Tom Cruise almost made a surprise appearance on "Saturday Night Live" to support his former co-star Val Kilmer during a sketch that aired in 2000. The two actors, known for their roles in the iconic film "Top Gun," had a chance to reunite on the show, but timing didn’t quite work out.
Kilmer hosted "SNL" in December 2000, and a sketch was written by Michael Schur and Robert Carlock featuring Kilmer as Iceman, now a retired Navy pilot flying commercial flights. The sketch was filled with humorous moments, including Kilmer delivering memorable lines from "Top Gun."
Seth Meyers, who was reflecting on this moment in a podcast, shared that Cruise was actually in the studio that night. He was just a few feet away from the stage, enjoying the sketch. Producer Marci Klein suggested to Schur that they should bring Cruise on stage. Schur had a plan ready, suggesting Cruise could join Kilmer and say something like, “Hey Iceman, let’s get you out of here, bud.”
As they were preparing for this surprise, the sketch ended, and Kilmer was quickly whisked away to change. They missed the opportunity by mere seconds. Schur later expressed how incredible it would have been to see Cruise walk onto the stage, saying it would have been a moment to remember.
Fast forward to 2022, and the two finally reunited in "Top Gun: Maverick," where Cruise admitted to feeling emotional about their reunion. He praised Kilmer’s performance, stating that he truly embodied the character of Iceman once again.
Sadly, Kilmer passed away on April 1, 2025, at the age of 65 due to pneumonia after battling throat cancer. Following his death, Cruise honored Kilmer during a speech at CinemaCon, expressing his admiration for Kilmer’s work and their shared experiences in film. He encouraged everyone to remember the joy Kilmer brought to the world of cinema.