Tom Cruise Honors ‘Top Gun’ Co-Star Val Kilmer with Emotional Tribute at CinemaCon
Subtitle:
“I wish you well on the next journey”: Hollywood mourns the passing of Val Kilmer as Cruise and fellow stars reflect on the legacy of a brilliant actor and beloved friend.
Tom Cruise Breaks His Silence on the Death of ‘Dear Friend’ Val Kilmer
Tom Cruise paid heartfelt tribute to his longtime friend and Top Gun co-star Val Kilmer, who passed away on Tuesday in Los Angeles at the age of 65. The moment unfolded during CinemaCon at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, where Cruise, 62, was promoting his upcoming film Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.
“I’d like to honor a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer, for a moment,” Cruise said onstage, visibly moved. “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.”
Before rolling footage from his new film, Cruise placed his hand over his heart and led the audience in a solemn moment of silence. “I think it would be really nice if we could just have a moment together, because he loved movies, and he gave a lot to all of us,” he said. “Just think about all the wonderful times that we had with him.”
Clasping his hands and bowing his head, Cruise concluded the tribute with a quiet but poignant farewell: “I wish you well on the next journey.”
A Legacy of Greatness and Friendship
Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise shared the screen in the iconic 1986 film Top Gun, portraying Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky and Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, respectively. Their on-screen rivalry evolved into a real-life friendship that endured for decades. In Top Gun: Maverick (2022), the two reunited for an emotional scene that deeply affected Cruise.
“I just want to say that was pretty emotional,” Cruise recalled during a 2023 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. “I’ve known Val for decades… He’s such a powerful actor that he instantly became that character again. You’re looking at Iceman.”
“I was crying,” he admitted. “He’s such a brilliant actor. I love his work.”
Hollywood Reacts: A Flood of Tributes
Tributes poured in from across the industry. Actor Jim Carrey, who starred alongside Kilmer in Batman Forever (1995), praised him as a “generational talent” and a man of immense courage.
“His greatest artistic achievements were rivaled only by the grace and courage with which he endured life’s most challenging moments,” Carrey shared.
Cher, who dated Kilmer from 1982 to 1984, posted a brief yet emotional message on X (formerly Twitter): “VALUS. Will miss u. U Were Funny, crazy, pain in the ass, GREAT FRIEND, kids [loved] U.”
Actress Debi Mazar also remembered Kilmer with fondness, recalling a spontaneous adventure in a van after attending Vincent Gallo’s wedding in the 1980s. “He was so talented & interesting… My condolences to his family & loved ones. May he R.I.P.,” she wrote.
A Fighter to the End
Val Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015. After undergoing two tracheotomies, his voice was permanently altered, yet his spirit remained unshaken. He confirmed in 2021 that he was cancer-free but continued to use a voice box to communicate, including in Top Gun: Maverick, which would become his final film.
“It isn’t easy to talk and be understood,” Kilmer once wrote on his website. “I am improving all the time, but am not able to be out in the world the same way I had become accustomed.”
A Devoted Father
Kilmer is survived by his two children, daughter Mercedes, 33, and son Jack, 29, whom he shared with ex-wife, actress Joanne Whalley. In a 2020 interview with People, Kilmer opened up about the joy of fatherhood: “I am just madly, wildly entertained by them. My only gripe is that I never see them enough.”
His final public appearance was in November 2019, when he attended the Thespians Go Hollywood Gala in Los Angeles alongside his daughter.
As Hollywood mourns the loss of one of its most enigmatic and passionate stars, Tom Cruise’s emotional tribute serves as a reminder of Kilmer’s enduring impact — both on-screen and off. A brilliant actor, a loving father, and a cherished friend, Val Kilmer leaves behind a legacy that won’t be forgotten.
“I wish you well on the next journey”: Hollywood mourns the passing of Val Kilmer as Cruise and fellow stars reflect on the legacy of a brilliant actor and beloved friend.
Tom Cruise Breaks His Silence on the Death of ‘Dear Friend’ Val Kilmer
Tom Cruise paid heartfelt tribute to his longtime friend and Top Gun co-star Val Kilmer, who passed away on Tuesday in Los Angeles at the age of 65. The moment unfolded during CinemaCon at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, where Cruise, 62, was promoting his upcoming film Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.
“I’d like to honor a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer, for a moment,” Cruise said onstage, visibly moved. “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.”
Before rolling footage from his new film, Cruise placed his hand over his heart and led the audience in a solemn moment of silence. “I think it would be really nice if we could just have a moment together, because he loved movies, and he gave a lot to all of us,” he said. “Just think about all the wonderful times that we had with him.”
Clasping his hands and bowing his head, Cruise concluded the tribute with a quiet but poignant farewell: “I wish you well on the next journey.”
A Legacy of Greatness and Friendship
Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise shared the screen in the iconic 1986 film Top Gun, portraying Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky and Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, respectively. Their on-screen rivalry evolved into a real-life friendship that endured for decades. In Top Gun: Maverick (2022), the two reunited for an emotional scene that deeply affected Cruise.
“I just want to say that was pretty emotional,” Cruise recalled during a 2023 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. “I’ve known Val for decades… He’s such a powerful actor that he instantly became that character again. You’re looking at Iceman.”
“I was crying,” he admitted. “He’s such a brilliant actor. I love his work.”
Hollywood Reacts: A Flood of Tributes
Tributes poured in from across the industry. Actor Jim Carrey, who starred alongside Kilmer in Batman Forever (1995), praised him as a “generational talent” and a man of immense courage.
“His greatest artistic achievements were rivaled only by the grace and courage with which he endured life’s most challenging moments,” Carrey shared.
Cher, who dated Kilmer from 1982 to 1984, posted a brief yet emotional message on X (formerly Twitter): “VALUS. Will miss u. U Were Funny, crazy, pain in the ass, GREAT FRIEND, kids [loved] U.”
Actress Debi Mazar also remembered Kilmer with fondness, recalling a spontaneous adventure in a van after attending Vincent Gallo’s wedding in the 1980s. “He was so talented & interesting… My condolences to his family & loved ones. May he R.I.P.,” she wrote.
A Fighter to the End
Val Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015. After undergoing two tracheotomies, his voice was permanently altered, yet his spirit remained unshaken. He confirmed in 2021 that he was cancer-free but continued to use a voice box to communicate, including in Top Gun: Maverick, which would become his final film.
“It isn’t easy to talk and be understood,” Kilmer once wrote on his website. “I am improving all the time, but am not able to be out in the world the same way I had become accustomed.”
A Devoted Father
Kilmer is survived by his two children, daughter Mercedes, 33, and son Jack, 29, whom he shared with ex-wife, actress Joanne Whalley. In a 2020 interview with People, Kilmer opened up about the joy of fatherhood: “I am just madly, wildly entertained by them. My only gripe is that I never see them enough.”
His final public appearance was in November 2019, when he attended the Thespians Go Hollywood Gala in Los Angeles alongside his daughter.
As Hollywood mourns the loss of one of its most enigmatic and passionate stars, Tom Cruise’s emotional tribute serves as a reminder of Kilmer’s enduring impact — both on-screen and off. A brilliant actor, a loving father, and a cherished friend, Val Kilmer leaves behind a legacy that won’t be forgotten.
