Top Gun cast: Then and now - seattlepi.com Top Gun cast: Then and now By LYNSI BURTON Close Image 1 of 40 Friday is Top Gun Day and Monday is the 30th anniversary of the movie's premiere. That's right, you'll have an excuse to quote the iconic '80s movie all day and blast "Danger Zone" in your car while you're stuck at a busy suburban intersection. Maybe get together for a celebratory game of shirtless beach volleyball with your bros (unless you're playing Goose that day, in that case you get a cutoff T-shirt). Friday is Top Gun Day and Monday is the 30th anniversary of the movie's premiere. That's right, you'll have an excuse to quote the iconic '80s movie all day and blast "Danger Zone" in your car while you're ... more Friday is Top Gun Day and Monday is the 30th anniversary of the...

Photo-6233757.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 2 of 40 Top Gun Day was initially intended by its founders to fall on May 16, the anniversary of the 1986 film's premiere date. However, so many promotional graphics were produced erroneously advertising the film holiday as being on the 13th that it was kept on that date to prevent confusion. The day is intended to be celebrated by adorning one's social media pages with everything Top Gun and quoting the movie all day. Kinda like "Talk Like a Pirate Day." But with more testosterone. Top Gun Day was initially intended by its founders to fall on May 16, the anniversary of the 1986 film's premiere date. However, so many promotional graphics were produced erroneously advertising the film ... more Photo: Paramount Pictures, Getty Top Gun Day was initially intended by its founders to fall on May... Photo-6292598.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 3 of 40 "Top Gun" was the highest-grossing film in 1986, having raked in more than $353 million worldwide.

The Cold War-era action flick is said to have increased interest in U.S. naval aviation by 500 percent after its release. less "Top Gun" was the highest-grossing film in 1986, having raked in more than $353 million worldwide. The Cold War-era action flick is said to have increased interest in U.S. naval aviation by 500 percent after its ... more Photo: Paramount Pictures, Getty "Top Gun" was the highest-grossing film in 1986, having... Photo-6292609.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 4 of 40 The movie well-known for the volleyball scene filled with oiled-up buff pilots ... The movie well-known for the volleyball scene filled with oiled-up buff pilots ... The movie well-known for the volleyball scene filled with oiled-up... Photo-4164449.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 5 of 40 the resurrection of "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" and "Great Balls of Fire" ... the resurrection of "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" and "Great Balls of Fire" ...

Photo: Archive Photos, Getty the resurrection of "You've Lost That Loving... Photo-6292616.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 6 of 40 Image 7 of 40 ... and one of the more awkward love scenes in cinema history. less ... and one of the more awkward love scenes in cinema history. Furthermore, a "Top Gun" sequel is reportedly in the works and will once again star Tom Cruise, with a rumored plot involving Maverick fighting for ... more Photo: Paramount Pictures, Getty ... and one of the more awkward love scenes in cinema history.... Photo-6292605.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 8 of 40 So what is the cast up to now? So what is the cast up to now? Photo: Paramount Pictures, Getty So what is the cast up to now? Photo-6292607.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 9 of 40 Tom Cruise, who starred as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, had already appeared in "The Outsiders" and starred in "Risky Business" by the time "Top Gun" came around.

The movie only contributed to his meteoric rise in the '80s. He would soon go on to star in "Rain Man" and "Cocktail." Imagine how different the movie would be had the role of "Maverick" gone to other contenders: John Travolta, Rob Lowe, Nicolas Cage, Patrick Swayze, Emilio Estevez, John Cusack, Matthew Brockerick, Sean Penn, Michael J. Fox, Scott Baio, Tom Hanks, Charlie Sheen, Jim Carrey, Eric Stoltz and Robert Downey, Jr. As Goose would say, that list is long and distinguished. Tom Cruise, who starred as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, had already appeared in "The Outsiders" and starred in "Risky Business" by the time "Top Gun" came around. The movie only contributed to his meteoric rise in ... more Photo: Paramount Pictures, Getty Images Tom Cruise, who starred as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, had...

