Tom Cruise’s first major stunt near-death experience almost cost him his life during the filming of Top Gun in 1986, marking the beginning of his now-legendary on-screen daredevilry. This event not only set the stage for the intense reputation that Cruise would build in Hollywood, but also revealed the extraordinary risks he has taken throughout his career.
Cruise’s Early Commitment to Dangerous Stunts
Although Tom Cruise has explored a wide range of movie roles, his identity as an actor is inseparably linked to his relentless pursuit of extreme stunts. Over decades, he has become Hollywood’s foremost daredevil, taking on challenges from leaping off cliffs on motorcycles to scaling skyscrapers, consistently proving willing to risk everything for authenticity. Yet, before all the blockbuster missions and gravity-defying scenes, Cruise had to make his start as a stunt performer somewhere.
The pivotal moment came with Top Gun, released in 1986, when Cruise began doing his own stunts. During production, he faced a genuine life-threatening ordeal that could have ended both his career and his life before it truly began.
A Brush with Death Filming Top Gun
The on-screen action in Top Gun often looked effortless, but behind the scenes, the reality was harrowing for Cruise and his team. Nearly four decades after the film’s release, the story of Cruise’s close call remains a testament to his willingness to blur the line between character and self, as well as to the unseen dangers inherent in high-octane movie-making.
Top Gun actor Barry Tubb reflected on that intense moment, sharing a chilling recollection of what nearly happened to his co-star.
“Cruise came as close to dying as anybody on a set”
—Barry Tubb, Top Gun actor.
During a critical sequence, Cruise’s character Maverick, alongside Goose (played by Anthony Edwards), survives an emergency ejection from their F-14 after encountering dangerous jet wash. The emotional ocean rescue scene that followed was memorable onscreen—but the filming of it proved perilous. When Cruise landed in the water, his parachute started filling up unexpectedly, threatening to pull him beneath the surface. Fortunately, someone on set noticed the impending disaster in time for action.
Recalling the incident, Barry Tubb described the frantic rescue effort.
“They were refilling the camera or something, and luckily one of the frogmen in the chopper saw his chute ballooning out. He jumped in and cut Cruise loose right before he sank. They would have never found him. He would have been at the bottom of the ocean.”
—Barry Tubb, Top Gun actor.
If not for the sharp eyes and quick response of a rescue diver, Cruise might have lost his life filming his debut major stunt. The seriousness of the accident could have easily discouraged anyone else, but Cruise would instead use the moment to set the standard for the dedication and intensity he brought to every role thereafter.
The inherent danger of real-life stunts was made even more sobering for the cast and crew when pilot Art Scholl tragically did not survive a separate aerial sequence while working on the same movie. The looming reminders of mortality only underscored the risks that Cruise and others took to deliver thrilling realism to audiences.
Pushing the Limits Further in Mission: Impossible
After surviving his first major stunt and continuing to triumph in the face of danger, Cruise’s reputation for going above and beyond only grew. The Mission: Impossible franchise, in particular, provided him with the perfect canvas to escalate the intensity and complexity of his stunts, ensuring that each installment surpassed the last in terms of spectacle and challenge.
His work on Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning stands as proof of both his physical commitment and the mental fortitude required for such feats. Cruise performs an iconic scene as Ethan Hunt, hanging from a 1930s Boeing Stearman biplane as it races over South Africa at an altitude of 10,000 feet. The level of danger involved placed Cruise in situations where even he found his endurance truly tested.
During an interview with Empire, Cruise spoke candidly about the physiological toll the stunt took on him.
“When you stick your face out, going over 120 to 130 miles an hour, you’re not getting oxygen. So I had to train myself how to breathe. There were times I would pass out physically; I was unable to get back into the cockpit.”
—Tom Cruise, actor and producer.
Despite repeatedly passing out due to a lack of oxygen at such speeds and altitudes, Cruise persisted, highlighting the unique place he occupies in the film industry. Where many actors settle for green screens and effects, Cruise seeks out the visceral experience, always aiming to deliver reality to the audience—even if it means flirting with genuine peril.
The Enduring Impact of Cruise’s Dedication
Tom Cruise’s first major stunt near-death experience could have easily ended his story before it began, but instead, it reinforced his resolve to live on the edge for his art. The Top Gun incident established a pattern that would define his entire career: the willingness to confront extraordinary danger in pursuit of cinematic authenticity. This legacy is evident not only in the escalation of his own stunts—from his earliest brush with death to mid-air acrobatics over South Africa—but also in Hollywood’s broader commitment to more immersive, practical action scenes. While Cruise’s methods may seem reckless to some, his nearly four decades of risk-taking have captivated audiences and inspired generations of filmmakers and performers.
As Tom Cruise continues to seek new challenges, the industry and fans alike are left to wonder just how far he is willing to go—and what unforgettable moments he will create next by pushing the boundaries of movie-making. The precedent he set during that rain-soaked ocean scene in Top Gun has made him synonymous with daring, and each new project builds on that mythos, ensuring that his dedication to the craft will remain an essential part of cinema for years to come.
