How Tom Cruise Endured 3 Days of Chocolate Cake for ‘The Outsiders’

Tom Cruise is widely celebrated for his high-octane stunts, from hanging perilously from airplanes to scaling towering skyscrapers. His career is filled with jaw-dropping feats that have made him an action hero for the ages. However, one of his most physically demanding experiences on set had nothing to do with action – it was all about chocolate cake.

Cruise, a teenage actor at the time, found himself in an unexpectedly sticky situation during the filming of Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 classic The Outsiders. Based on S.E. Hinton’s 1967 novel, the film featured a star-studded cast, including Diane Lane, Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio, and, of course, Cruise. Known for his intense dedication to his roles, the young actor would soon find himself devoting his stamina to something far sweeter than stunts.

The Scene That Went Too Far

Cruise recalled the scene in which his character, Steve Randle, had to indulge in a slice of chocolate cake. What was originally meant to be a brief and simple task soon morphed into a physical challenge when director Coppola requested multiple takes. Over the course of three long days, Cruise was asked to eat chocolate cake repeatedly – a task that went from enjoyable to physically overwhelming.

In a humorous yet revealing moment on The Graham Norton Show, Cruise confessed that eating cake for three straight days left him feeling unwell. “I’m going to eat chocolate cake because I had to do it in the scene; it’s part of the character,” Cruise shared. But as the takes dragged on, so did the toll on his body. What had begun as a seemingly simple request turned into an exhausting and uncomfortable experience for the actor.

The Cost of Commitment

Tom Cruise’s commitment to his craft is legendary, and this experience on the set of The Outsiders is just one of many examples of his dedication. Whether he’s performing his own stunts or enduring an unusual, cake-filled challenge, Cruise has always pushed himself to deliver an authentic performance. His willingness to embrace even the less glamorous aspects of acting — like consuming vast amounts of cake for the sake of a role — showcases his dedication to his characters.

What’s Next for Tom Cruise?

As Tom Cruise prepares to return to the big screen in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (expected later this year), fans can be sure that the actor will continue to deliver heart-pounding performances. Whether it’s daring stunts or consuming chocolate cake, there’s no limit to what Cruise will do for his craft. His experience with The Outsiders serves as a reminder that even the most iconic actors must sometimes take on the less glamorous aspects of filmmaking — but they do it all for the love of the art.