Tom Cruise Shared a Touching Tribute to 'Dear Friend' & 'Top Gun' Co-Star Val Kilmer
When news broke yesterday of Val Kilmer’s heartbreaking passing at age 65, many fans of the star looked to Kilmer’s famous friends and co-stars for comfort. Today, Kilmer’s perhaps most-known co-star, Tom Cruise, who shared the screen with Kilmer in 1986’s Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick in 2022, shared some kind words.
Taking the stage at CinemaCon 2025, Cruise paid tribute to the actor and asked for a moment of silence.
“I’d like to honor a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer,” Cruise said, per Variety. “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 have a moment together because he loved movies and he gave a lot to all of us,” Cruise asked the audience. “Just kind of think about all the wonderful times that we had with him.” Cruise then put his head down and joined his hands for a few moments.
“I wish you well on the next journey,” he concluded.
Cruise was taking the stage at CinemaCon to talk about the release of his upcoming movie, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.
A day earlier, Kilmer’s daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed the news of her dad’s passing to the New York Times. He died from complications of pneumonia. In 2014, Kilmer was also diagnosed with throat cancer, which included getting a tracheostomy in 2015.
Cruise wasn’t the only star to share a tribute to Kilmer. On Instagram, Kilmer’s Heat co-star Josh Brolin said his goodbye.
“See ya, pal. I’m going to miss you,” Brolin wrote. “You were a smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker. There’s not a lot left of those.”
“I hope to see you up there in the heavens when I eventually get there,” he said alongside a picture of them with their arms around one another. “Until then, amazing memories, lovely thoughts. ❤️????❤️????❤️???????? #valkilmer #marktwain.”
Cher, who dated Kilmer briefly back in the 80s, also shared the love. “VALUS / Will miss u,” the “Believe” singer wrote on X, referring to her nickname for him, Valus Maximus. “U Were Funny, crazy, pain in the ass, GREAT FRIEND, kids????U.”
Cher then referenced one of Kilmer’s most celebrated roles as Mark Twain in his one-man show Citizen Twain. “BRILLIANT as Mark Twain,” she wrote. “BRAVE here during ur sickness,” Cher ended.
May Kilmer rest in peace.