Having proved he’s a star, Tom now wanted to test himself as an actor. While remaining in the shadow of Dustin Hoffman’s performance in Rain Man, Tom is able to get his first Oscar nomination by breaking out of his mold in Born on the 4th of July.

Tom’s next two films will launch the careers of everyone around him while nearly delivering him that elusive Oscar. A Few Good Men is once again a win for Jack Nicholson rather than Tom, but Jerry Maguire brings him in reach of the Oscar.

Tom Cruise tests his limits, becoming a producer and taking on ever riskier stunts. But it’s his personal life that nearly sends his career spinning.