Tom Cruise breaks his silence on Val Kilmer’s death



Tom Cruise is honoring his “Top Gun” costar Val Kilmer.

Following the “Willow” actor’s death on Tuesday at age 65 in Los Angeles, the “Mission Impossible” star, 62, led a moment of silence in tribute during Cinema Con.

“I’d like to honor a dear friend of mine Val Kilmer for a moment,” Cruise, 62, said, per ABC News. “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 just 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.”

Tom Cruise takes a moment of silence for the late Val Kilmer. Rob Latour/Shutterstock

Cruise stepped on stage at Caesars Palace at the Colosseum to showcase his upcoming film “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” on Thursday.

Tom Cruise on stage at CinemaCon. Rob Latour/Shutterstock

Before he rolled the footage, the “Mummy” vet placed his hand over his heart as he took the crowd through the moment of silence.

In a second photo, Cruise clasped his hands together as he lowered his gaze to the ground.

“I wish you well on the next journey,” he concluded.

Kilmer and Cruise starred in the 1986 film “Top Gun” together as well as the 2022 sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick.”

Tom Cruise takes a moment of silence for the late Val Kilmer. Rob Latour/Shutterstock
Tom Cruise promotes the upcoming film “Mission: Impossible & The Final Reckoning.” Getty Images

Other A-listers took a moment to honor the late icon after news of his passing broke.

“I’m remembering Val Kilmer today with great admiration for him as a man and as a generational talent who left us an enviable legacy of indelible acting performances,” Jim Carrey said in a statement to The Post on Wednesday.

“His greatest artistic achievements were rivaled only by the grace and courage with which he endured his life’s most challenging moments,” the 63-year-old continued. “Wishing his family so much love.”

Kilmer and Carrey starred in 1995’s “Batman Forever” with Kilmer playing Bruce Wayne/Batman while Carrey portrayed the villainous Riddler.

Val Kilmer, Barry Tubb and Tom Cruise in “Top Gun.” ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
Rick Rossovich, Val Kilmer, and Tom Cruise in the 1986 film “Top Gun.” Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

As a nod to the action movie, Kilmer donned a Batman mask in his final Instagram post before his death.

Actress Debi Mazar, who first worked with Kilmer in 1991 on “The Doors,” also paid tribute in a heartfelt Instagram post.

“So sad to hear that Val Kilmer has passed,” the actress, 60, wrote alongside two black-and-white photos of the fallen star. “I met Val in 1984, in a dilapidated van that had a door missing. We had just attended Vincent Gallo’s wedding to a girl named Denise(?) in NYC.”

Tom Cruise as Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell and Val Kilmer as Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky. CBS via Getty Images
Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise on the set of “Top Gun.” Corbis via Getty Images

“The van took a bunch of us to the wedding reception in Jamaica, Queens. Super fun memory of that day…Years later, I’d work with him in ‘The Doors’ & ‘Batman Forever,’” she continued. “He was so talented & interesting. I know he struggled over the years with his health, and was a fighter. My condolences to his family & loved ones. May he R.I.P.”

Rounding out the touching posts was Cher, who famously dated Kilmer from 1982 to 1984.

“VALUS,” the singer, 78, wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Will miss u, U Were Funny, crazy, pain in the ass, GREAT FRIEND, kids [loved] U.”

Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise in “Top Gun: Maverick.” Paramount Pictures

The late star’s daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, told the New York Times that her father died from pneumonia. He was previously diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015. Kilmer underwent two tracheotomies that permanently altered the sound of his voice, but he later recovered.

Along with the 33-year-old, Kilmer was also dad to son Jack, 29, with ex-wife Joanne Whalley, 63.

In 2020, he gushed about fatherhood during an interview with People. “I am just madly, wildly entertained by them. My only gripe is that I never see them enough,” he said at the time.

Kilmer’s final public appearance was with his daughter five years ago at the annual Thespians Go Hollywood Gala at Avalon Hollywood.





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