{"id":25166,"date":"2025-04-04T16:13:34","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T16:13:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=25166"},"modified":"2025-04-04T16:13:34","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T16:13:34","slug":"tom-cruise-breaks-his-silence-on-the-death-of-top-gun-co-star-val-kilmer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=25166","title":{"rendered":"Tom Cruise Breaks His Silence on the Death of ‘Top Gun’ Co-Star Val Kilmer"},"content":{"rendered":"

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At a film convention, the 62-year-old actor paused the excitement to reflect on a personal loss, turning a promotional moment into something deeply personal.<\/p>\n

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Tom Cruise paid emotional tribute to his “Top Gun” co-star Val Kilmer during CinemaCon in Las Vegas on April 3, 2025 \u2014 two days after Kilmer passed away at the age of 65\u00a0from pneumonia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Tom Cruise at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas | Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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While promoting “Mission: Impossible \u2013 The Final Reckoning” at Caesars Palace, Cruise asked the audience to take a moment to\u00a0remember Kilmer<\/a>, describing him as someone who deeply loved movies and gave so much to the industry and those around him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“I’d like to honor a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer,” Cruise\u00a0said<\/a>. “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.'” He ended the tribute by\u00a0saying<\/a>, “I wish you well on the next journey.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Tom Cruise honors Val Kilmer with a moment of silence at CinemaCon on April 3, 2025 | Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The crowd responded with a moment of silence, quietly honoring Kilmer’s memory inside the packed auditorium.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Cruise and Kilmer first\u00a0starred together<\/a>\u00a0in the 1986 action drama, where they played rival fighter pilots Maverick and Iceman. The film earned $350 million globally and became the year’s top-grossing release.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Tom Cruise as Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell with Val Kilmer as Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in the background in the 1986 “Top Gun” | Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Nearly four decades later, they shared the screen once more in the 2022 follow-up, which marked Kilmer’s final on-screen role.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In a 2013 interview with Larry King, Kilmer reflected on working with Cruise during the original production. He\u00a0said<\/a>, “That was a lot of fun. It was a great camaraderie in the film and of course, you know, two of the three. I would say Tom is the… you know, ended up being the glue to the project. You know, he wasn’t that superstar yet\u2026[sic]”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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When King asked if he liked working with Cruise, Kilmer\u00a0replied<\/a>, “Yeah. It was fun. You know, hard worker. My guy didn\u2019t like him, but you know, it was fun to not like him.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In 1986, Kilmer also\u00a0spoke about the strength<\/a>\u00a0of the creative team behind the film, “I think the actors and the direction and the producing. It was a really good group, and they worked together very well and you can tell when something works or it doesn’t, when you’re doing it.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Decades later, Cruise\u00a0shared<\/a> how strongly he advocated for Kilmer to be in the original film, “You know, in the first one, I really rallied hard for him to make the movie because I wanted him in the film. He’s such a tremendous actor. I was like, you just gotta go and tackle this guy, ’cause I was like, ‘Val, you gotta make this movie, you’re gonna be amazing.'”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In the sequel, Iceman supported Maverick at a pivotal moment. He explained that he fought to keep Maverick in the Navy because he believed Maverick was still needed. Reflecting on the scene, Cruise\u00a0said<\/a>, “And a kind of talent that he has, and you see that scene, it’s very special. It’s just very special.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Cruise’s heartfelt tribute to Kilmer follows emotional messages shared by actress Michelle Pfeiffer and singer Cher.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Tom Cruise bows his head and pauses for a moment of silence for Val Kilmer at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas on April 3, 2025 | Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Pfeiffer honored him through a post on her official Instagram Stories on April 2. In the post, Pfeiffer shared a black-and-white photo from their 1985 collaboration on the\u00a0ABC Afterschool Specials episode,<\/a>\u00a0“One Too Many.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In the image,<\/a>\u00a0the “Ladyhawke” alum is seen lying on her side beside Kilmer. She is smiling at him with her arm gently placed over his shoulder.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Michelle Pfeiffer and Val Kilmer are seen together in a black-and-white photo shared on the actress’s Instagram Story | Source: Instagram\/michellepfeifferofficial<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The two starred together in the episode, which first aired on May 1, 1985. The drama focused on the lives of four high school friends whose futures are altered after one of them causes a tragic accident while driving under the influence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In his 2020 memoir, “I’m Your Huckleberry,” Kilmer recalled the bond he formed with Pfeiffer during their time working together.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He\u00a0wrote,<\/a>\u00a0“that Michelle and I shared created an intimacy between us. She had no one else to talk to about Peter; I had no one else to talk to about my parents. Plus, I had an all-consuming crush on Michelle’s younger sis [sic]\u2026”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Michelle Pfeiffer in New York City, circa 1982 | Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Years earlier, Kilmer also shared fond memories of that time in a\u00a0Facebook post<\/a>\u00a0dated November 16, 2018. In the post, he recalled meeting Pfeiffer through her then-husband, Peter Horton, and actress Mare Winningham, whom Kilmer described as his first high school girlfriend.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A photo of Mare Winningham, circa 1980 | Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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He noted the unique experience of working with all three on the same project,\u00a0referring to<\/a>\u00a0“One Too Many” as a “morality play” meant to teach young viewers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In his words,<\/a>\u00a0“Michelle was so incredibly beautiful and talented and fun, she must have been surprised that I had a crush on her little sister Lori instead!”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Michelle Pfeiffer is seen at “Grease II” premiere party, circa 1982 | Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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He added that the cast shared enjoyable moments during the shoot, including time spent in the Pecos wilderness in New Mexico. Reflecting on their careers since then, the “Willow” star\u00a0wrote,<\/a>\u00a0“Mare has I think 15 Emmys and Michelle has at least one Oscar and I have very fond memories of way too much fun…”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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