Photo-4164458.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 10 of 40 Now we know Tom Cruise, 53, as a couch-jumping Scientologist cartoon character, but we can't quit his movies. The fifth installment of the "Mission: Impossible" movies was released last year and another sequel has been announced. A second "Jack Reacher" movie is in post-production. We know Cruise, of course, for famous titles such as "A Few Good Men," "Jerry Maguire" and "Minority Report," to name a few. He has been married to and divorced from Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes. A second "Top Gun" has been announced, but Cruise and Val Kilmer are the only listed cast members so far, if it actually goes through. Now we know Tom Cruise, 53, as a couch-jumping Scientologist...

Photo-5038035.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 11 of 40 Kelly McGillis was coming off her first standout role as Rachel in 1985's "Witness" when she co-starred as Maverick's love interest, Charlie, in "Top Gun." She played a Ph.D.-level flight instructor at Miramar who became the subject of Maverick's fancy. It has been reported that Tom Cruise, not known as a tall man, had to wear lifts during his scenes with McGillis. Kelly McGillis was coming off her first standout role as Rachel in 1985's "Witness" when she co-starred as Maverick's love interest, Charlie, in "Top Gun." She played a Ph.D.-level flight instructor at Miramar ... more Photo: Archive Photos, Getty Images Kelly McGillis was coming off her first standout role as Rachel in...

Photo-4164439.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 12 of 40 After "Top Gun," McGillis soon went on to play a lawyer in "The Accused." She has since continued acting in TV and movies, albeit with a low profile. She appeared in an independent film released last year, "Blue." McGillis came out as lesbian in 2009 and entered into a civil union with her partner the following year. She is 58. After "Top Gun," McGillis soon went on to play a lawyer...

Photo-6292581.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 13 of 40 Val Kilmer played "Iceman," Maverick's top competitor at flight school who always chided him for being too "dangerous." Before "Top Gun," he appeared in "Real Genius." Val Kilmer played "Iceman," Maverick's top competitor at flight school who always chided him for being too "dangerous." Before "Top Gun," he appeared in "Real Genius." Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd., WireImage Val Kilmer played "Iceman," Maverick's top... Photo-4164443.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 14 of 40 For those who might have forgotten, Val Kilmer was romantically linked to Cher in the early '80s. For those who might have forgotten, Val Kilmer was romantically linked to Cher in the early '80s. Photo: Ron Galella, Getty For those who might have forgotten, Val Kilmer was romantically...

Photo-6292580.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 15 of 40 He went on to play Jim Morrison in ''The Doors'' in 1991, Doc Holliday in 1993's ''Tombstone," Batman/Bruce Wayne in 1995's "Batman Forever" and Chris Shiherlis in "Heat" that same year. In recent years, he voiced K.I.T.T. in the unsuccessful reboot of "Knight Rider" and co-starred with fellow "Top Gun" alumnus Anthony Edwards as a voice actor in "Planes." He also played Mark Twain in the 2014 movie, "Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn" and is set to reprise the role in "Mark Twain and Mary Baker Eddy." He is 56. He went on to play Jim Morrison in ''The... Photo-6292630.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 16 of 40 Speaking of Anthony Edwards, he played Goose, Maverick's partner in crime and in the air.

By "Top Gun," his biggest credits included his turns in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and "Revenge of the Nerds." Speaking of Anthony Edwards, he played Goose, Maverick's partner in crime and in the air. By "Top Gun," his biggest credits included his turns in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and "Revenge of the Nerds." Photo: Ralph Nelson, Paramount Pictures Speaking of Anthony Edwards, he played Goose, Maverick's... Photo-1268457.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 17 of 40 Edwards, now 53, is probably most popularly known now as Dr. Mark Greene from TV's "ER." He appeared in an episode of the latest season of "Girls" last season and continues to play occasional turns in TV episodes and movies. Edwards, now 53, is probably most popularly known now as Dr. Mark... Photo-6292631.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 18 of 40 Washington resident Tom Skerritt was an established actor before "Top Gun" came around.

