On the movie screen, every celebrity seems to be larger than life. But fans wonder whether their favorite stars are truly the way they appear on film, or if there's more to the story.
In the case of action stars, it's easy to assume that what fans see is what they get. Fans know how hard actors work to get ripped for their roles. The physicality is part of the reason why celebs are paid so handsomely for their work.
That said, body doubles and stunt actors are involved in the industry for a reason. Just because Tom Cruise's income is astronomical, that doesn't mean his stature is.
The jury may be out on whether Tom Cruise has outright lied about his height, but there's plenty of speculation. And one way that fans (and the media) seek to uncover the truth is by comparing photos of Tom with other actors.
On film, it's easier to manipulate what audiences see, they surmise, but in real life, it's tough to fake height. There's speculation that Tom Cruise wears lifts in his shoes, of course.
Plus, fans can point to him standing alongside his ex-wife Katie Holmes to prove that Tom's not the biggest guy in Hollywood. So this comparison between Sylvester Stallone and Tom Cruise was of interest to fans, especially, as The Sydney Morning Herald noted, since Sylvester's height has always involved a range of figures rather than a set number of feet and inches.
Over the years, the media has speculated that Sylvester Stallone is anywhere from 5'7" to 5'10". Short of having the man stand next to a yardstick, how are fans to uncover the truth?
Most figures on Tom Cruise's height peg him at either 5'7" or 5'9". Of course, Katie Holmes is reported to be 5'9", and Tom is clearly a few inches below her. It's safe to assume that Tom is about 5'7", or possibly a bit less.
But there's no way Sylvester Stallone is shorter than Katie Holmes (and countless other Hollywood stars and starlets), is there?
According to William Goldman, a screenwriter who's worked on pieces like 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,' and 'The Princess Bride,' Sylvester and Tom might have more in common than fans think. And some of the most surprising facts about Stallone's movies aren't about his movies at all.
'Rocky' hero Sylvester was once staying at the same hotel as William Goldman, recounted The Sydney Morning Herald. And Goldman, who says he's "hopelessly smitten with finding out the truth about how tall performers are," rushed to go see just how tall Stallone was in real life.
Goldman rushed to the hotel pool, dried off next to Stallone, and clocks him at a solid 5'7".
Which means that Tom Cruise and Sylvester Stallone are about the same height, even if their builds are a bit different. It just goes to show that Hollywood magic is serious business!
