Tom Cruise’s Heartfelt Tribute to Val Kilmer—His ‘Very Special’ Last Reunion Will Leave You Speechless!
Tom Cruise’s Heartfelt Tribute to Val Kilmer—His ‘Very Special’ Last Reunion Will Leave You Speechless!
Tom Cruise has paid a heartfelt tribute to his late friend and co-star Val Kilmer, fondly recalling their emotional on-screen reunion for Top Gun: Maverick. The 62-year-old action icon, who returned as Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in the blockbuster 2022 sequel, described their time together as “beautiful” and “very special,” especially in light of Kilmer’s recent passing from pneumonia complications.
Kilmer, beloved by fans as the steely rival-turned-ally Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in the original 1986 Top Gun, made a moving comeback for the sequel despite significant health challenges. For Cruise, the chance to share the screen again with Kilmer was nothing short of a gift.
“To come back all those years later, and it was amazing being on set for Top Gun: Maverick because it was like time had not passed,” Cruise told Sight and Sound magazine. “We were laughing and it was joyous.”
Cruise spoke with admiration about Kilmer’s ability to slip seamlessly back into the Iceman persona. “He became Iceman. The power that this guy has—even not saying anything, to become that character. You see how even the sniff that he gave… he was Iceman,” Cruise marveled.
Their chemistry and the powerful dynamic between Maverick and Iceman was, for Cruise, deeply personal. “It was very special, to say the least, for me personally,” he reflected. “I just tell people… you take Iceman from the first film and you look at it here, that whole journey, he became Iceman. And he didn’t even have to speak.”
For Cruise, Kilmer’s performance was more than acting—it was a legacy. “That’s what he’s able to do. Beautiful, really beautiful. A gift that he had and that he shared with all of us,” Cruise concluded.
As fans mourn the loss of Val Kilmer, Cruise’s poignant memories offer a reminder of the enduring power of friendship, talent, and the unforgettable magic they created together—both on screen and off.
