Tom Cruise reveals how he landed ‘Rain Man’

Tom Cruise’s iconic role in Rain Man, which earned widespread acclaim and numerous awards, came about in a rather unexpected way — thanks to his younger sister.

While at a New York City restaurant, where Cruise was having lunch with his sister Cass, she spotted Dustin Hoffman, his co-star from the 1988 film.

“She pointed him out, saying, ‘There’s Dustin Hoffman.’ I looked up, and there he was, wearing a hat, ordering takeout while performing Death of a Salesman,” Cruise, 62, recalled.

Cass encouraged him to approach Hoffman, but Cruise was initially reluctant. “I wasn’t going to say hello,” he admitted. She, however, persisted, saying, “You know him, you know his movies.” Tom, typically reserved, explained that he doesn’t usually approach people, but his sister kept urging him.

“If you don’t do it, I’m going to go over there and tell him who you are,” she warned. Cruise, nervous, replied, “He won’t know who I am, and that’ll be really embarrassing!”