Tom Cruise's mum dies aged 80

Tom Cruise's mother Mary-Lee South has been remembered in a Scientology memorial after she died last week aged 80.

The movie star's mother reportedly passed away in her sleep, after dealing with a range of health issues in recent years.

Tom, along with his sisters Leen Ann DevEtte, Cass Mapother and Marian Henry, celebrated their mother's life in memorial service over the weekend at a local Church of Scientology, according to People Magazine.

Mary-Lee had encouraged the Top Gun star to pursue a career in acting, supporting Tom as he waited tables in New York before catching his big break in Hollywood.

"We both wholeheartedly agreed, because we both felt it was a God-given talent … So to make a long story short, we gave him our blessing — and the rest is history," Mary-Lee told Rolling Stone magazine about the day she and second husband Jack gave Tom their approval to pursue a career in the limelight.

The last time the mother-of-four was seen out in public was in May 2016 in Clearwater, Florida.

Mary-Lee was seen "looking frail" and using a walker to get around.

She had moved to Florida from Los Angeles last year, closer to the worldwide headquarters for Scientology, with the 80-year-old sharing the same beliefs as Tom.

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"Mary decided to live in a quiet area 20 minutes drive away from the hub where most people walk the streets wearing Scientology colors," an insider told Daily Mail at the time.

"It can be intense at the church and nobody bothers her now. She's got herself a peaceful retreat with lake views where she is cared for by a nurse."

Tom and Mary-Lee shared a close bond with the source adding, "Tom is extremely close with Mary, she's been the rock in his life for as long as he can remember."

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