Over his decades-long career, Tom Cruise has established himself as one of the most bankable
and iconic movie stars in Hollywood history.
He has headlined numerous major blockbuster franchises, including Top Gun and Mission:
Impossible, which have grossed billions worldwide.
However, while Cruise's professional achievements have made him a household name, his personal
life - specifically his relationship with his daughter Suri Cruise - has also been the
subject of intense public fascination and scrutiny for years.
Now Suri is 16 years old, and signs indicate that after such a prolonged period of distance,
Cruise may be taking steps to rebuild his connection with his daughter.
Join FactsVerse as we present all the details of Tom's attempt to reconnect with his daughter
Cruise and Suri's Early Bond When Suri Cruise entered the world on April
18, 2006, weighing in at a healthy 7 pounds 7 ounces, her father Tom Cruise was over the
moon.
Suri was Tom's first biological child with his then-girlfriend Katie Holmes, and Cruise
couldn't have been more excited to welcome this new baby girl into his life.
From the moment Suri was born, Tom was completely besotted with her.
He described his daughter's birth as having been everything they wanted it to be.
He added that it was spiritual and indescribable.
Tom literally couldn't contain his happiness, infamously jumping on Oprah's couch declaring
his love for Katie and the baby on the way.
Once Suri arrived, Tom wasted no time showering her with love and attention.
He was a doting, hands-on dad from the start, often photographed sweetly cradling baby Suri
or strolling with her proudly through the streets.
Tom even bought an ultrasound machine so he and Katie could monitor Suri constantly and
see her 24/7 if they wanted.
Tom made sure to include Suri in his busy Hollywood life too.
Just a few months after her birth, he brought her onto the set of his film Lions for Lambs,
showing her off to co-stars Meryl Streep and Robert Redford.
That Christmas, 7-month old Suri flew to Tokyo with Tom for the premiere of Mission Impossible
III, getting an early taste of globetrotting with her famous dad.
Over the next few years, Suri was Tom's constant companion.
He was said to have doted on her endlessly, calling her an incredible little girl and
saying he loved her dearly.
The adorable father-daughter duo were captured sharing sweet moments, with Tom carrying Suri
on his shoulders through New York and London.
He made no secret of his utter devotion to his little girl.
From lavishing Suri with affection to making sure she was part of his film shoots and red
carpet life, Tom reveled in fatherhood after her birth.
He was committed to being a hands-on, doting dad, cherishing every moment with baby Suri.
Their incredibly close bond in those early years made his later estrangement from his
daughter all the more surprising and tragic.
The Divorce and Estrangement In June 2012, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes
announced they were divorcing after five years of marriage.
It came as a shock to fans, as Tom had seemed so enthralled with Katie when they first got
together in 2005.
While the split itself was surprising, even more unexpected was its aftermath - Tom's
complete estrangement from his daughter Suri.
Following the divorce, Katie was awarded sole legal and physical custody of 11-year-old
Suri.
Tom was granted visitation rights, but alarmingly, he never exercised them.
In legal proceedings, Tom acknowledged he had not seen Suri for nearly 4 months after
the separation from Katie.
What followed over the next decade was a painful absence of contact between Tom and the daughter
he once doted on constantly.
Suri was left devastated by her father's withdrawal from her life.
A former Scientologist claimed Suri "pined for her dad" after the divorce.
But as months turned to years with no contact, hope of reconciliation faded.
In 2013, Tom admitted he didn't even have a personal cell phone number to reach Suri
directly.
On Suri's 13th birthday, Tom was filming The Mummy in London but made no attempt to see
her.
For Christmas that year, Suri was photographed walking to Tom's office to drop off a gift,
hoping in vain he would come outside to see her.
Over and over, Tom prioritized his work and Scientology over his youngest child.
He missed numerous parental milestones most fathers cherish - Suri's first day of high
school, school performances, birthdays.
He has never been photographed with teen Suri, despite having ample opportunity given his
frequent filming in New York where she resides.
Now 17, Suri has grown up without Tom in her life at all.
The once inseparable father and daughter have had no contact in over a decade, despite Tom
having the means to see her whenever he wants.
His voluntary absence from Suri's life after previously embracing fatherhood remains both
shocking and heartbreaking.
Tom's estrangement from Suri following the divorce destroyed the close relationship they
once shared.
His commitment to Scientology has been cited as the key factor keeping them apart to this
day.
After so many missed years, reconciliation seems sadly unlikely.
Scientology's Role Tom Cruise's association with the Church of
Scientology has been credited as the major driving force behind his estrangement from
daughter Suri following his divorce from Katie Holmes.
