Val Kilmer’s family asks for privacy, Tom Cruise becomes public

The family and friends of Val Kilmer look at the actor with love and pride after his death.

From Tom Cruise at Cinemacon to the son and daughter of Kilmer, Jack and Mercedes, the feeling was the same.

“We are so proud of him and honored to see his inheritance celebrated,” the family said in a statement obtained by people on Thursday.

They asked to be allowed to cry in private.

But Cruise put his sorrow and invited others to join him Thursday during an appearance in Cinemacon, the conference of cinema owners held every year in Las Vegas.

Before ensuring that the exhibitors were enthusiastic about the “Mission: Impossible-The Final Reckoning” of Paramount, the release of next month in the United States, the movie star spoke of Kilmer, his “dear friend” and the occasional co-star.

“I cannot tell you how much I admire his work, how grateful and honored when he joined” Top Gun “and returned later for” Top Gun: Maverick “”, said Cruise, by variety. “I think it would be really good if we could have a moment together because he loved the films and he gave us a lot.”

He asked these presents to think about the good times with kilmer for a moment of silence.

Kilmer was 65 years old when he died on Tuesday after his daughter Mercedes told the New York Times a blow of pneumonia. He had previously fought against throat cancer, which had won him most of his voice.

The star of “The Doors” told Times via an email in 2022 that he and Cruise were in contact and exchanged Christmas gifts each year.

“Tom and I hear very well. We have ridiculed like small children at school between the catches. I consider him a real friend. We have shared intimate stories and challenges on our different lifestyles !! ” He wrote.

Regarding working together on “Top Gun: Maverick”, Kilmer said: “We talked a lot about what was best for the story and I think they succeeded in the end.”

The director of the film seemed to agree.

“You have two masters at the top of their game by playing the most emblematic characters of their career. I think there are a lot of Maverick in Tom, and Iceman in Val, so what you see on the screen is an authentic friendship that lasted more than 36,”, Joseph Kosinski told Times.

“After one of the catches (we only made a few), I noticed that Tom and Val both had tears in my eyes. It was like a real moment between two old friends.”

Kilmer seemed really breathtaking by the reaction to the film and its brief role.

“I cannot believe how kind the whole world was. I receive hundreds of letters of fans each week. It is very humiliating,” he said, adding that he was “so tall” and “feeling stronger every day”. He dreamed of playing Frankenstein, with Werner Herzog realizing, he said.

In the end, “Top Gun: Maverick” was the last film of Kilmer.

Former editor Michael Ordoña contributed to this post.