Actor Tom Cruise moved when paying tribute to his “Top Gun” co-star Val Kilmer, who passed away at the age of 66.
According to Variety on April 3, actor Tom Cruise, 63 years old, attended the Cinema Con event in Las Vegas to promote Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning, scheduled to be released in the summer. Before mentioning the new film, the actor asked the audience to take a few minutes of silence to remember actor Val Kilmer – his co-star in two parts of Top Gun (1986, 2022), who played the role of Iceman. On the evening of April 1 (Los Angeles time), Kilmer passed away at his home due to lung disease.
“It’s hard to put into words how much I admire his career. I’m so grateful and honored that he was a part of the first Top Gun, and then returned for Top Gun: Maverick. It would be meaningful if we could take a moment together to remember him – a man who loved cinema and contributed so much to our industry. Let’s reminisce about the beautiful memories we had with him. I wish him happiness on his next journey,” said Tom Cruise.
Tom Cruise and Val Kimer first met on the set of Top Gun in 1986. Kilmer’s character was the superior of Maverick – Cruise’s talented pilot. Initially, Iceman did not like his teammate’s attitude and work style. Later, the two resolved their differences and became close friends. After its release, the project earned about $350 million, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year. That success brought Cruise and Kilmer into the ranks of true movie stars.
In 2022, Val Kilmer returned in the second part with a scene where Maverick visited Iceman who was having serious health problems. In real life, Kilmer has been fighting throat cancer for many years, having been hospitalized for two years in 2015-2016. The disease weakened him and damaged his larynx, so the role of Iceman in the new part needed AI to recreate his voice. Many critics and audiences praised the emotional scene. The work was the highest-grossing film of the year, earning $1.49 billion and receiving five Oscar nominations.
On Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2023, Tom Cruise recalled his memories on set with Kilmer, saying he cried when they acted together again. “I just want to say that it was very touching. I’ve known Val for decades. He’s a talented actor, he quickly got into character when he came back to play Iceman. I cried because I was touched. He’s a great actor. I love Val’s roles,” the actor said.
Val Kilmer was born in 1959 and had an unhappy childhood because his parents divorced when he was nine years old and his younger brother Wesley drowned in 1977. Throughout his career, the artist has left an impression on audiences and filmmakers with his versatile acting style. Kilmer debuted in the film Top Secret! (1984), then rose to prominence with the roles of Jim Morrison of The Doors (1991) and Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever (1995). Kilmer’s films have earned more than $3.5 billion at the global box office, according to Box Office Mojo. In addition to film, he is a visual artist, playwright, social activist and poet.
In his personal life, Val Kilmer was married to actress Joanne Whalley from March 1988 to February 1996. The couple met on the set of Willow (1988) and have two children. He lived on a ranch near Santa Fe for many years, intending to run for governor of New Mexico. Despite being away from Hollywood for a long time, the actor has no regrets about his career. He once said: “Once you’re a star, you’ll always be a star.” Tom Cruise was born in 1962 and is one of Hollywood’s top stars. According to SCMP, he is the highest-paid actor in the world in 2022, in the film industry alone. Cruise’s latest project is Mission: Impossible 7 directed by Christopher McQuarrie, which will be released in July 2024. The artist does not use social media and has rarely shared about his personal life since his tumultuous divorce from Katie Holmes in 2012.