By EVE BUCKLAND FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Published: 19:28 BST, 3 April 2025 | Updated: 19:28 BST, 3 April 2025

Tom Cruise has paid an emotional tribute to his Top Gun co-star Val Kilmer after his shock death aged 65 this week.

Cruise, 62, played Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell alongside Kilmer’s Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in the 1986 classic, with the pair reuniting onscreen for 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick.

Taking to the stage at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas for CinemaCon, Cruise said per Variety: ‘I’d like to honor a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer. 

‘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. Just kind of think about all the wonderful times that we had with him.

‘I wish you well on the next journey.’

Tom Cruise has paid an emotional tribute to his Top Gun co-star Val Kilmer after his shock death aged 65 this week.

Tom Cruise has paid an emotional tribute to his Top Gun co-star Val Kilmer after his shock death aged 65 this week.

:
Tom Cruise breaks silence on Top Gun co-star Val Kilmer’s shock death at 65

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