On this day in 2006, the actors Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are married in a Church of Scientology ceremony at the 15th-century Odescalchi Castle in Lake Bracciano, Italy. A number of the Hollywood super-couple's celebrity friends were in attendance, including Will and Jada Smith, Brooke Shields, Victoria Beckham, Jim Carrey and Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. Cruise and Holmes's whirlwind courtship was obsessively chronicled in the tabloid press and their wedding created an international media frenzy.
Cruise, the star of such Hollywood blockbusters as "Top Gun" and "Mission: Impossible," and Holmes, who until then was best known for her role as Joey Potter on the popular teen-oriented TV series "Dawson's Creek," first appeared together publicly as a couple in the spring of 2005. That May, Cruise went on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and generated headlines by jumping on the host's couch and expressing his love for Holmes, who is 16 years his junior. The following month, the two actors, dubbed "TomKat" by the media, became engaged in Paris. Around the same time, Cruise sparked controversy for his impassioned advocacy of Scientology as well as his public criticism of anti-depressant drugs and psychiatry. That fall, Cruise and Holmes announced they were having a baby. Their daughter Suri was born April 18, 2006, and the couple wed seven months later.
Cruise, who was born on July 3, 1962, made his feature film debut at the age of 18 in "Endless Love" (1981), which was followed by "Taps" (1981) and "The Outsiders" (1983). After a breakthrough performance in the 1983 hit "Risky Business," he won international fame for his role as fighter pilot Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in 1986's "Top Gun." Cruise received his first Academy Award nomination, for best actor, for his performance as the Vietnam veteran and anti-war activist Ron Kovic in "Born on the Fourth of July" (1989). His second Oscar nomination came for his portrayal as a sports agent in "Jerry Maguire" (1996); a third nomination followed for Cruise's performance as a self-help guru in Paul Thomas Anderson's ensemble drama "Magnolia" (1999). Cruise's numerous film credits also include "The Color of Money" (1986), with Paul Newman; "Rain Man" (1988), with Dustin Hoffman; "A Few Good Men" (1992), with Jack Nicholson; "The Firm" (1993); and "Interview with the Vampire: the Vampire Chronicles" (1994). He starred as superspy Ethan Hunt in 1996's "Mission: Impossible," and reprised his role in the hit 2000, 2006 and 2011 sequels. Other Cruise movies include "Minority Report" (2002) and "War of the Worlds" (2005), both of which were directed by Steven Spielberg.
Prior to tying the knot with Holmes, Cruise was married to the actress Mimi Rogers ("Someone to Watch Over Me," "The Door in the Floor") from 1987 to 1990. Cruise acted in three films with Nicole Kidman, to whom he was married from 1990 to 2001: "Days of Thunder" (1990), "Far and Away" (1992) and "Eyes Wide Shut" (1999).
Katie Holmes, who was born on December 18, 1978, made her big-screen debut in director Ang Lee's critically acclaimed "The Ice Storm" (1997), featuring Tobey Maguire. Holmes went on to star in the teen drama "Dawson's Creek" from 1998 to 2003; she has also appeared in such films as "Go" (1999), "Wonder Boys" (2000), "Phone Booth" (2002), "Pieces of April" (2003), "Batman Begins" (2005), "Thank You for Smoking" (2005) and "Mad Money" (2008).
On June 28, 2012, after more than five years of marriage, Holmes filed for divorce from Cruise. Two weeks later, on July 9, it was announced the couple had reached a divorce settlement.
Also on This Day
- Lead Story
- Terry Waite released, 1991
- American Revolution
- Fort Washington becomes Fort Knyphausen, 1776
- Automotive
- Volkswagen's "Dream Factory" opens in Resende, Brazil, 1996
- Civil War
- President Lincoln travels to Gettysburg, 1863
- Cold War
- Congress issues final report on Iran-Contra scandal, 1987
- Crime
- High-profile expert on exotic birds is sentenced for smuggling parrots, 1996
- Disaster
- Commuters die in subway fire, 1987
- General Interest
- Haig ends Battle of Somme, 1916
- Mass suicide at Jonestown, 1978
- Hollywood
- Tom Cruise weds, again, 2006
- Literary
- Alice McDermott wins the National Book Award, 1998
- Music
- Billy Joel earns his first #1 album when 52nd Street tops the Billboard pop chart, 1978
- Old West
- Railroads create the first time zones, 1883
- Presidential
- Chester Arthur dies in New York, 1886
- Sports
- Sandy Koufax retires, 1966
- Vietnam War
- South Vietnamese conduct largest air assault to date, 1964
- South Vietnamese fight first major battle after U.S. troops are withdrawn, 1969
- Nixon appeals to Congress for funds for Cambodia, 1970
- World War I
- Battle of the Somme ends , 1916
- World War II
- Hitler furious over Italy's debacle in Greece, 1940
Nov 18, 2006:
Tom Cruise weds, again
Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!
This Week in History, Nov 18 - Nov 24
- Nov 18, 2006
- Tom Cruise weds, again
- Nov 19, 1975
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest debuts
- Nov 20, 2003
- Music producer Phil Spector indicted for murder of actress
- Nov 21, 1976
- Rocky premieres
- Nov 22, 2002
- Die Another Day released 40 years after first Bond film
- Nov 23, 1990
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory creator Roald Dahl dies
- Nov 23, 2012
- Larry Hagman, star of "Dallas" and "I Dream of Jeannie," dies
- Nov 24, 1993
- Robin Williams stars in Mrs. Doubtfire
What Happened on Your Birthday?
Pick a DateEditor’s Picks
-
Ultimate History Quiz
Play solo or challenge your friends.
-
Memorial Day
Explore the history of America's most solemn holiday.
-
Civil War 150
Explore the people, events and technology that shaped America's bloodiest conflict.
-
History Lists: Royal Pretenders
Meet seven people who posed as monarchs.
Bio.com
-
On This Day
Read about notable birthdays and celebrity deaths at On This Day.
