It Took a While, but David Zucker Finally Bonded With Val Kilmer (Guest Column)

Val Kilmer Scored His Breakout Top Secret! Role with an 'Impromptu' Elvis Presley Impersonation

David Zucker, the director of the beloved 1984 spy comedy, talks with PEOPLE about working with the late actorParamount/Kobal/Shutterstock Val Kilmer in Top Secret!When it came to Val Kilmer auditioning for what would be his breakout role in 1984's spy spoof Top Secret!, the actor tapped into none other than the King of Rock and Roll — Elvis Presley.Top Secret! director David Zucker spoke with PEOPLE about the memorable audition following Kilmer…

It Took a While, but David Zucker Finally Bonded With Val Kilmer (Guest Column)

The co-director and co-writer of ‘Top Secret!’ shares how it “was hard to predict which Val would show up on any given day” before things turned around on the late actor's first movie.

The premature death of author Val Kilmer at the age of 65 prompted the press to remember the usual movies: Top Gun, The Doors, Batman Forever. But Kilmer worked on 82 productions. And one of the best was precisely his debut film: Top Secret, from 1984. Top Secret is one of the best and least known works of the so-called ZAZ group - Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker, the kings of parodies, authors of films such as Fasten Your Belts, The…

Val Kilmer & Tom Cruise’s 40-Year Friendship — Why Val Didn’t Want to Do ‘Top Gun’

Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise played rivals in 1986’s “Top Gun,” but they were old friends to the very end.  Tom and Val met in 1985 and were friends for 40 years. Cruise once told “Extra,” “He’s very special,” adding, “His body of work and what he's created, he's created some iconic characters.” In his Prime Video doc “Val,” Kilmer confessed playing Maverick’s nemesis Iceman wasn’t something he ever wanted to do. Kilmer called the script “silly,” b…

Tom Cruise Recounts “Emotional” Reunion With Val Kilmer In ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Before His Death: “Such A Brilliant Actor” – Advertising and Donations – advertising-newsandtimes.com

Top Gun: Maverick marked the last time Kilmer and Cruise appeared on screen together.

Tom Cruise recounts "emotional" reunion with Val Kilmer in 'Top Gun:...

Tom Cruise looked back on his last time acting opposite Val Kilmer in 'Top Gun: Maverick' before his death.