4 hours Ago By Haika Mrema
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. 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.
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. “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.
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.”.
