Tom Cruise honors 'dear friend' Val Kilmer, asks for silence to remember wonderful times shared with him

VEGAS, NEVADA: Tom Cruise honored his late friend and co-star Val Kilmer at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas on April 3.

The actor, 62, appeared at the event to present new footage from 'Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning' but took a moment beforehand to pay tribute to Kilmer, who died at 65 on April 1.

Tom Cruise says he was 'grateful and honored' to work with Val Kilmer

Before starting his presentation, Tom Cruise led the audience in a moment of silence, bowing his head and recalled the bond he shared with Kilmer from their time working together on 'Top Gun' and its sequel, 'Top Gun: Maverick.'

"I'd like to take a moment before we get started today to honor a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer," Tom Cruise said to applause from the audience, as per The Hollywood Reporter.

"I can't tell you how much I admired his work and him as a human being, how grateful and honored I was that he joined 'Top Gun' and came back for 'Top Gun: Maverick,'" Cruise added.

The actor then invited the audience to observe a moment of silence in memory of Kilmer.

"I think it would be really nice if we just all take a moment to remember the wonderful time we had with him—let’s just take a moment," Cruise said.

After the silent tribute, he concluded, "Thank you, Val. I wish you well on your next journey. Thank you all for doing that. I know he appreciates it."

Val Kilmer role as LT Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky in 1986 blockbuster 'Top Gun'

Val Kilmer died of pneumonia on April 1, as confirmed by his daughter Mercedes Kilmer to The New York Times.

He had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 but later recovered, his daughter added.

Kilmer's breakout role was as LT Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky in the 1986 blockbuster 'Top Gun.'

Decades later, he reprised the role in 'Top Gun: Maverick,' which grossed $1.5 billion and featured an emotional scene between Iceman and Cruise's Maverick.

Kilmer's battle with throat cancer affected his ability to speak, requiring him to type most of his dialogue in the movie.

His character, Admiral Kazansky, speak briefly in a moving exchange with Maverick before the two embrace each other.

Reflecting on Kilmer's return for the sequel, Cruise told Jimmy Kimmel, "I was crying, I got emotional. 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."

Val Kilmer described working with Tom Cruise as 'being reunited with a long lost friend'

Despite the challenges, Val Kilmer cherished his bond with Tom Cruise. For the actor's 60th birthday in 2022, Kilmer posted a message on X, writing, "Happy Birthday Mav @TomCruise from Ice!"

Kilmer previously told People in 2022 that reuniting with Cruise for the sequel was "like being reunited with a long lost friend."

Recalling their experience on the original film, he said, "My main joy was working with Tom Cruise."

He also shared that their friendship extended beyond the screen, adding, "I am happy to announce we have home movies to prove how much fun we had!"