Tom Cruise’s Heartfelt Tribute to Val Kilmer at CinemaCon Will Move You

As a devoted cinephile standing before you all at CinemaCon 2025, I found myself with a heavy heart as I paid tribute to my cherished co-star, Val Kilmer – an undeniable leading man of Hollywood. It was on this very stage that we shared our camaraderie and electrified audiences together in the iconic film, Top Gun, back in 1986.

Val, who sadly passed away on April 1 due to pneumonia, portrayed the formidable Iceman alongside my character, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. The action-packed movie swiftly claimed the title of highest-grossing film that year. Despite his battle with cancer in 2014 and requiring two tracheotomies, Val bravely fought on – surrounded by his beloved family and friends here in Los Angeles.

Together, let us observe a moment of silence to honor this incredible talent who left an indelible mark on the world of cinema.

At CinemaCon in vibrant Las Vegas, I, as Tom Cruise, unveiled tantalizing glimpses of “Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning”. But before delving into the future, I took a moment to reminisce about the captivating performances Val Kilmer brought to the silver screen. As reported by PEOPLE, I shared that I found myself reflecting on those magical instances when Kilmer graced our screens.

The speaker started off by expressing the desire to pay tribute to a cherished friend of theirs, Val Kilmer, which received approval from the crowd. They expressed their deep admiration for his acting skills as well as the man himself, and shared how fortunate and humbled they felt that Kilmer was part of Top Gun and reprised his role in Top Gun: Maverick.

Cruise mentioned that Kilmer was passionate about films, and a thoughtful moment of silence in his memory would be a fitting tribute, something Kilmer himself would admire.

Let’s pause for a while and cherish some peaceful moments together, reminiscing about his incredible film performances that brought us so much joy. Just like he enjoyed movies, I believe we could use this moment to reflect on the precious times spent with him.”
Following this, Cruise added:
“Val, I wish you a successful journey ahead. Thank you for encouraging this heartfelt tribute. I know in my heart that he is grateful for your kindness and our shared memories.

Val Kilmer Called Tom Cruise His “Long-Lost Friend”

The dynamic pair from the movie “Top Gun” forged a bond so powerful that Tom Cruise advocated for Val Kilmer’s return for the 2022 sequel titled “Top Gun: Maverick“. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer shared with PEOPLE that Tom expressed, “We need Val, he has to come back.” During his appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” in 2023, Cruise reflected on the emotional experience of filming their reunion scene with Kilmer.

Having co-stars doesn’t always mean being friends; there’s a difference. Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise, however, shared a bond that extended beyond the competitive dynamic of their characters, Iceman and Maverick, in Top Gun. When they came together again for Top Gun: Maverick, Kilmer referred to it as reconnecting with an old friend he hadn’t seen in a while. What makes this connection even more touching is knowing that Kilmer cherished his time working with Cruise during the original Top Gun. Their mutual admiration for each other’s acting abilities and overall work was evident through past interviews.

In 2022, as Tom Cruise turned 60, Val acknowledged his birthday on X (previously Twitter) with a special message, “Happy Birthday Mav @TomCruise from Ice.” He also mentioned that they had home videos to showcase the great times they shared while filming the legendary action-adventure movie.

2025-04-04 11:33

Val Kilmer Called Tom Cruise His “Long-Lost Friend”

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