Tom Cruise Honors Late Val Kilmer: ‘I Wish You Well on Your Next Journey’

Kilmer co–starred alongside Cruise in the 1986 action film ‘Top Gun.’

Tom Cruise speaks during CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 3, 2025. Jerod Harris/Getty Images for CinemaCon

Tom Cruise paid tribute to his late “Top Gun” co-star Val Kilmer during Paramount Pictures’ presentation at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on April 3.

Kilmer, who passed away on April 1 at the age of 65 from complications related to pneumonia, was best known for his role as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in the 1986 action film.

He later returned to the role in “Top Gun: Maverick” in 2022.

While on stage at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace to promote his upcoming film “Mission: Impossible–The Final Reckoning,” the 62-year-old actor paused to reflect on Kilmer’s life and legacy.

“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’ and came back for ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’” Cruise said, according to Collider reporter Britta DeVore.

Cruise became emotional as he spoke, sharing his gratitude for Kilmer’s friendship and talent. He then asked the crowd for a moment of silence in Kilmer’s honor.

“Thank you, Val. I wish you well on your next journey,” Cruise said.

Kilmer’s role as Iceman in “Top Gun” was that of a skilled and disciplined Navy fighter pilot, and the chief rival to Cruise’s character, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.

Over time, the two characters developed a mutual respect, a storyline that echoed the real-life admiration between the actors.

Kilmer’s Resilience

Kilmer’s appearance in “Top Gun: Maverick” was especially meaningful to fans given the health struggles he faced in recent years.

In 2014, Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer. The treatments that followed—including chemotherapy, radiation, and a tracheostomy procedure—left lasting damage to his ability to speak, leaving Kilmer’s voice permanently affected.

“I obviously am sounding much worse than I feel,” Kilmer said in the 2021 Amazon Original documentary “Val,” which offered an intimate look at his life and career, as reported by People.

“Now that it’s more difficult to speak, I want to tell my story more than ever,” he added.

In the film, Kilmer speaks candidly about the physical challenges he now faces, including having to plug the hole in his throat in order to speak. He also receives nutrition through a feeding tube.

“You have to make the choice to breathe or to eat,” Kilmer explained, acknowledging that his condition is immediately visible to those who meet him.

“It’s an obstacle that is very present with whoever sees me.”

Kilmer’s Career

Val Kilmer was born on December 31, 1959, in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in the San Fernando Valley and studied acting at Juilliard, becoming one of the youngest students ever accepted into the school’s drama program.

Kilmer began his career on stage before moving into film in the 1980s. He gained attention for his role in the 1984 comedy “Top Secret!” and later starred in 1985’s “Real Genius”. His breakthrough came in 1986 when he played Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in “Top Gun” alongside Tom Cruise.

Throughout the 1990s, Kilmer took on a variety of roles in major films, including Jim Morrison in 1991’s “The Doors,” Doc Holliday in 1993’s “Tombstone,” and Batman in 1995’s “Batman Forever.” He also appeared in 1995’s “Heat,” 1996’s “The Ghost and the Darkness,” and 1997’s “The Saint.”