His most high-profile credit before then was as Dallas in "Alien," pictured. He played chief flight instructor, Viper. Washington resident Tom Skerritt was an established actor before "Top Gun" came around. His most high-profile credit before then was as Dallas in "Alien," pictured. He played chief flight instructor, Viper. Photo: Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection, Getty Washington resident Tom Skerritt was an established actor before... Photo-6292641.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 19 of 40 Tom Skerritt, age 82, now splits his time between homes on Lake Washington and on Lopez Island in the San Juan Islands. His big credits after "Top Gun" included a recurring role in "Cheers," "Poltergeist III," "Steel Magnolias" and "Picket Fences." He has recently appeared in episodes of the TV series "Madam Secretary" and "The Good Wife" and continues to act in movies. Tom Skerritt, age 82, now splits his time between homes on Lake...

Photo-6292629.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 20 of 40 Michael Ironside played Lieutenant Commander Rick "Jester" Heatherly. Michael Ironside played Lieutenant Commander Rick "Jester" Heatherly. Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd., Getty Michael Ironside played Lieutenant Commander Rick... Photo-6292628.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 21 of 40 Some of his biggest film credits include "Total Recall" (1990) and "Starship Troopers" (1997). He had guest spots on a slew of hit TV shows such as "The A-Team," "Hill Street Blues," "Walker, Texas Ranger," "ER," "Smallville" and "Desperate Housewives." He has several movies in various stages of production set to be released this year or the next. He is 66. John Stockwell played Cougar, who, early in "Top Gun,"... Photo-6292649.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 23 of 40 Stockwell is now a director.

He directed "Cheaters," "Crazy/Beautiful," "Blue Crush" and "Into the Blue," among others. He is 55. Stockwell is now a director. He directed "Cheaters," "Crazy/Beautiful," "Blue Crush" and "Into the Blue," among others. He is 55. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Stockwell is now a director. He directed "Cheaters,"... Photo-6292596.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 24 of 40 Rick Rossovich played Slider, whom Maverick sniffed out in a famous exchange and sneered, "You stink." Rick Rossovich played Slider, whom Maverick sniffed out in a famous exchange and sneered, "You stink." Photo: Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Rick Rossovich played Slider, whom Maverick sniffed out in a famous... Photo-6292619.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 25 of 40 Rossovich also appeared in 1983's "Losin' It" with Cruise and Stockwell.

He also had a role in the original "The Terminator." Since "Top Gun," he had a recurring role in "ER" and starred in the mid-'90s TV show, "Pacific Blue." He has a movie filming and another in post-production. He is 58. Rossovich also appeared in 1983's "Losin' It"... Photo-6292592.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 26 of 40 Tim Robbins played fellow pilot, Merlin. He was in a relationship with Susan Sarandon for 21 years. Tim Robbins played fellow pilot, Merlin. He was in a relationship with Susan Sarandon for 21 years. Photo: Catherine McGann, Getty Tim Robbins played fellow pilot, Merlin. He was in a relationship... Photo-6292575.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 27 of 40 Since "Top Gun," Robbins starred in "Bull Durham," "The Shawshank Redemption," "High Fidelity" and "Mystic River," for which he won a best supporting actor Oscar, among dozens of other titles.

He has also written, produced and directed several works, including "Dead Man Walking." He also stars in the HBO series, "The Brink," with Jack Black. He is 57. Since "Top Gun," Robbins starred in "Bull... Photo-6292643.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 28 of 40 Clarence Gilyard, Jr., born in Moses Lake, Wash., played fellow pilot, Sundown. Clarence Gilyard, Jr., born in Moses Lake, Wash., played fellow pilot, Sundown. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Clarence Gilyard, Jr., born in Moses Lake, Wash., played fellow... Photo-6292617.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 29 of 40 Gilyard is known for his work in "Die Hard," "Matlock," the "Left Behind" movie trilogy and "Walker, Texas Ranger." He has a couple movies in the works. He now teaches theater at University of Nevada-Las Vegas. He is 61.

