

Tom Cruise was in tears during his final meeting with friend and colleague Val Kilmer, who passed away at the age of 65.
The pair worked together on Top Gun in 1986, with Kilmer playing Iceman who was a rival pilot to the character that Cruise played, Maverick.
Kilmer, the enigmatic and charismatic actor who rose to fame as the lead in “The Doors” and “Batman Forever,” passed away on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Throughout a career spanning decades, Kilmer showcased his versatility in a variety of genres, from action and comedy to historical drama.
With an imposing presence and chameleon-like talent, he made an impact from his film debut in the spy parody “Top Secret!” (1984). However, it was his transformation into Jim Morrison in “The Doors” (1991) that cemented his status as a top-tier actor.
The final role that Kilmer portrayed was in the 2022 blockbuster sequel ‘Top Gun: Maverick’. Cruise spoke at the time about the emotional reunion with Kilmer, which ended up being one of the last times that they would see each other.
“I just want to say that was pretty emotional,” Cruise told Jimmy Kimmel in 2023 about the cameo. “I’ve known Val for decades, and for him to come back and play that character… he’s such a powerful actor that he instantly became that character again.
“I was crying, I was crying. I got emotional. He’s such a brilliant actor, I love his work.”
Kilmer’s thoughts on Cruise
Director Joseph Kosinski says Cruise and Kilmer had “tears in their eyes” as they shot Iceman’s farewell. “Tom and I get along really well,” Kilmer said. “We giggled like little kids in school between takes. I consider him a real friend. We shared intimate stories and challenges about our different lifestyles!”
Incredibly, Kilmer did not want to do Top Gun at first. “Believe it or not, I didn’t want to do ‘Top Gun’ at first,” Kilmer said in his 2021 documentary “Val.”
“I thought the script was silly, and I disliked warmongering in films. But I was under contract with the studio, so I didn’t really have a choice,” he added.
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