Friends and family turn out to honour Tom at black tie gala

By hellomagazine.com – Wednesday, November 7 07:13 pm

Manhattan eatery Cipriani played host to some of the biggest names in Hollywood on Tuesday night as Tinseltown stars attended a Museum Of The Moving Image Black Tie Salute To Tom Cruise. The 45-year-old star, who now runs United Artists film studio with business partner Paula Wagner, was joined by leading ladies Julianne Moore and Ellen Barkin, plus his mum, Mary Lee Mapother, and wife Katie Holmes.

The evening tribute included clips from Tom’s films introduced by directors he has worked with, including Far And Away’s Ron Howard and Rain Man director Barry Levinson. Also among the stellar crowd were his War Of The Worlds co-star Tim Robbins and Kenneth Branagh, who appears alongside Tom in the upcoming Valkyrie.

“Salutes are traditionally for actors or directors,” says museum director Rochelle Slovin. “Some of these actors and directors are multitasking, and Tom Cruise is one of them. His position with United Artists puts him into a whole new phase of his career, and that makes it a perfect time to honour him.”

Despite it being his big night, the Top Gun actor was, as ever, focused on his beautiful other-half – living up to his romantic reputation with a chivalrous kiss on Katie’s hand. (Source: Yahoo! News UK & Ireland)

Cruise clocks in for timely movie honor

By Donna Freydkin, USA TODAY
NEW YORK — Say what you will about Tom Cruise, but the actor is more punctual than the U.S. Naval Observatory clock. And every bit as efficient.

Cruise arrived 30 minutes early to Tuesday’s Museum of the Moving Image gala honoring him at Cipriani. He mingled with the frenzied fans clustered outside the venue, and once indoors, spent hours taking one photo after another with grinning fans, gracious and friendly with every person as willowy wife Katie Holmes stood near him and smiled.

Holmes walked in with Cruise then chatted with the night’s bigwigs, but not the media. “I’m from Ohio, I have family in Massachusetts,” Holmes told an event staffer, before heading toward the bar and dining area.

Cruise, 45, was visibly moved by the event and what it meant.

“It’s a big night,” said Cruise, who a year ago was dropped by longtime studio Paramount then revived his career by starting his own production company. “Tonight is about movies.”

What’s he most proud of, professionally?

“That’s a hard one. That’s hard to say. I’m really proud to have made the films I’ve made,” he said. “I guess I’ve never taken for granted the opportunities that I’ve had. This is a dream for me, truly it is.”

In Lions for Lambs, his new thriller opening Friday, Cruise plays a slippery senator with dreams of being president. But the actor says he has no political aspirations. “They do what they do. Playing this character, I certainly have greater understanding of what it is they’re up against. I do what I do. I love making movies. This is a dream for me.”

As for Lions, it was something of a dream come true for him. “Tonight, here I am. I made a picture with (Robert) Redford and Meryl Streep. These legends. I remember at the beginning of my career looking at their lives and their films. To have that experience, it’s come full circle for me tonight.”

Holmes famously ran the New York City Marathon on Sunday, inspiring Cruise to also break more of a sweat. “I was on the treadmill the next day. When your wife runs the marathon, you better get on the treadmill,” said Cruise.

Does he plan to run the marathon next year?

“Yeah, I don’t know,” he grinned. (Source: USA Today)

Tom on Katie: ‘She’s My Inspiration’
Posted by ExtraTV Staff on November 7, 2007 8:08 AM

The stars came out to honor Tom Cruise in New York last night for his legendary Hollywood career, but it was wife Katie Holmes who stole Tom’s focus.

“She’s my inspiration,” Tom told “Extra” as he beamed recalling Katie’s impressive 26-mile marathon. “You know what, the next day I hit the treadmill. I was like, okay if this woman can do it with everything that she does – and believe me she works – she’s got movies and she’s taking care of so many things. It really is an inspiration.”

The Museum of the Moving Image celebrated Tom’s 25 years as one of Tinseltown’s biggest power players with a huge bash at Cipriani. Tom, 45, said the night was a special moment for him.

“No man, sometimes it feels longer, sometimes it feels like that,” he said.

Famous friends like Barbara Walters, Brian Grazer and Ron Howard gathered to watch a series of clips from Tom’s most memorable films, an experience that left him visibly moved and a bit nostalgic.

“Actually when you’re looking back it’s been my life – it’s been the journey,” Tom said.

View the video on the site by clicking the link -> (Source: Extra)

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