Gilyard is known for his work in "Die Hard," "Matlock," the "Left Behind" movie trilogy and "Walker, Texas Ranger." He has a couple movies in the works. He now teaches theater at University of Nevada-Las Vegas. ... more Photo: J. P. Aussenard, Getty Gilyard is known for his work in "Die Hard,"... Photo-6292804.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 30 of 40 Meg Ryan was a largely unknown actress when she was cast for "Top Gun" as Goose's wife Carole who had the famous line, ''Take me to bed or lose me forever!'' She was previously known as Betsy in the soap, "As The World Turns." less Meg Ryan was a largely unknown actress when she was cast for "Top Gun" as Goose's wife Carole who had the famous line, ''Take me to bed or lose me forever!'' She was previously known as Betsy in the soap, ... more Photo: Time Life Pictures, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image Meg Ryan was a largely unknown actress when she was cast for...

Photo-4164446.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 31 of 40 Anthony Edwards and Meg Ryan dated for a while in real life. Of course, she since became known for "When Harry Met Sally," "Joe Versus the Volcano," "Sleepless in Seattle," "When a Man Loves a Woman," "City of Angels" and "You've Got Mail." She also played Jim Morrison's wife alongside Val Kilmer in "The Doors." Barry Tubb played Wolfman. Photo-6292578.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 34 of 40 He has recently played Luke Cafferty's demanding father, Tom, in "Friday Night Lights." He is 53. He has recently played Luke Cafferty's demanding father, Tom, in "Friday Night Lights." He is 53. Photo: Bill Records, Getty He has recently played Luke Cafferty's demanding father, Tom,...

Photo-6292604.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 35 of 40 James Tolkan played Stinger, who sends Maverick and Goose to Top Gun after colorfully reprimanding them for their recklessness. He is basically known for playing a strict authority figure, famously as Mr. Strickland in the "Back to the Future" trilogy. You slackers. James Tolkan played Stinger, who sends Maverick and Goose to Top... Photo-6292603.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 36 of 40 At 84, Tolkan's many movie and TV roles aren't as frequent as they used to be, but he remains an active actor. At 84, Tolkan's many movie and TV roles aren't as frequent as they used to be, but he remains an active actor. Photo: Barry Brecheisen, Getty At 84, Tolkan's many movie and TV roles aren't as...

Photo-6292574.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 37 of 40 Kenny Loggins is kind of a cast member with his contributions to the soundtrack, right? He sang the theme, "Danger Zone," and the beach volleyball theme, "Playing With the Boys." After gaining mainstream success as one half of Loggins and Messina, he became "King of the Movie Soundtrack," with credits including "I'm Alright" for "Caddyshack," "Footloose" and "I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man)" for "Footloose," "Meet Me Halfway" for "Over the Top" and "Nobody's Fool" for "Caddyshack II." Despite his hits with the "Top Gun" soundtrack, it was Berlin's "Take My Breath Away" that won the Golden Globe and Oscar for best original song. Kenny Loggins is kind of a cast member with his contributions to the soundtrack, right? He sang the theme, "Danger Zone," and the beach volleyball theme, "Playing With the Boys." After gaining mainstream ...

more Photo: Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Kenny Loggins is kind of a cast member with his contributions to... Photo-6292599.85598 - seattlepi.com Image 38 of 40 The Iceman List – The Message – Medium Classic movie antagonists who were actually pretty much right all along If you haven’t seen Top Gun in a while… I strongly recommend it. It’s one of those movies — a lot of movies from the 1980s feel this way — that didn’t hold up for a long time, but now it does. People grow, times change; you gain new perspective and learn to appreciate different things about both movies and the times that produce them. For about twenty years, Top Gun was influential but embarrassing. In the 1990s, while Tom Cruise crossed over from loveable rascal to the biggest action star in the world, his breakout movie seemed like a bundle of Cold War clichés tacked onto a mix of lifeless romance, unfortunate haircuts, and an undeniable homoeroticism that was somehow strangely sterile. Why are the Russian pilots totally faceless? we asked. Is it so we don’t care when they die?

