Actor Beau Bridges has praised former co-star Tom Cruise, saying that the 63-year-old star “gets better with age” and continues to impress both with his talent and his willingness to perform dangerous stunts in his films.
The comments were made during a promotional event for the series Matlock. Bridges, who worked with Cruise in Jerry Maguire, reflected on the experience of filming alongside the actor and said he always enjoyed working with him. According to Bridges, Cruise remains “a wonderful actor” and continues to raise the level of his performances even after decades in the industry.
Bridges also highlighted his colleague’s commitment to the famous action sequences that have become his trademark. Cruise is known for often forgoing stunt doubles in risky scenes, particularly in the franchises Top Gun: Maverick and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.
The praise comes at a time when the actor continues to challenge Hollywood’s standards for action stars. Recently, Cruise revealed that he suffered severe pain and hand injuries while filming one of the most complex aerial sequences in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, reinforcing his reputation for pushing productions to the limit. “Oh, it was brutal. That impact, that one was tough,” he told Entertainment Weekly.
However, the actor’s dedication to practical stunt work has also sparked debate within the industry. In February, Ethan Hawke commented that the standard set by Cruise has raised expectations for other actors, who are often compared to the level of physical commitment demonstrated by the star.
“Tom Cruise completely changed what is expected of actors. Part of me gets angry over the years because everyone somehow feels like they’re less if they use a stunt team,” Hawke told Variety at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
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