Tom Cruise is honoring his “Top Gun” co-star Val Kilmer.
Following the “Willow” actor’s death on Tuesday at age 65 in Los Angeles, the “Mission Impossible” star, 62, led a moment of silence in tribute during CinemaCon. He was on hand at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas to showcase his upcoming film “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.”
“I’d like to honor a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer, for a moment,” Cruise said on Thursday, per ABC News. “I can’t tell you how much I admire his work, how grateful and honored I was when he joined ‘Top Gun’ and came back later for ‘Top Gun: Maverick.'”
“I think it would be really nice if we could just have a moment together, because he loved movies, and he gave a lot to all of us. Just kind of think about all the wonderful times that we had with him,” Cruise said.
Tom Cruise takes a moment of silence for the late Val Kilmer. Rob Latour/ShutterstockBefore he rolled the footage, the “Mummy” vet placed his hand over his heart as he took the crowd through the moment of silence.
Tom Cruise onstage at CinemaCon on April 3, 2025. Rob Latour/ShutterstockIn a second photo, Cruise clasped his hands together as he lowered his gaze to the ground.
“I wish you well on the next journey,” he added.
Kilmer and Cruise starred in the 1986 film “Top Gun” and its 2022 sequel “Top Gun: Maverick” as Ice and Maverick, respectively. Cruise admitted that he got emotional before the two reunited for the second movie.
“I just want to say that was pretty emotional. I’ve known Val for decades,” Cruise said on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in February 2023. “For him to come back and play that character … he’s such a powerful actor that he instantly became that character again. You’re looking at Iceman.”
He added: “I was crying, I was crying. I got emotional. He’s such a brilliant actor, I love his work.”
Tom Cruise takes a moment of silence to honor Val Kilmer. Rob Latour/Shutterstock
Tom Cruise promotes the upcoming film “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.” Getty ImagesOther A-listers took a moment to honor the late icon after news of his passing broke.
“I’m remembering Val Kilmer today with great admiration for him as a man and as a generational talent who left us an enviable legacy of indelible acting performances,” Jim Carrey said in a statement to The Post on Wednesday.
“His greatest artistic achievements were rivaled only by the grace and courage with which he endured his life’s most challenging moments,” the 63-year-old added. “Wishing his family so much love.”
Kilmer and Carrey starred in 1995’s “Batman Forever” with Kilmer playing Bruce Wayne/Batman while Carrey portrayed the villainous Riddler.
Val Kilmer, Barry Tubb and Tom Cruise in “Top Gun.” ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
Rick Rossovich (far left), Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise in the 1986 film “Top Gun.” Paramount/Kobal/ShutterstockAs a nod to the action movie, Kilmer donned a Batman mask in his final Instagram post before his death.
Actress Debi Mazar, who first worked with Kilmer in 1991 on “The Doors,” also paid tribute in a heartfelt Instagram post.
“So sad to hear that Val Kilmer has passed,” the actress, 60, wrote alongside two black-and-white photos of the fallen star. “I met Val in 1984, in a dilapidated van that had a door missing. We had just attended Vincent Gallo’s wedding to a girl named Denise(?) in NYC.”
Tom Cruise played Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell and Val Kilmer played Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in “Top Gun.” CBS via Getty Images
Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise on the set of “Top Gun.” Corbis via Getty Images“The van took a bunch of us to the wedding reception in Jamaica, Queens. Super fun memory of that day…Years later, I’d work with him in ‘The Doors’ & ‘Batman Forever,'” she noted. “He was so talented & interesting. I know he struggled over the years with his health, and was a fighter. My condolences to his family & loved ones. May he R.I.P.”
Rounding out the touching posts was Cher, who famously dated Kilmer from 1982 to 1984.
“VALUS,” the singer, 78, wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Will miss u, U Were Funny, crazy, pain in the ass, GREAT FRIEND, kids [loved] U.”
Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise in “Top Gun: Maverick,” which came out in 2022. Paramount PicturesKilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015. In 2021, he confirmed he was cancer-free. The actor underwent two tracheotomies that permanently altered the sound of his voice. He used a voice box in “Top Gun: Maverick,” which would be his final film.
“It isn’t easy to talk and be understood,” he said in a 2022 post on his website. “I am improving all the time, but am not able to be out in the world the same way I had become accustomed.”
Kilmer was dad to daughter Mercedes, 33, and son Jack, 29, with ex-wife Joanne Whalley, 63.
In 2020, he gushed about fatherhood during an interview with People. “I am just madly, wildly entertained by them. My only gripe is that I never see them enough,” he said at the time.
Kilmer’s final public appearance was with his daughter at the annual Thespians Go Hollywood Gala in Los Angeles in November 2019.