Are Iceman and Slider gay , or are they super-gay ? Look everybody, it’s Meg Ryan and that dude from ER! By the aughts, Cruise was still the biggest star in the world, but also the creepiest. We’d moved on, movie-wise, from military fantasies starring young heartthrobs to military fantasies starring younger heartthrobs, with superpowers and/or magic. And the anonymous Russians were replaced first by anonymous Arabs (which was and is fucked-up) and finally by fully-dehumanized monsters, zombies, and robots. You can watch Orlando Bloom kill those with his bare hands and barely feel a thing! But today, in the 2010s, Top Gun is a treat. It’s as clean and shiny as a new dime. The clichés that later action films overloaded with world-building and backstory here present themselves unadorned, in all their purity. Cruise is just so charming, brimming with so much energy, it doesn’t matter that he doesn’t really know how to act yet. A bunch of Navy aviators singing Righteous Brothers in the bar looks like fun.

Now that pilots, airmen, and aviators can serve in the US military openly without anyone asking who they sleep with, it’s super that Iceman and Slider might be gay. And guess what? Maverick is kind of a jerk. Iceman is totally right about him. In fact, Iceman is right about almost everything. We didn’t notice this in the 1980s because everything about how the film is constructed tells us to sympathize with Maverick and hate Iceman’s guts. Even if you’d loved Val Kilmer’s characters in Top Secret! and Real Genius, it’s hard to sympathize with Ice. He’s blond. He’s vaguely preppy. He’s good, and more importantly, he knows he’s good. He does that jaw-snapping thing (which seems like it’s trying to be intimidating but is actually kind of hot). The only way he could be more obviously a villain is if he were played by James Spader or Billy Zabka. Could Zabka have pulled off Iceman? We’ll never know. Apart from teasing his competition, Ice doesn’t seem to have much fun.

And if Generation X’s childhood movies share one lesson, it’s that People Who Have Fun Are Inherently Good, and people who believe in rules are inherently bad. Animal House, Caddyshack, Meatballs, Ghostbusters, Grease, The Outsiders, The Goonies, Beverly Hills Cop, Revenge of the Nerds — no matter how skeevy they are, joke-cracking characters looking for good times beat authority figures and uptight stooges hands down. If Generation X’s childhood movies share one lesson, it’s that People Who Have Fun Are Inherently Good. Here are just a few other classic movie antagonists who we root against not because they’re wrong per se, but mostly because they’re just not as likable as the characters who carry the movie. Let’s call it “The Iceman List.” (If you’re convinced I missed a crucial character who needs to be defended, log in and add their name and your defense in a response at the bottom. I have a feeling this list could be miles long.) Dean Yeager and Walter Peck, Ghostbusters.

Let’s face it — whatever the merits of Doctors Egon Spengler’s and Raymond Stanz’s pure and applied research, Peter Venkman really is a poor scientist. He hits on student volunteers, tortures the ones he’s not attracted to, and lies to both of them — poor data collection practices all. His methods are sloppy, his conclusions are highly questionable, and he does seem to regard science as some kind of dodge or hustle. He’s a con man, not a scientist, and not a good professor, no matter how popular his courses might be. If this movie were being made today, Venkman would obviously have a huge external grant and he could tell Dean Yeager and Columbia’s Board of Regents to suck eggs. As for the unfortunately named Mr. Peck — poor William Atherton, stuck being the asshole in Ghostbusters, Real Genius, and Die Hard, with Sugarland Express being the one Spielberg movie nobody remembers — while it was clearly a mistake to shut off the containment grid, he is not only permitted but bound to make inquiries as to the environmental consequences of storing thousands of ghosts in an abandoned fire station in lower Manhattan.

I mean, what kind of Reaganite propaganda play is this where the only non-supernatural villains are university professors and officials from the EPA just trying to do their jobs? Like William Atherton, Jeffrey Jones is a redhead. That’s right, your bias is showing. Ed Rooney, Dean of Students, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Excused or otherwise, nine absences in one semester is indeed rather troubling. When he finds out Mr. Bueller’s mother has no idea he’s been absent that many times, it’s perfectly appropriate for him to follow up. Admittedly, Dean Rooney takes Bueller’s latest elaborate con rather personally, but to be fair, not only does he have the welfare of other students to consider, but he watched Bueller’s absence count go from nine to two before his own eyes. He probably thinks either his entire data network’s been compromised or he’s losing his mind. Lynne Thigpen is almost always cast as a self-righteous pain in the ass, and she almost always convinces me she’s actually right. Leona Barrett, Lean On Me.

