Michael Caine reveals what Tom Cruise asked him when they first met 40 years ago: ‘He had great attitude’

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Michael Caine recalled his first meeting with Tom Cruise, which reportedly happened four decades ago.

The now-retired actor has written about it in his memoir ‘Don’t Look Back, You’ll Trip Over’, an excerpt of which was shared by The Sunday Times on Sunday, November 3.

He noted that he met Cruise in 1983 during an event for Caine’s movie ‘Educating Rita’, as per Deadline.

Michael Caine calls Tom Cruise ‘one of the last true stars in movies’

Two-time Academy Award winner Michael Caine said, “I turned around and there was this young actor, very polite, asking questions about how not to be just a flash in the pan. That was Tom, probably around the time of 'Risky Business'.”

Caine, however, mentioned that he did not “remember what I said, but it obviously didn’t do him any harm!"

"There was something special about him. He had a great attitude, this sense of poise.”

“What interests me is that he is really one of the last true stars in movies. People will go to see a film just because he’s in it. Brad Pitt is a star, Morgan Freeman has some of that quality too,” he stated.

“There are so few nowadays — not like John Wayne or Humphrey Bogart or Cary Grant,” ‘The Great Escaper’ star added.

In his book, Caine also disclosed that the ‘Mission impossible’ star was present for his 90th birthday celebration after being invited by his 77-year-old wife, Shakira.

He said, “[Shakira] arranged for Tom Cruise to come to my dinner at the River Cafe as a surprise. I was very touched.”

Michael Caine hopes his new book will help people ‘to be optimistic’

This came after in August, the ‘Hannah and Her Sisters’ actor, who announced his retirement from acting last year, told PEOPLE, “I’m always asked questions – by fans, by other actors and friends, by my grandchildren."

“They want to know how I’ve lasted so long – how I handle fame – why I chose to do some of my films – which films and actors I like best and so forth.”

He also shared that through his book, he wants to help the new generation. “I’ve seen a new generation grow up, among them my own grandchildren, facing the world with all its challenges and problems,” the ‘Going In Style’ actor said.

Caine asserted, “I hope 'Don't Look Back, You'll Trip Over: My Guide to Life' helps them to be optimistic – and shows that anyone can blow the bloody doors off.”