A Tom Cruise lookalike threw the ceremonial first pitch at a San Francisco Giants baseball game, astonishing fans with his near-identical appearance.
The performer entered the stadium dressed as Pete Maverick Mitchell, the character made famous by Cruise in the hit film Top Gun. His appearance was part of celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the original movie.
Wearing a full flight suit, the lookalike bore such a close resemblance to the Hollywood actor that many spectators initially believed Cruise himself was on the field. Footage of the throw quickly spread online, causing confusion among viewers who wondered whether the appearance was genuine.
On social media, fan reactions were swift. Instagram users noted that the performer had mastered Cruise's laugh, smile, and facial expressions. Another commenter remarked that the man looked more like Cruise than the actor himself, while others questioned whether the video was created using artificial intelligence.
The Man Behind the Look
The impersonator was identified as Jerome LeBlanc, who works professionally under the name California Tom Cruise. LeBlanc discovered his ability to imitate the Risky Business star after relocating from Montreal to Los Angeles, where strangers routinely pointed out the resemblance.
In an interview with Cockpit USA, LeBlanc recalled that he decided to wear a Top Gun pilot costume and perform on the street. The move proved surprisingly lucrative, yielding a higher income than his former job working as a bartender.
LeBlanc acknowledged that he is roughly 30 years younger than the 64-year-old actor, meaning people do not always mistake him for Cruise immediately. However, he noted that he frequently causes people to do double takes and that passersby regularly stop him to comment on the likeness.
Building a Social Following
Following his success on the street, LeBlanc built a significant presence across digital platforms as a full-time performer. He currently commands more than 770,000 followers on TikTok, where he regularly posts content dressed as the movie star.
