Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise played rivals in “Top Gun” in 1986, but they were old friends until the end.
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Tom and Val met in 1985 and were friends for 40 years. Cruz once said “extra,” “he’s very special,” adding, “he created some iconic characters, his work and what he created.”
In his main video documentary, “Val,” Kilmer confesses that playing Maverick’s nemesis, Iceman, is not something he wanted to do. Kilmer called the script “silly” but he did that anyway as he had been signed with the studio anyway.
Val played character competitions on set, but in reality he shared in the docs that “I always thought Tom was a friend.”
They stay in touch for decades each year, exchanged Christmas gifts every year, and despite Val losing his voice to cancer in the throat, they surprised everyone when they recreated their role in “Top Gun: Maverick.”
The filmmakers continued Val’s own health struggle, using voices that drive AI to communicate in films.
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In 2023, Cruz opened up with Jimmy Kimmel about working with Val in a sequel that said, “It was pretty emotional.” “I’ve known Val for decades and I know he’ll come back and play that character. He’s a very powerful actor and he quickly became that character… You’re watching Iceman.
Jimmy asked if he cried on set, and Tom replied, “I was crying. I got emotional. He’s such a great actor and I love his work.”
Kilmer passed away from pneumonia on April 1st.
