'Surprise' guest: Cruise brings Katie onstage during interview with Oprah

Alison Ogdahl of Rossford interrupts her shopping at Appliance Center in Maumee to watch Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes on Oprah yesterday afternoon.

Is marriage in their future?

Actor Tom Cruise opened up that possibility during his guest appearance on Oprah yesterday, where he gushed about being in love with Toledo-reared actress Katie Holmes.

When host and personal friend Oprah Winfrey asked Cruise to comment on Holmes once telling Seventeen magazine "that her dream was to marry Tom Cruise," an over-the-top Cruise, who frequently jumped on the set's furniture and fell to his knees to do the cha-ching symbol with his arm, replied "I don't want to disappoint her."

Nicknamed 'TomKat' by the Hollywood media since first being photographed together last month during a visit to Rome, the hot celebrity couple was the dominant topic of yesterday's show, which featured a surprise cameo by Holmes.

Winfrey, who told the actor numerous times that "he is gone" over his affection for Holmes, asked Cruise what was it about his new girlfriend. He replied: "Her generosity her life force, she cares about other people."

Near the close of the show, Winfrey asked Cruise, "Can we meet her?" Running giddily to fetch her from the backstage reception area, Cruise, who said he has spoken by phone to Holmes' parents - local residents Kathy and Marty Holmes - nabbed his girl, who was wearing low-waisted dark jeans, little makeup, and a white blouse.

Once on the set, Holmes told Winfrey, "I'm glad I was a big dreamer," her only quote on the taped show.

The couple first took the press by storm when a usually private Cruise, 42, appeared openly hugging and kissing Holmes, 26, in Rome, where he was being honored with the Donatello Lifetime Achievement Award, the Italian equivalent to the Oscars.