Val Kilmer could be Tom Cruise’s wingman anytime.
Two days following his “Top Gun” co-star’s death from pneumonia at age 65, the actor from “Mission: Impossible” paused to honor the late “Iceman” actor at CinemaCon, which was held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Tom expressed his appreciation for a cherished friend of his, Val Kilmer, during his onstage appearance in April. He shared that he holds Kilmer’s work in high esteem and felt incredibly thankful and humbled when Kilmer became part of the Top Gun team and later returned for Top Gun: Maverick.
Before continuing, the 62-year-old man invited the crowd to take a moment and consider Val’s extensive acting career. Notably, this actor, who had battled throat cancer in 2014, has left an indelible mark through diverse roles such as the lead superhero in “Batman Forever” (1995) and exhilarating action movies alongside Tom.
Tom went on to say, ‘It’d be lovely if we could share some time together, seeing as he cherished films and generously shared so much with us.’ He was reminiscing about the delightful moments we spent with him.
Following a brief pause, the actor famously known as Jerry Maguire enthusiastically praised Val’s skill in storytelling, likening him to the groundbreaking producer Irving Thalberg, a trailblazer during the formative years of cinema.
Tom observed, “He persevered through every challenge and crafted unforgettable tales that captivated audiences worldwide.” In essence, he’s saying, “You’re a timeless artist. You’re the contemporary equivalent of Thalberg.
It wasn’t until two years before his untimely death that Val participated in his last acting role, the 2023 release “Top Gun: Maverick”, alongside Tom. During the shooting of this project, Val only had praise for his co-star.
2022 saw the star of “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” expressing to Collider that they greatly admired Tom and found it delightful to work in such an amiable environment. He went on to say, “As professionals, we are compensated for acting, and that’s exactly what we did during the scene. However, sharing the screen with a true gentleman like Tom turned it into an enjoyable experience rather than just another job!
Besides Tom, many others appreciated Val’s skills and personality during his illustrious career, including stars such as Josh Brolin, Josh Gad, and director Michael Mann. Each of them paid tribute to the influence Val had in their lives and expressed their sorrow over his demise.
On the day of Val’s passing, Josh posted on Instagram: ‘Goodbye for now, friend,’ accompanied by a picture of them both grinning. ‘I will deeply miss you. You were intelligent, thought-provoking, courageous, and incredibly inventive. There isn’t much left of those qualities.’
The Marvel actor went on to say, “I eagerly look forward to our reunion in the skies above someday. Until that time comes, I’ll cherish the wonderful moments we shared and hold you fondly in my thoughts.
For a look at Val’s life in photos, keep reading.
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2025-04-03 23:17