I look at the Samurai because they were the artists of their time. What I think struck me when I read Bushido is compassion. 'If there's no one there to help, go out and find someone to help.' That hit me, because I try to lead my life like that.

In mid-2011 Cruise started shooting the movie Rock of Ages in which he played the character Stacee Jaxx. com domain name. Cruise/Wagner Productions responded that Paramount's announcement was a face-saving move after the production company had successfully sought alternative financing from private equity firms.

Cruise has starred in many Hollywood blockbusters including Rain Man (1988) A Few Good Men (1992) Jerry Maguire (1996) Vanilla Sky (2001) Minority Report (2002) The Last Samurai (2003) Collateral (2004) War of the Worlds (2005) Tropic Thunder (2008) and Jack Reacher (2012). He started his career at age 19 in the 1981 film Taps.