At a surprise appearance at CinemaCon, Tom Cruise took a moment to honour Val Kilmer, his Top Gun co-star who passed away earlier this week at the age of 65.
While addressing a packed audience at The Colosseum theatre, Cruise paused his presentation to lead a moment of silence in remembrance of Kilmer.
“I deeply admired Val—not just as an actor, but as a person,” Cruise said. “It was a privilege to work with him, and I was truly honoured when he joined “Top Gun’”.
Kilmer portrayed Tom “Iceman” Kazansky, the rival-turned-ally to Cruise’s Maverick, in the original 1986 film. His final screen appearance came in “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022), a touching return that was especially moving due to Kilmer’s health challenges.
During the CinemaCon tribute, Cruise bowed his head before offering a final message: “Thank you, Val. Wishing you peace on your next journey.”
The tribute took place during Paramount Pictures’ showcase at the annual convention for cinema owners and industry insiders.
Cruise also used the opportunity to unveil an exclusive trailer for the upcoming “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning”, set to premiere later this year. He praised director Christopher McQuarrie, who was honoured as CinemaCon’s Director of the Year.
The action-packed trailer featured Cruise in trademark high-stakes sequences—dodging explosions, soaring in fighter jets, and performing stunts like wing-walking on a vintage aircraft.
As the film world continued to reflect on Kilmer’s legacy, Cruise had taken a quiet approach, refraining from early public statements. When he did speak, it was with visible emotion.
Kilmer, also known for his portrayals of Batman and Jim Morrison, had long battled throat cancer.
He underwent two tracheotomies, which left him reliant on a voice box. In “Top Gun: Maverick”, his character communicates mostly by typing, but manages to deliver one raspy line that resonated with fans: “The Navy needs Maverick.”
The emotional scene concludes with a warm embrace between Iceman and Maverick, punctuated by Kilmer’s playful jab: asking who the better pilot really is.
Kilmer’s family confirmed his passing on Tuesday night following a bout of pneumonia.
Source: News agencies
