When it comes to naming the most multi-talented performers in Hollywood, the laundry list of talents possessed by Jamie Foxx is obligated to place him very near the top of the list.
In addition to being an Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning actor, Foxx is also a Grammy-winning musical artist, a dramatic powerhouse, an action hero, a classically-trained pianist, and an accomplished singer. Having released four studio albums, scored two number one singles on the Billboard charts, and toured the United States as a stand-up comedian, Foxx also headlined his own sitcom and broke through as a sketch comic.
In what ultimately cost him a role in Jerry Maguire, though, Foxx knew precisely how talented and successful he was. However, he made the unwise decision to try to tout his wealth when he was reading opposite Tom Cruise in an attempt to secure the role of Rod Tidwell in Cameron Crowe’s sports drama.
Trying not to be overawed in the presence of the A-list megastar, Foxx told Howard Stern that his plan was “going toe-to-toe with Tom Cruise” to counteract his nerves. Sharing how he’ll “never forget making a fool of myself”, the braggadocious Foxx told Cruise how he had two houses – one in Los Angeles and one in Las Vegas – to try and paint himself as something of an equal in terms of wealth.
Cruise was nonplussed, with Foxx’s relative inexperience as an actor at the time marked the final nail in the coffin of his Jerry Maguire chances. When he was reading the iconic “show me the money” scene opposite the leading man, Cruise stopped for a dramatic pause. Unfortunately, Foxx didn’t see it that way.
“I thought he lost his place because I couldn’t hear him,” Foxx informed Graham Norton, “So I said, ‘We’re right here’. He says, ‘I know, I said the line and waited for you’”. Embarrassed beyond belief at not just trying to big-league Cruise but offering his assistance under the misguided impression he couldn’t read the script, Foxx couldn’t wait to high-tail it out of there.
Of course, Cuba Gooding Jr would go on to win an Academy Award for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ after landing the part Foxx tried out for, but at least things went much better when he eventually got around to sharing the screen with Cruise in Michael Mann’s Collateral. On that occasion, Foxx landed himself an Oscar nomination, but he wasn’t too disheartened at losing after he won the ‘Best Actor’ trophy the very same year for his performance in Ray.
He wasn’t yet a movie star in his own right when he was invited to read for Jerry Maguire, but being so openly humbled after going in brimming with perhaps too much self-confidence was a learning experience Foxx still hasn’t been able to forget.
