Anyone who even remotely cares about film is still mourning the loss of Val Kilmer. He was one of the greatest actors of our time, capable of dissolving into any role and truly embodying a character. One of his most prominent roles was as Tom Kazansky aka Iceman. In the overwhelming heat of piloting and all the stakes that come with it, Iceman was cool, calm, and collected. Kilmer plays the role alongside Tom Cruise as Maverick and they bring an undeniable intensity and emotionality to their roles.
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This is especially true when Top Gun: Maverick comes around, where Kilmer comes back for a brief spell as Iceman. With Maverick, they tackle the harrowing topic of mortality, a subject that really crushes in the subtext of Kilmer's battle with throat cancer. The pair's chemistry is off the charts and makes for one of the most emotional experiences I've had in a theater. Evidently, Cruise cared for Val deeply and it shows in his mourning for the late actor.
Tom Cruise Mourns Val Kilmer in CinemaCon Tribute
Recently, Tom premiered his latest film Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning at CinemaCon. Kilmer's passing was still pretty fresh at the time, emotions filling the room. Consequently, he takes a moment to honor his late friend. "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,'" Cruise says via Variety. "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. Just kind of think about all the wonderful times that we had with him."
Then, Cruise concludes wishing Val Kilmer well "on the next journey." It's a beautiful moment and is ultimately fitting. The late actor gave his all to the art of acting and filmmaking. What better way to honor him than with film.
