Young Guns is known for boasting a roster of renowned actors like Kiefer Sutherland, Emilio Estevez, and Charlie Sheen, but not many know about its surprising Tom Cruise cameo. Based on American outlaw Billy the Kid’s adventures during the Lincoln County War, Young Guns unfolds in New Mexico, where a group of young gunmen get embroiled in a game of cat-and-mouse. Upon release, although Young Guns primarily received mixed reviews from viewers and critics, it performed fairly well at the box office by raking in $56 million against a budget of $11 million.
However, despite being commercially successful, spawning a sequel, and having recognizable cast members, Young Guns remains relatively obscure compared to other mainstream Westerns. Nevertheless, the movie’s cult status and the curiosity surrounding Tom Cruise’s cameo in its ending moments continue to make it a subject of fascination. Given this fascination surrounding Cruise’s part in the film, it is hard not to wonder how and why he landed the role and what is the significance of his cameo.
Tom Cruise Played One Of Lawrence Murphy’s Henchmen In Young Guns
Tom Cruise has not been credited as a cast member in Young Guns. However, he does have a blink-or-miss cameo as one of Lawrence Murphy’s henchmen. Sporting a cowboy hat and a mustache that cover nearly half of his face, the Mission Impossible star can be seen when Casey Siemaszko’s Charlie comes out of the house shooting at the 1:39:18 mark. Although this cameo is not as attention-grabbing and memorable as his unexpected Tropic Thunder appearance, the awareness that Tom Cruise shows up in Young Guns adds an element of fun and surprise to the movie’s action and drama.
Why Tom Cruise Had A Cameo In 1998’s Young Guns
Although no official reports reveal how Tom Cruise landed a cameo in 1998’s Young Guns, rumors suggest the star was on the movie’s set one day. Seeing it as an opportunity, director Christopher Cain thought it would be a good idea to give him a brief part in the film. Therefore, after dressing him up as a soldier and giving him a fake mustache, the director got him involved in Young Gun‘s climactic showdown, turning it into a memorable trivia moment for the movie.
Although Tom Cruise is barely recognizable in the Young Guns scene, it serves as a testament to the collaborative spirit that drives the production of many movies. The cameo and the rumored story behind it also reflect how, despite being one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood, Tom Cruise has always been open to embracing everything from leading roles in big-budgeted franchises to easily overlooked cameos in relatively obscure Westerns. His behind-the-scenes collaborative spirit in movies like Young Guns, openness to taking up versatile roles, and love for cinema has perhaps been one of the primary driving factors for his long-lasting success as an actor.
