Tom Cruise Honors Late ‘Top Gun’ Co-Star Val Kilmer with Emotional Tribute at CinemaCon: ‘I Wish You Well on Your Next Journey’

Tom Cruise led a heartfelt moment of silence at CinemaCon 2025 for his longtime friend and Top Gun co-star Val Kilmer, who passed away on April 1 at the age of 65 due to complications from pneumonia.

Taking the stage in Las Vegas to present new footage from Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, Cruise paused before his presentation to remember Kilmer, whom he described as a “dear friend” and “incredible human being.”

“I can’t tell you how much I admired his work and him as a human being,” Cruise told the audience. “How grateful and honored I was that he joined Top Gun and came back for Top Gun: Maverick. I think it would be really nice if we could just have a moment all together… He loved movies and he gave a lot to all of us.”

The room of theater owners and film professionals joined Cruise in silence to honor Kilmer’s legacy.

“Thank you, Val,” Cruise added solemnly. “I wish you well on your next journey. Thank you all for doing that. I know he appreciates it.”

Kilmer, who was first diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, had been in remission for years. His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed to The New York Times that he died from pneumonia, calling attention to the resilience he displayed in the face of illness.

Kilmer and Cruise starred together in the 1986 classic Top Gun, where Kilmer played the now-iconic Tom “Iceman” Kazansky. Decades later, they reunited for Top Gun: Maverick in a scene that moved both fans and Cruise himself.

“It was pretty emotional,” Cruise said in a past interview about their reunion. “I cried. I got emotional. He’s such a powerful actor, that scene works so well.”

Val Kilmer leaves behind a legacy not only as a versatile actor in films like The Doors, Heat, Batman Forever, and Tombstone, but as a deeply respected peer within the Hollywood community. Cruise’s tribute at CinemaCon served as a powerful reminder of the deep friendship they shared—and of the profound impact Kilmer had on the world of film.