Cruise: My abusive dad

Film

13:30 05 April 2006

Tom Cruise lived in fear of his abusive father.

The 'Mission Impossible 3' star - who is awaiting the birth of his first biological child with actress fiancée, Katie Holmes - has also vowed never to be the same way with his own offspring.

Cruise - who has two adopted children from his relationship with ex-wife Nicole Kidman - revealed to America's Parade magazine: "He was a bully and a coward - the person where, if something goes wrong, they kick you.

"It was a great lesson in my life, how he'd lull you in, make you feel safe and then, bang!

"For me it was like, 'There's something wrong with this guy. Don't trust him. Be careful around him.' There's that anxiety."

But despite being estranged for over a decade, the star did visit his tormentor on his death bed.

Cruise said: "He was in the hospital dying of cancer, and he would only meet me on the basis that I didn't ask him anything about the past.

"When I saw him in pain, I thought, 'What a lonely life.' He was in his late 40s. It was sad."

In the candid interview, the actor also revealed he was an outcast at school and opened his heart about his battle with dyslexia.

(C) BANG Media International