Val Kilmer’s Playful Antics With Tom Cruise on Top Gun

On the set of Top Gun, the rivalry between Maverick and Iceman didn’t end when the cameras stopped rolling. Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise, who brought these iconic characters to life, found their on-screen tension spilling over into their off-screen interactions, albeit with a good dose of humour. Kilmer, never one to miss an opportunity for a bit of mischief, often recounted how their dynamic sometimes felt almost personal, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.

Light-hearted Pranks and On-set Camaraderie

During filming, Kilmer was known for his sharp sense of humour. He once presented Cruise with a children’s book on flying, complete with large print, as a playful jab. As Kilmer put it,

I’d get him kids’ books on how to fly, like big large print in the Smithsonian. ‘How To Fly A Plane.’ Like things to torture him like the character would do —we had a great time.

This light-hearted teasing mirrored the competitive spirit of their characters, but it was all in good fun. Their relationship only grew stronger after the film wrapped, and their characters’ friendship was echoed in the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, where Iceman returns to offer Maverick some much-needed advice.

Behind-the-Scenes Dynamics and Character Development

In his 2021 documentary, Val, Kilmer delved deeper into the off-screen relationship he shared with Cruise. He explained that, while there was never any genuine animosity, he made a conscious effort to maintain the tension between their characters even when the cameras weren’t rolling. Kilmer went so far as to invent a detailed backstory for Iceman, giving his character a father who ignored him, which fuelled his drive for perfection and, consequently, his arrogance. As Kilmer described,

I manifested a backstory for him, where he had a father who ignored him, and as a result, I was driven by a need to be perfect in every way. This obsession with perfection is what made him so arrogant.

He also noted that the cast seemed to split into two distinct groups, a reflection of the rivalry played up for the film. However, Kilmer was quick to clarify that it was all part of the fun, saying,

It was fun to play up the conflict between our characters, but in reality, I’ve always thought of Tom as a friend, and we’ve always supported each other.

Despite Cruise’s demanding schedule, which often kept him from joining the rest of the cast for downtime, the bond between the two actors remained strong long after filming ended.

Tributes and Lasting Legacy

Val Kilmer sadly passed away on 1 April 2025, following a bout of pneumonia. At CinemaCon later that year, Cruise paid a heartfelt tribute to his friend and former co-star, reflecting on their time together and the impact Kilmer had on the Top Gun films. Cruise expressed his admiration, stating,

I’d like to honour a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer. I can’t tell you how much I admire his work, how grateful and honoured 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 have a moment together because he loved films and he gave a lot to all of us. Just kind of think about all the wonderful times that we had with him.

He concluded his tribute with the words,

I wish you well on the next journey.

In the 2022 sequel, Kilmer’s character faces a terminal illness, a poignant echo of real life, and his passing is marked within the story as well.

Both Top Gun and its sequel are currently available to stream on Paramount+.