Val Kilmer’s Daughter Says His Top Gun: Maverick Cameo Was A Very ‘Special' Moment For Him

Val Kilmer’s cameo in Top Gun: Maverick was an emotional moment for the actor who appeared as the ‘Iceman’ in the original film 36 years ago. 

The 62-year-old actor recently went through a two-year battle with throat cancer, which saw him suffer the loss of his voice. 

In the sequel, Kilmer appears in a brief cameo as Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky and reunites with his old rival Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, played by the one and only Tom Cruise. 

Kilmer’s daughter Mercedes was on set for the scene and said the affection and emotion displayed in the scene didn’t take much acting from her father.

She told the New York Post: “I was on set, I saw it live and it was extraordinary. It means a lot to my dad as he’s very proud of that film. This is what he loves to do.” 

Extraordinary sure seems the way to describe it with Kilmer appearing in the original film at the age of just 26 years old.

She added: “It was trippy, and very special for my dad to be on set with all of his friends who made this movie when they were my age.” 

Kilmer’s health struggles were revealed in his Amazon Prime documentary Val, which explained how the actor underwent an emergency tracheotomy.

The surgery involved an incision into his windpipe to allow him to breathe while forcing him to eat through a feeding tube. 

The documentary saw his son Jack narrate his father’s story in place of Val.

“My name is Val Kilmer. I was recently diagnosed with throat cancer," the documentary began.

“Though I healed quickly from the extensive radiation and chemotherapy, what followed has left my voice impaired. I’m still recovering, and it’s difficult to talk and be understood.”

Within his scene in Top Gun: Maverick, Kilmer’s voice was recreated using archival recordings and modern technology. 

London-based company Sonantic used the recordings throughout the actor’s career to create an artificial mock-up. 

Val praised the team, saying: “I'm grateful to the entire team at Sonantic who masterfully restored my voice in a way I've never imagined possible.”

At the premiere of the film in London, Cruise said he thoroughly enjoyed working with Kilmer again.

He told Metro: “​​It was lovely. The whole experience, you know, 36 years to make this film. There were so many moments in making it that were very special, incredibly unique.

“He's an actor that I greatly admire, so it was wonderful.”