Tom Cruise remembers 'Top Gun' co-star Val Kilmer

AFP

Actor Tom Cruise paid tribute to his late "Top Gun" co-star, Val Kilmer, on Thursday, remembering him as a talented actor who loved movies.

Cruise opened his appearance at the CinemaCon industry convention in Las Vegas with remarks about his "dear friend" Kilmer, who died on Tuesday at age 65.

"I really can't tell you how much I admired his work, how much I thought of him as a human being, and how grateful and honoured I was when he joined Top Gun and came back later for Top Gun: Maverick," Cruise said.

"He loved movies and he gave a lot to all of us with his performances." 

In 1986 film Top Gun, Kilmer played naval aviator Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, a rival to Cruise's character, Lieutenant Pete Mitchell. Kilmer reprised the role in 2022 hit Top Gun: Maverick when he could barely speak after years of battling throat cancer.

Cruise asked the Cinemacon audience to pause in a moment of silence to remember Kilmer's work.

"Thank you for doing that," he said. "I know he'd appreciate that."

Cruise attended CinemaCon to promote Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, which will be released by Paramount in May.

More from Entertainment News

  • Tom Odell to perform in Dubai in January

    British singer songwriter Tom Odell will return to Dubai for a mesmerizing performance of soulful music at Coca-Cola Arena on January 24, 2026.

  • Kiss lead guitarist Ace Frehley dies at 74

    Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist of the rock group Kiss, whose hard-driving sound, stage theatrics and iconic makeup created one of the most popular and groundbreaking bands of all time, died on Thursday at age 74, his family said.

  • Pitbull is coming to Dubai in December

    American performer Pitbull, also known as 'Mr. Worldwide', will be bringing his one-of-a-kind performance live at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai on December 14.

  • Halsey to debut at Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena in December

    Three-time Grammy award-nominated artist Halsey will take to the stage in Dubai for the first time on December 6 as part of concerts lined up for the Dubai Shopping Festival.

  • Neo-soul singer D'Angelo dies at 51

    Grammy-winning R&B artist D’Angelo, a pioneer of neo-soul music, has passed away at the age of 51 on Tuesday "after a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer", according to media reports citing a family statement.

Blogs