Tom Cruise has numerous accolades to his name but the latest honour is rather unexpected, even the Hollywood heavyweight can’t help but smile. He was praised by the United States Navy for his work in Top Gun, which has had a very real impact on ‘the force’s recruitment of pilots’. Beginning in 1986, the franchise — including 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick —follows young pilots training in the Navy’s Fighter Weapons School. Tom was presented with the Distinguished Public Service Award on Tuesday for his role as Lieutenant Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell...

Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Tom Cruise was only acting when he played a decorated naval aviator in the Top Gun movies, but the star was actually given one of the highest honors a non-military person can be awarded from the U.S. Navy. Cruise, 62, who first portrayed Peter "Maverick" Mitchell in the Top Gun films, was recently presented the Distinguished Public Service Award by the Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro. The actor was honored for his "outstanding contributions" to the military during a...

The world’s most famous fictional Top Gun is now a decorated naval hero. Tom Cruise was awarded the U.S. Navy’s top civilian honor on Tuesday for “outstanding contributions to the Navy and the Marine Corps” with “Top Gun” and other films. Cruise, who has been working in the U.K., was given the Distinguished Public Service Award by U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro in a ceremony at Longcross Studios near London. The 62-year-old actor said he was proud to receive the “extraordinary acknowledgement,” which came with a medal...

Tom Cruise has received the U.S. Navy’s top civilian honor for “outstanding contributions to the Navy and the Marine Corps” thanks to his work on “Top Gun” and other military-themed films. The 62-year-old actor was presented with the Distinguished Public Service Award by U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro in a ceremony at Longcross Studios near London on Tuesday, as the Associated Press reported. The honor came with a medal and certificate. “I admire all of the servicemen and women,” Cruise said. “I know in life, something that...

Tom Cruise played a U.S. Navy aviator in the “Top Gun” movies, and now he’s being recognized for his on-screen representation of the military branch. On Tuesday, Cruise was awarded the Navy’s top civilian honor, the Distinguished Public Service Award, for his “outstanding contributions to the Navy and the Marine Corps” through his work in “Top Gun,” “Born on the Fourth of July,” “A Few Good Men” and the “Mission Impossible” franchise. The ceremony took place in London, as Cruise is currently working in the U.K. Cruise received a medal...

Tom Cruise, the world's most famous fictional "Top Gun," was honored on Tuesday with the U.S. Navy's highest civilian award for his contributions to the military's image through film. U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro presented Cruise with the Distinguished Public Service Award during a ceremony held at Longcross Studios near London, where Cruise has been working. The award recognizes Cruise's decades-long affect on public awareness of the Navy and Marine Corps, notably through films including "Top Gun" and its blockbuster sequel "Top Gun: Maverick." The 1986 release...

LONDON — The world’s most famous fictional Top Gun is now a decorated naval hero. Tom Cruise was awarded the U.S. Navy’s top civilian honor on Tuesday for “outstanding contributions to the Navy and the Marine Corps” with “Top Gun” and other films. Cruise, who has been working in the U.K., was given the Distinguished Public Service Award by U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro in a ceremony at Longcross Studios near London. The 62-year-old actor said he was proud to receive the “extraordinary acknowledgement,” which came with...

Actor Tom Cruise was presented with the US navy Distinguished Public Service Award (Ian West/PA) The US navy secretary, who stopped at the studios on his way to visit American forces in Bahrain, gave the award to Cruise for his “exceptional and wide-ranging contributions made to the department of the navy from 1986 to 2023”. He told the audience of Hollywood professionals and US navy staff: “Tom Cruise has spent nearly four decades as an unwavering supporter of the men, women and families of the navy and marine corps. “His...