Why Tom Cruise intervened in Hollywood divorce

TOM Cruise will go to extreme lengths to defend Scientology — even intervening in the divorce of a top Hollywood studio exec when his religion was cited.

Tom Cruise attends the Japan Press Conference of Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation in 2015. Picture: Yuriko Nakao/Getty Images

TOM Cruise will go to extreme lengths to defend Scientology — with new claims the superstar even intervened in the divorce of a top Hollywood studio exec when his religion was cited.

In the upcoming book Leading Lady, about former CEO of Paramount Pictures Sherry Lansing, author Stephen Galloway describes how Cruise — Paramount’s Mission: Impossible franchise star — was infuriated when John Goldwyn, the studio’s then-president of production, mentioned Scientology in his divorce papers.

“Only once did Cruise’s beliefs affect his professional relationships: during a confrontation with Goldwyn,” says the book, out April 25 from Crown Archetype.

The incident took place in 2003 after Goldwyn had filed for divorce from his Scientologist wife, Colleen Camp, and was fighting for custody of his daughter.

Goldwyn told Page Six that he had said in the court papers that he believed that Scientology was “being applied to alienate the affection” of his child.

Goldwyn also came out as gay as he divorced Camp, an actress who handed the divorce papers to Cruise via Scientology leaders.

Goldwyn said Cruise had asked for an urgent meeting with him and Lansing. Goldwyn said, “Tom got very upset because he thought I was launching a campaign against Scientology, and he felt I was persecuting him for his religion. Tom was rabid about it and said, ‘It’s because of people like you that I have to ride in a bulletproof car and why I cannot practice my faith openly.’”

The situation was particularly tense because at that time (and to this day) Cruise was crucial to Paramount.

Goldwyn added: “Sherry was amazing as an executive and a friend. She stepped in and saved the situation by saying, ‘I’ve known John for years, and he isn’t a bigot. This is about his daughter.’” Tom immediately calmed down as Goldwyn discussed Scientology with him.

Cruise asked if Goldwyn had made his wife a settlement offer, then said, “‘Hold tight’ ... Within 24 hours we were done. Tom Cruise was responsible for bringing my divorce to a close. It is a great Hollywood story,” he added.

Sherry Lansing was head of Paramount Pictures in 2005.

This article was originally published on The New York Post

Originally published as Why Tom Cruise intervened in Hollywood divorce