Another day, another Tom Cruise stalker. Once again Tom was granted a restraining order against a man who’s been trying to get the Born on the Fourth of July actor to help him with veterans issues.

A judge has ordered an Iraq war veteran to stay away from Tom Cruise, after the man brandished a gun near a freeway and weeks later tried to hand-deliver a letter to the actor, attorneys said on Thursday.

Edward Van Tassel, 29, wanted to get the letter in Cruise’s hands to enlist him in the cause of helping other veterans, said the former soldier’s attorney, Robert Landheer.

Van Tassel went to Cruise’s Beverly Hills mansion on December 3 and again on Sunday in an attempt to deliver the letter, Landheer said.

[From Reuters]

Cruise personally didn’t request the order, but because of the man’s history and his persistence in going to the star’s property, the judge issued it on his behalf. Van Tassel was sent to a VA hospital after being arrested during what his attorney calls a protest, with the sign and the weapon on an overpass in Santa Barbara.

Not surprisingly, Cruise’s attorney says that Tom “feels very strongly about veterans of not only the Iraq war, but any veterans of war, and that they should be taken care of.” He’s also quick to point out that Tom didn’t know anything about the incident. Because, you know, being one of the chosen few, as a Scientologist, who can actually save people from the aliens within them, it would be Tom’s duty to help this guy if it were at all within his his control, right?

In other Cruise News, Tom was on The Tonight Show Thursday night, talking with Jay Leno about his Golden Globe nominated part in Tropic Thunder. He showed a very funny and charming picture of himself, in costume, and Katie Holmes goofing on each other. It made them seem much more normal than the “now presenting Kate Cruise” photos you usually see. I really hate to admit it, but I must confess the Cruises are growing on me a little.

Tom talked about the prospect of going to Broadway himself, maybe in a musical. I cringed at the thought of Tom Cruise singing, but he didn’t do a half bad Elvis impression. At least until he stood up and tried to do the Elvis hip swivel. Sometimes that guy just doesn’t register the mental STOP sign at the right times.

http://www.celeb*tchy.com/26236/tom_cruise_granted_restraining_order_aga...