Val Kilmer, a co-star of Tom Cruise’s Top Gun, passed away earlier this week at the age of 65. Cruise led a crowd in a moment of silence at The Colosseum theater to “honour a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer” during his appearance at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.
Kilmer played his rival Ice Man in Top Gun in 1986. Cruise stated of Kilmer, “I can’t tell you how much I admired his work, how much I thought of him as a human being and how grateful and honored I was when he joined Top Gun.”
Kilmer’s final motion picture role was in the 2022 follow-up Top Gun: Maverick. Kilmer passed away in Los Angeles on Tuesday night. He was also well-known for his parts as Jim Morrison in The Doors and Batman.
Cruise lowered his head in the crowded theater in Las Vegas, which was crowded with movie theater owners and other industry professionals. Cruise stated, “Thank you, Val – wish you well on your next journey,” following the event.
Cruise was presenting at CinemaCon on behalf of Paramount Pictures. Additionally, he honored Christopher McQuarrie, the film’s director and recipient of CinemaCon’s director of the year award, and unveiled a preview teaser for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which is scheduled for release later this year..
Cruise, who is well-known for performing his own stunts, appeared in a number of action-packed scenes in the teaser, including wing walking on an old plane, on fighter jets, and in explosions. Cruise was among the few celebrities who refrained from making a public statement over Kilmer’s passing while Hollywood honored the actor.
The celebrity has made no secret of how much he loved working with Kilmer. On Jimmy Kimmel Live!, he admitted that working with him on the set of Top Gun: Maverick made him cry. “I couldn’t stop crying. When discussing working with Kilmer on the show, Cruise admitted, “I got emotional.” “He is a really talented actor. I adore his creations.
Kilmer died from pneumonia, according to his family, who spoke to US media. While receiving treatment for throat cancer, the actor underwent two tracheotomies. He was compelled by the operations to talk through a voice box, and in the 2022 movie, he interacts with Cruise’s character by typing on a screen.
As their sequence draws to a close, Kilmer’s Iceman gets up from his chair and sarcastically informs Cruise, “The Navy needs Maverick.” After the two embrace, Iceman makes fun of them by asking Cruise who is the better pilot.