Tom Cruise said on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ in 2022 that he cried reuniting with Val Kilmer in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ before Kilmer’s death.
Tom Cruise had a special bond with Val Kilmer.
Over two years before Kilmer died from pneumonia on Tuesday at the age of 65, Cruise, 62, opened up about the “emotional” reunion they had on the set of the 2022 “Top Gun” sequel.
“I just want to say that was pretty emotional. I’ve known Val for decades,” Cruise said on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in Feb. 2023.
“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,” the action star added.
Kilmer reprised his role as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky from 1986’s “Top Gun” for “Top Gun: Maverick.”
“I was crying, I was crying. I got emotional,” Cruise told Kimmel about filming with Kilmer again. “He’s such a brilliant actor, I love his work.”
At one of the “Top Gun: Maverick” premieres in May 2022, Cruise told Entertainment Tonight that he “rallied hard” for Kilmer to be in the first film.
Praising Kilmer’s role in the sequel, Cruise said, “The kind of talent that he has, and you see that scene, it’s very special.
