Beloved actor Val Kilmer wasn't a veteran, but he was part of one of the most unintentionally successful U.S. military recruiting programs ever made: "Top Gun."

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.

Actor Val Kilmer had one iconic role that stands out from all others: Playing Iceman in the Tom Cruise classic Top Gun. But it almost didn't happen. Kilmer made the revelation in his Amazon Prime documentary,

Val Kilmer fans are looking back on some of the actor’s most iconic character moments after his death due to pneumonia Tuesday at the age of 65. Kilmer’s Top Gun character Tom “Iceman” Kazansky may be his most well-known,

Kilmer and Cruise, longtime friends and stars of the original ‘Top Gun,’ reunited for the 2022 ‘Maverick’ sequel to film a scene that resonates with fans in the wake of

"A brilliant and generous performer and one of the coolest to ever do it," Danny Ramirez, who appeared in 'Top Gun: Maverick,' wrote of Kilmer on Instagram

The late, great Val Kilmer was known for disappearing into his roles — but that doesn’t mean he took himself too seriously.

Tom Cruise took a moment to honor his late 'Top Gun' co-star, Val Kilmer, asking CinemaCon crowd for a moment of silence.