Tom Cruise paid tribute to his “Top Gun” co-star Val Kilmer, who died on Tuesday at the age of 65.
Cruise attended CinemaCon, the annual convention of movie theater owners that’s currently unfolding in Las Vegas, to hype up the release of “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” which opens in cinemas over the summer. But before he started to recount the insane stunts he’s known for undertaking as the globe-trotting Ethan Hunt, Cruise asked the crowd of exhibitors to join him in a moment of silence for Kilmer.
“I’d like to honor a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer,” Cruise said from the stage at Caesars Palace. “I can’t tell you how much I admire his work, how grateful and honored I was when he joined ‘Top Gun’ and came back later for ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’ I think it would be really nice if we could have a moment together because he loved movies and he gave a lot to all of us. Just kind of think about all the wonderful times that we had with him.”
Cruise concluded the touching moment by saying, “I wish you well on the next journey.”
Cruise and Kilmer met on the set of 1986’s “Top Gun,” in which they played rival fighter pilots Maverick and Iceman, who eventually became friends at the U.S. Navy’s Fighter Weapons School. “Top Gun” became a huge commercial success with $350 million globally (that year’s highest-grossing film) and propelled Cruise and Kilmer full-blown movie stars.
They reunited nearly four decades later for 2022’s “Top Gun: Maverick,” in which Kilmer returned as Iceman for an emotional sequence that ended up being the actor’s final on-screen appearance. Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015 and lost most of his ability to speak, so his voice was recreated in the film using AI. In the sequel, Cruise’s Maverick confides in Iceman, who is battling a terminal disease, about whether to send his protégé Rooster (Miles Teller) on a potentially fatal mission.
“It’s time to let go,” Iceman types on his computer which then speaks the words: “The Navy needs Maverick. The kid needs Maverick. That’s why I fought for you. That’s why you’re still here.”
As CinemaCon attendees are quite aware, “Top Gun: Maverick” became an even bigger blockbuster smash than the original with $1.4 billion worldwide and six Oscar nominations. A third “Top Gun” is in the works.
After the second film’s debut, Cruise recalled the challenge of holding back tears while shooting the affecting sequence with Kilmer.
“I just want to say that was pretty emotional. I’ve known Val for decades,” Cruise said years ago onJimmy Kimmel Live.” “For him to come back and play that character… he’s such a powerful actor that he instantly became that character again. You’re looking at Iceman.”
