And you can find out where to watch all the Best Picture nominees here .

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The Outsiders Scene That Made Tom Cruise Physically Ill

At this point in his legendary career, there's almost nothing that Tom Cruise hasn't done onscreen. That statement extends far beyond just delivering solid character work. In fact, Cruise's reputation for doing his own stunt work in films precedes him these days. That reputation is well earned, as Cruise has personally participated in high-speed chases, flown jets and helicopters, dangled from skyscrapers, repelled down buildings, leaped between buildings, and more, in service of big screen spectacle over the years. And if everything goes to plan, he'll even punch a ticket to actual space before all is said and done.

During a 2021 interview on " The Graham Norton Show ," the seemingly ageless Cruise claimed in no uncertain terms he still gets a sincere kick out of doing his own stunt work in his films, and admitted he's even been told by some directors to stop smiling during the death-defying scenes. While Cruise has willingly sacrificed his body in service of such spectacle over the years, it seems one scene from his early career hit "The Outsiders" pushed the famed cinematic daredevil to the absolute limits. And the "Top Gun: Maverick" superstar was clearly not smiling by the time the shot was in the can. 

Cruise apparently went into sugar shock shooting a scene for The Outsiders

If you've followed Tom Cruise's illustrious career since the early days, you know he worked with some of cinema's biggest names prior to his "Top Gun" breakout. And during the same interview with " The Graham Norton Show ," Cruise regaled the talk show host and his fellow guests with a couple of hilarious tales, one of which involved an unfortunate culinary decision he made for Francis Ford Coppola's stylish 1983 ensemble drama " The Outsiders ."

That decision found Cruise caught in a tricky digestive loop in a scene where he and several of the film's esteemed cast members hash out a family problem. The talky scene finds Cruise's Steve Randle contributing to the conversation while chomping down on chocolate cake. According to Cruise, the decision to actually eat cake in the scene was innocent enough. "I was working with Coppola," he said, "and I was like, 'You know what, I'm going to eat chocolate cake in the scene ... it's part of the character, I'm going to eat chocolate cake.'"

The choice soon came back to haunt Cruise as the scene took longer than anticipated to shoot. "We ended up shooting this scene for three days," he told Norton, "and we did like 100 takes of me eating chocolate cake, and I had to keep eating it." Cruise continued by adding the first few takes were pretty enjoyable. But by the end of day three, he'd had more than enough, claiming, "I was in sugar shock, I was vomiting." Culinary regrets aside, the cake scene stands as proof that even early in his career Cruise would do anything necessary to make a moment memorable.

The Outsiders (1983)

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Tom Cruise’s Smile Is Not as Perfect as It Seems Because of This One Thing

When it comes to smiles, Tom Cruise ’s teeth might take the cake — unless you look very closely . More than three decades in to his career, Tom is still one of the hottest actors in showbiz. He’s starring in the upcoming film Mission: Impossible — Fallout , scheduled for release on July 27, and we know his impeccable acting chops and winning good looks will make the movie a great one. No matter how phenomenal he is as an actor, we can’t help but notice that Tom’s smile consists of a rather odd middle tooth .

Don’t believe us? Check out photos of Tom Cruise’s middle tooth!

While he has amazing pearly whites, Tom’s 100-watt grin has one tooth that’s just a bit out of place. You can see from the photo that his teeth aren’t exactly symmetrical with the center of his face. Many have noticed that the 55-year-old actor’s right front tooth is just a tad askew, and has been widely referred to as his “middle tooth” for quite a while now.

Tom has certainly put in the time and effort to achieve the smile he has today. At age 40, just after his split from Nicole Kidman the Hollywood vet got braces to address an overbite and misalignment problems. He proudly showed them off while walking the red carpet at the 2002 premiere of Minority Report .

Tom has never been shy about flaunting his less-than-perfect smile. When he played Steve Randle in 1983’s The Outsiders , a young Tom voluntarily removed the cap from a front tooth that had been chipped by a flying puck in a hockey match. We’re impressed with his willingness to do anything for his job, even if it puts a flaw out in the public eye.

At the Jerry Bruckheimer Hand and Footprint Ceremony, Tom Cruise sported a set of beautifully-shaped white chompers. He attended the Hollywood event in 2010, 25 years after his role in The Outsiders , and we couldn’t be more impressed with the transformation his teeth went under.

At the Rock of Ages premiere in 2012, the Hollywood veteran showed off a new haircut and his well-known grin. The cupid’s bow of his lip gives a good indication of the asymmetry in his smile. Tom has never stopped gracing the silver screen and landing iconic roles since his career launched at 19.

Last October, Tom attended a benefit screening of the film he starred in, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back . He came out to Knoxville to support Variety – The Children’s Charity of Eastern Tennessee, and was smiling big during his red carpet appearance. Some fans also noticed that, aside from his middle tooth, his left incisor appeared to be bigger than his right one.

Deal of the Day

During an interview at The Mummy fan event in New York City, Tom flashed a smile showing off his pearly whites. You can tell from looking up close that his right incisor lines up with his nose. Despite this slight imperfection, his smile has come a long way from his days playing the part of Steve Randle. While Tom has never come out and stated exactly what he had done, many dentists speculate that, on top of his braces, he received porcelain veneers and most likely had whitening treatments.

