Rather than going after Tom Cruise for something controversial, like his long, close relationship with the Church of Scientology, Mickey Rourke has instead decided to discredit his acting. When talking about his acting inspirations with Piers Morgan, The “9 1/2 Weeks” star said, “Monty Clift and [Marlon] Brando back in the day, a lot of guys that tried to stretch as actors.” The British broadcaster then asked “You don’t think Tom Cruise is a good actor?” to which Rourke responded, “I think he’s irrelevant, in my world.”
Per the Daily Mail, Rourke also said, “The guy’s been doing the same effing part for 35 years. I got no respect for that.” Cruise has mostly starred in action blockbusters like the “Mission: Impossible” franchise in recent years, but those films aren’t irrelevant at the box office. “Top Gun: Maverick” is the most successful film of 2022 to date, grossing over $1 billion at the box office with a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Rourke and Cruise have never worked together, and there’s no evidence of a prior feud that may have caused Rourke’s comments. But they were both A-listers in the 1980s and their careers are in very different places now. While Cruise hasn’t commented on the interview, it’s unlikely he’s losing any sleep over Mickey Rourke’s opinion.
Nicki
