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Val Kilmer Having several iconic roles throughout his career, but the late actor will always be remembered as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky of the 1986 film A top gun.
Before he signed to play the Aviator Naval Cocky in the film, Kilmer nearly rejected the role.
“I didn’t want the part. I didn’t care about the movie. The story wasn’t interested in me,” Kilmer wrote in his 2020 biography I am your huckleberry. “My agent, who also represented Tom Cruisebasically tortured me in to meet at least Tony Scottsaying he is one of the hottest directors in the town. “
He added: “I read the lines indifferent. And yet, surprisingly, I was told I had the part. I felt more deflated than zoom. I had to get out of there.”
Despite his nonchalance for the role, Kilmer returned for the 2022 sequence Top Gun: Maverick and even form a long -lasting friendship with the former Costar -tour. Nearly three years after the second film came out, Kilmer died at the age of 65 of pneumonia.
Keep scrolling to see what the A top gun Franchise stars have said about Kilmer over the years:
Personal update
Cruise offered an update on Kilmer Health Battle in 2018. (Kilmer was Been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, but did not public with the news until 2017.)
“He is doing very well,” said Cruise Extra at the time.
Bring positive vibrations
A mileage counterpart starred as Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw in the A top gun Progression and initially tease all “the feelings” when seeing cruising and reuniting Kilmer on screen. Teller also said Entertainment tonight In May 2022 Kilmer was always hanging around during filming.
“It would be on a set even if it wasn’t in the scene. Val was on a set and in fact many of the men from the original would be a kind of drop and out of time,” said Teller. “And that only adds to the Glee factor.”
Teller also said Kilmer had “positive energy.” The actor added: “He’s so full of life and was seeing him on a set and chatting with him was good.”
Growing up with Kilmer
Before Jon Hamm split A top gun A screen with Kilmer, the actor – who played Beau “Cyclone” Simpson in the sequel – remembered seeing him in the first movie.
“You don’t want to be an Iceman,” admitted Hamm Rolled stone in May 2022. “But it’s funny, I’m just Watch that documentary On the life of Val Kilmer and only watching him go through his whole life and career and how young he was and how important that was to him too, and how good he was in the film. “
He added, “It’s a truly credible type of heel, though it plays a kind of two sides of the equation. It’s a really great performance it brings it too.”
Emotional minute
Spoke a cruise honestly for going tearful When reuniting with Kilmer for Top Gun: Maverick.
“I want to say that is pretty emotional,” the actor shared during appearance in February 2023 onwards Jimmy Kimmel alive!. “I’ve known Val for decades, and he came back and played that character… he’s such a powerful actor that he becomes that character again. You just look at Iceman.”
Really iconic! The late Val Kilmer had a famous acting career during his lifetime, with roles ranging from Batman in Batman forever to the late Jim Morrison in the Biopic doors. The best gun actor from pneumonia died on Tuesday, April 1, his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed to the New York Times. “My priority was not fame, and I got,” (…)
Cruise added, “I was crying.… I did emotional. It’s such a great actor, I love his work.”
Use Kilmer as a model
Glen Powell appear in the A top gun Sequence like Jake “Hangman” Seresin and the actor said Hollywood reporter In May 2024 he wanted his role to be “reminded of someone” from Iceman Kilmer.
When Kilmer crossed paths with Powell, the legend took attention.
“When we were leaving Miramar, I was moving out of my hotel room and I had one of those luggage trolleys – I had already moved all my things out. The only thing on the luggage cart at the end was some weight, protein powder and tequila,” said Powell in August 2022. “I caught in the elevator with Val. A top gun Right there! That was my A top gun. ‘”
Remembering Kilmer
Danny RamirezMickey played “Fanboy” Garcia at Top Gun: Maverick, remembering his time with Kilmer in an Instagram story on April 2025.
“In the short time I spent with him on a set, it was nothing but kind, joyful and playful. I felt lucky to be in the same room,” the actor wrote. “A great and generous performer and one of the coldest to ever do. Rest in peace, Val.”