Cruise became involved with Scientology in 1990 through his first wife Mimi Rogers.
He soon became one of the religion's most devoted celebrity members, even declaring
Scientology had saved him in 2007.
However, Katie never fully embraced Scientology even when she was married to Tom.
After they split, Katie returned to her Catholic roots, enrolling Suri in an exclusive Catholic
school in New York City.
This posed problems for Tom within Scientology.
Scientology allegedly forbids members from maintaining relationships with people labeled
suppressive persons - those who reject the Church.
Since Katie and Suri fell into this category of SPs, Tom was pressured to cut ties with
them both.
In 2013 court testimony, Tom admitted Scientology was a factor in the collapse of his marriage
to Katie.
When asked whether Katie left him to protect Suri from Scientology, Tom replied that that
was one of the assertions.
Former high-ranking Scientologists have claimed Tom was given an ultimatum by the Church - choose
Scientology and disconnect from Katie and Suri, or leave Scientology to maintain a relationship
with them.
Allegedly, Tom chose the Church.
Ex-Scientologist Leah Remini stated Tom believes Suri is a Scientology suppressive person and
he can't be connected to her as a result.
She claimed Tom is just waiting for Suri to get older so he can lure her into Scientology
and away from Katie's influence.
Other ex-Scientologist parents have described being forced to "disconnect" from their own
kids who left the religion.
There are countless stories of Scientology pressuring members to disown non-believing
family members.
Many experts believe if Tom truly wanted a relationship with Suri, Scientology could
not stop him.
The fact he has gone years without contact suggests he is willing to prioritize the church
over his youngest child.
Sadly, Suri appears to be collateral damage in Tom's allegiance to his controversial religion.
At nearly 18, Suri has spent over a third of her life without her father in it.
Tom's voluntary absence remains the greatest scientology-related tragedy of all.
Signs of Change Despite years of distance, there are now signs
Tom Cruise may be rethinking his strained relationship with his youngest daughter Suri.
In recent years, Tom has noticeably withdrawn from Scientology activities and events.
He has not been seen at Scientology's UK headquarters in East Grinstead since 2019, despite filming
movies in Britain.
Sources believe this separation suggests Tom is re-evaluating his intense involvement with
the controversial religion.
Some view it as an indication that at age 60, Tom is starting to focus more on repairing
fractured family relationships.
Specifically, Tom's absence from Scientology has led to speculation he may try to reconcile
with 17-year-old Suri once again.
After all, Scientology's opposition to contact with suppressive people like Suri was reportedly
the major factor behind Tom cutting her off in the first place.
If Tom has truly begun distancing himself from the church, it could remove the main
barrier that prevented him from being involved in Suri's life after the divorce.
Tom may realize that letting Scientology dictate his family relationships has caused nothing
but pain.
Some sources have claimed Tom is finally ready to put Suri first, and is willing to further
separate from Scientology in order to regain a relationship with her before it's too late.
Repairing ties with Suri requires him to make a clean break from the church that tore their
bond apart.
After so many missed years, reconnecting with almost-adult Suri will be difficult.
But there are positive signs that Tom seems motivated to try.
He is spending more time in New York where Suri lives, perhaps intentionally putting
himself in closer proximity to her.
There are also indications Katie Holmes would support Tom reuniting with their daughter.
She has said coparenting Suri is her first priority.
If Tom follows through on leaving Scientology, Katie is likely to give him the chance to
rebuild trust with Suri.
For Suri's sake, many hope these rumblings of change are genuine.
She deserves the chance to have her loving dad back in her life before it's too late.
After years of choosing Scientology over his child, Tom must make up for lost time and
finally put his daughter first again.
Outro The complex saga of Tom Cruise's relationship
with his daughter Suri has captivated the public for over a decade.
What once seemed unbreakable love has deteriorated into complete disconnection.
While the details may never be fully known, it's evident that Tom's allegiance to Scientology
has played a pivotal role in this family tragedy.
His voluntary absence from Suri's life defies normal parental devotion.
Recent hints of change suggest this Hollywood icon may be rethinking the status quo.
Perhaps he now recognizes just how much his actions have cost Suri in terms of paternal
support and affection.
She needs her father back – before the window closes completely.
Reconciliation would require incredible courage and sacrifice from Tom.
He must make a clean break from the church that engineered their separation.
It won't be easy after so many years apart, but the rewards could heal scars on both sides.
There you have it.
It's now time to hear from you.
Can this broken bond between Tom and his daughter be repaired or is too late?