Actor Curtis Armstrong is claiming in his forthcoming book that movie star Tom Cruise was at one time “a born-again Christian,” though he also asserts Cruise was quite promiscuous in the early years of his Hollywood career.
The revelation about Cruise comes from an excerpt published by The Hollywood Reporter of Armstrong’s book, “Revenge of the Nerd: Or ... The Singular Adventures of the Man Who Would Be Booger,” in which the actor details his experiences starring alongside Cruise in the 1983 hit movie “Risky Business.”
Armstrong, 63, describes Cruise, who today is well known for his practice of Scientology, as, at the time, “a born-again Christian” and credits the Hollywood star’s reported faith as the foundation of the discipline he exhibited while making the hit '80s movie.
“[Cruise] self-identified as a born-again Christian and the rumor was he had actually considered shepherding souls for a living,” Armstrong writes. “I could believe it. Away from the set, initially, Tom made straight arrows look like corkscrews.
“I would ask him at the end of the day if he would like to join us at the bar for a drink,” Armstrong continues. “‘No,’ I recall [Cruise] saying, ‘Got an early call tomorrow. Got to work out still, study my lines. And then I like to read the Bible a little before bed.’”
Cruise allegedly told Armstrong that reading Scripture before going to sleep helped keep him “on the right track.”
But not for long, apparently. Cruise’s co-star also claims the A-list actor was having sex with several young women at the same time he was allegedly practicing his Christian faith.
Armstrong wrote that on one particular night he “found three or four young girls — late teens, I suspect — lined up in the hall outside of Tom’s room.” Armstrong said it happened on an evening he thought Cruise was immersed in Bible reading.
“I remember thinking, ‘Tom’s going to be really upset if these hot girls interfere with his Bible reading,’” Armstrong wrote. “So I asked them, with all the stern gravitas of my 28 years, if there was something I could do to help them.”
Alas, Cruise was allegedly entertaining each of the women.
“This was a young man who knew something about time management and understood how to successfully juggle Bible study and [sex],” Armstrong recalled. “I went to bed alone that night thinking it served me right for not being religious.”
As for Cruise, he has since clarified his religious beliefs. In October, the 54-year-old actor opened up about his belief in Scientology in a rare interview with ITV News.
“It’s something that’s helped me incredibly in my life. I’ve been a Scientologist for over 30 years,” he said at the London premiere of “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back.” “It’s something that has, you know, without it, I wouldn’t be where I am.”
He went on to say Scientology is a “beautiful religion” that he is “incredibly proud” to represent.
It should be noted, though, that not everyone has such a rosy perspective about Scientology — including some of the religious sect’s former members, such as actor Leah Remini, who said last week it is her “passion” to take down the Church of Scientology.
She said the religion, which has for years been shrouded in mystery, is “tearing families apart.”
Remini now hosts a show on A&E called “Scientology and the Aftermath,” in which she explains why she left the religion and educates viewers about why — in her mind — the sect is so dangerous.
“[My agents] don’t want me to be known as somebody who does a show about Scientology,” she said. “I’m like, ‘What am I going to do? Not do it? This is my passion.’”
