Cruise has championed the cause of the Church of Scientology religiously for a decade, even traveling to Germany and France to lobby for the religion to gain official recognition. He has promoted cause after cause in support of Scientology and was awarded the Scientology’s Freedom Medal of Valor for his work. He credited the religion with ridding him of dyslexia and has proven happy to share his story. (David Miscavige, the leader of the religion, even served as Cruise’s best man during his wedding to Holmes.) In 2008 Cruise created a promotional video for the religion and it certainly sparked “discussion” over the belief set of the group, especially as Cruise expressed his “authority” to solve the world’s ills.
Tom Cruise at 50: Where Does the Newly Single Star Go From Here?
Cruise celebrates his 50th birthday on July 3 — just days after his third wife, Katie Holmes, filed for divorce. TIME looks back at all the blockbuster movies, love interests, couch-jumping and Scientology videos that have shaped his career