On the occasion of his 70th birthday, one of the most intriguing “what if” stories from his early years involves “Risky Business,” the 1983 comedy that became a defining moment for Tom Cruise. According to Vulture, Hanks was among the actors who auditioned for the lead role before Cruise ultimately secured the part.
Tom Hanks Auditioned for ‘Risky Business’ Before Tom Cruise Landed the Lead
Long before he won Academy Awards for “Philadelphia” and “Forrest Gump,” Hanks was still trying to establish himself in Hollywood. During the casting process for “Risky Business,” he auditioned to play Joel Goodsen, the ambitious high school senior at the center of the film. Other future stars, including Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, John Cusack, and Gary Sinise, were also considered for the part.
The role eventually went to Tom Cruise, whose performance transformed “Risky Business” into the breakthrough that elevated him to leading man status. Released in 1983, the coming-of-age comedy paired Cruise with Rebecca De Mornay and followed Joel as an ordinary teenager whose life spirals into increasingly outrageous situations while his parents are away.
The picture proved to be both a critical and commercial success. It earned more than $63 million at the domestic box office, received widespread acclaim, and secured Cruise his first Golden Globe nomination. Over the years, it has also been recognized as one of the defining teen films of the 1980s.
Although Hanks did not get the role, his own breakthrough arrived just a few years later with “Big,” a performance that earned him his first Academy Award nomination and set the stage for one of the most accomplished careers in modern cinema. Looking back, “Risky Business” remains one of those fascinating casting stories where two future Hollywood icons briefly crossed paths before taking very different routes to stardom.