Career: Within five years of his big-screen debut, Cruise was one of the hottest actors of his generation, having starred in the likes of Risky Business and Top Gun. The likes of Rain Man, The Color of Money, Interview with the Vampire and Days of Thunder followed. He has also turned his hand to producing and made the smart move of taking a share of several of his film's profits, making him one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. Recent hits include Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, Jack Reacher, Oblivion and Edge of Tomorrow. He has been Oscar-nominated three times, for his performances in Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire and Magnolia, but has yet to win. His next major film is Mission: Impossible 5.

Career: After working on stage, Kilmer got his big break in 1984 comedy Top Secret!, in which he also sang all the songs. After a year spent backpacking through Europe, Kilmer landed the role of Iceman in Top Gun, and his career took off. Films including Willow (in which he met his future wife Joanne Whalley), The Doors, Tombstone, Batman Forever and The Island of Dr Moreau followed. After the failure of Dr Moreau, Kilmer turned his attention to crafting character parts, and won praise from critics for his turns in The Salton Sea and Kiss Kiss, Bang, Bang. Other films include The Bad Lieutenant: Port Call of New Orleans, MacGruber and Kill the Irishman.

Career: He landed a part in Fast Times at Ridgemont High while still studying, and dropped out of his degree course to appear in TV series It Takes Two. His big break was being cast as the ill-fated Goose in Top Gun. Edwards spent the next 10 years appearing on stage and in low-budget movies such as Hawks, and Miracle Mile. Roles in TV hit Northern Exposure and movie The Client helped pave the way for ER. Despite having a contract worth $35million, he quit in 2002 to spend more time with his family, but returned to film one episode for the show's final season in 2008.

Career: Ryan made her film debut in 1981's Rich and Famous, opposite Candice Bergen. She became a famous face on US TV thanks to a two-year stint on soap As the World Turns. International recognition followed her role in 1986's Top Gun. A year later, Innerspace consolidated her position as a rising star. When Harry Met Sally made her a force to be reckoned with in 1989, and since then, she's appeared in such blockbusters as Sleepless in Seattle, French Kiss, You've Got Mail and controversial thriller In the Cut. Recent projects include The Deal, My Mom's New Boyfriend and The Women.

Career: Robbins began appearing in films and on TV in the early 1980s before hitting the big time in 1988 baseball movie Bull Durham. He had a successful streak in the early 90s thanks to such films as The Player, Short Cuts, Pret-a-Porter, The Shawshank Redemption and Arlington Road. He's also a talented director, with Bob Roberts and Dead Man Walking among his credits. He won a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for Mystic River - at 6ft 5 he is the tallest-ever winner of an acting Oscar. His more recent work includes Green Lantern, TV movie Cinema Verite, Thanks for Sharing and Life of Crime.