Val Kilmer is being honored by his peers in Hollywood. From former co-stars to an ex-girlfriend, several celebrities paid tribute to the Top Gun and Batman Forever star after news of his death broke on April 2, 2025. Val’s daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed to The New York Times that he died from pneumonia and had recovered from throat cancer.

Kilmer portrayed Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazanski in the 1986 “Top Gun” film starring Cruise as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. The two were rival fighter pilots who eventually became friends. The film catapulted both Kilmer and Cruise's careers, leading to a slew of box office hits for the two movie stars.