There’s a reason Tom Cruise’s smile is irresistible: his confidence.

Despite his dental imperfection, Tom has never lacked confidence. In 1985, only a couple of years after his career took off, the genetically blessed star explained why he decided to embrace his newfound sex symbol status. “It doesn’t bother me at all,” he told Entertainment Tonight at the time. “I mean, I don’t, like, resent it. I’m not tortured at night by it. You know, I’m actually very happy that people, you know, think enough of my work to feel that way.” His choice to embrace the public perception of his appearance has only driven success to his career, even now in 2018.

Many fans are also surprised to find out that Tom is actually only 5 feet 7 inches tall, which isn’t the “typical size” of someone you’d think would play Jack Reacher. In a previous interview, Tom was forced to open up about how his unconventional body type for superhero roles. “You know, [author Lee Child] created the character,” he said. “I had my own opinion that I didn’t say to Lee and then he came back and pretty much reflected what I had felt about it. But had he said ‘look I’d rather not,’ I would not have played the character.”

Tom Cruise Was Once Considered For Iron Man, But There Was Another Superhero Movie He Also 'Flirted' With

Y ou don’t get to be an acting talent like Tom Cruise without racking up an obscene amount of “what if” stories. While we know the man as the lead of the Mission: Impossible movies , and a stunt performing daredevil extraordinaire, there were a couple times in his career that comic book movies came a calling. 

And while we already know about Cruise’s potential role in the then developing Iron Man franchise, it turns out that Zack Snyder’s Watchmen was apparently another project that could have seen the star of some of the best action movies in the world playing an anti-hero. 

The Watchmen Characters Tom Cruise Was Considered For

As if Zack Snyder’s bombshell about Leonardo DiCaprio being considered for the role of Lex Luthor wasn’t enough of a shock, the director’s Happy Sad Confused interview also yielded this juicy gem. And apparently, while the Rebel Moon director wanted Tom Cruise to play one role, the man behind Ethan Hunt was gunning for the polar opposite. Take a look for yourself: 

I’m going to set aside the fact that, like Josh Horowitz, I consider the casting of Watchmen to be perfect. I can’t see either Jackie Earle Haley or Matthew Goode not playing Rorschach or Ozymandias at this point, but for the sake of academic curiosity, I’m going to pretend I can. With that caveat in place, I’d honestly have a hard time picking which role Tom Cruise would be better suited for. 

Cruise’s Rorschach feels like it’d be a modified version of his Vincent character from Collateral , whereas Ozymandias would be a variation on his aloof killer archetype as Lestat from Interview with the Vampire . That second scenario would have been a particularly good showcase for Tom, as that character basically launches into a Watchmen ending explained monologue in the third act.

Both characters hold echoes of some of Tom Cruise's best movies. So to all of a sudden hear that Zack Snyder had met with the man to try and cast him in this epic comic adaptation has replaced Iron Man as the greater “what if” for Cruise’s potential career in comic movies. Which, after all this time, is no easy feat.

That Time Tom Cruise ‘Flirted’ With Playing Iron Man

If anyone ever wanted to know how forward thinking Tom Cruise is when it comes to movies, consider this: the man was flirting with comic book movies before the boom had truly taken off. While the ultimate reason for Cruise’s Iron Man refusal was classic Hollywood dealing, the man was circling these sorts of opportunities before they were cool. 

History shook out the way it did, and Robert Downey Jr.’s iconic casting won out. That hasn’t stopped people from pondering over how a Cruise-led Iron Man could have looked. Especially since, on the Tom Cruise Continuum of Characters, Tony Stark feels like a more cavalier and grown up version of Risky Business’ Joel Goodsen.

Twice before we almost saw Tom Cruise landing a comic book movie icon on his resume; and who knows? We might just see him land that sort of role in the future, provided he wants to go down that road. The Multiverse of both DC and Marvel are vast, and there's surely someone Cruise would be down to play in the name of four paneled fun. 

As it stands, the Watchmen we have at home is a sterling example of comic book adaptations done right. So should you want to revisit that movie, with or without visions of Tom Cruise participating, you can do just that. At the time of this publication, a Max subscription is all that’s required to catch up once again with those costumed heroes. 

Things you buy through our links may earn  Vox Media  a commission.

Tom Cruise Is a London Boy

Sometimes when God closes a door (Taylor Swift says “So long” ), She opens a window (Tom Cruise does the splits). Cruise is living that life in London, and for him that means break-dancing, doing the splits, and watching the British absolutely lose their crumpets. Cruise has lived in London since 2021 and has, in that time, been at the former queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the British Grand Prix, according to the Mercury News . And now he has attended the most British event of all: Posh Spice’s birthday party. Fortunately, he still has the American propensity to do the most. While at the party, Cruise began break-dancing and ended his routine by doing the splits, according to the Daily Mail . “People were absolutely dumbfounded,” a source mentioned. All we’ll say about that is that if there’s one thing the Mission: Impossible franchise could do to s ecure those Imax screens , it just might be a (gay?) club scene in which Cruise distracts the bad guys by jumping into the splits like a Drag Race contestant. Just an idea.

• victoria beckham
• so long london
• david beckham
• mission: complete

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