Dismiss her if you want because her child is one of the alleged three hundred drug dealers and other “rotten apples” expelled by new principal Joe Clark on his first day. She’s a parent/activist who seems genuinely committed to getting the best possible outcome for all the children of Paterson. She’s also absolutely right: keeping every entrance and exit chained and locked is an unconscionable fire hazard and Clark never should have done it. What happened this morning is an outrage! My boy’s no criminal! He and those children belong in school, not back out on the streets! Our kids don’t deserve this! Some of those children are smart. They’re just discouraged. What chances they got out there, what kind of jobs they got waiting for them. What chance do they have now? He insulted the black football coach! The man’s gone crazy! He’s declared war on his own people! The only answer Clark gives Barrett and other parents when she challenges him on the mass expulsions is to tell them to get their families off welfare. “How dare you talk to these people about welfare?” she responds. (Psst — she’s right.

Clark’s just dropping a tried-and-true respectability red herring.) In Lean on Me, Clark also installs a weird paramilitary security force answering only to him, encourages a student to commit suicide, bullies the music teacher out of a job because the school’s worst students don’t know the school song, unilaterally demotes the head football coach to assistant over the team’s record (going on to belittle him every chance he gets, only relenting when the coach/English teacher fights him physically) and puts the entire school to work full-time on drills to pass a basic skills test, largely just so that he can stay in charge. So Joe Clark’s “victory” may have been eerily prescient of where public schools were heading, but it certainly violates everything we know about what constitutes good education. But he’s Morgan Freeman. And he cares. Or something. Ronny Cox, another quality character actor stuck in by-the-book roles. Lieutenant Andrew Bogomil and Inspector Douglas Todd, Beverly Hills Cop.

Even before the end of the movie, you get to see that Bogomil’s a talented cop stuck with an even more insufferable boss, but BHC is a classic case of “I like this guy so I have to root against these other guys in his way”-itis. Rewatching it, the key scene is when Sgt. Taggart punches Eddie Murphy’s Axel Foley. Bogomil sees it, reprimands Taggart, makes him apologize, and asks Foley if he wants to charge Taggart with assault. Axel Foley looks at Bogomil like he’s out of his mind, asks if he’s joking, and finally says, “look, we’re I’m from, cops don’t file charges against other cops.” Bogomil’s 100 percent right. Axel’s position, with which we’re encouraged to identify, boils down to “stop snitchin’.” As for Inspector Todd, look — I grew up in Detroit, and I love Gil Hill. He was a police officer, a city councilman, and even showed up in car commercials. That man’s words burn a hole through my movie screen. Mostly, though, Todd and Bogomil are right about Foley.

For his own good, he needs to be kept in check. Just like with Tom Cruise, there’s no denying how cool Eddie Murphy is in Beverly Hills Cop. Foley’s normcore look 30 years ago is basically how 90 percent of us still dress today. There’s something sadly timeless about seeing him get arrested for vandalism after getting thrown through a window. But as you get older and you see a few things, search warrants and proper authorization and identification of third-party police agents start to seem pretty cool too. Iceman: You two really are cowboys. Maverick: [angry] What’s your problem, Kazansky? Iceman: [turns] You’re everyone’s problem. That’s because every time you go up in the air, you’re unsafe. I don’t like you because you’re dangerous. Maverick: [snaps] That’s right! [smiles] Ice… man. I am dangerous. Like Axel Foley, Top Gun’s Maverick is clearly talented, has great instincts, and is a loyal friend. But at least Axel Foley is motivated by some sense of justice, in the form of arresting the bad guys. Maverick’s motivations are murky as fuck.

The stuff with his dad and Viper in Vietnam doesn’t really make any sense. I guess he’s into Charlie (Kelly McGillis, his love interest), but he seems initially into her just because she poses a challenge and doesn’t listen to her or treat her particularly well after that. His grieving after Goose’s death feels a little like going through the motions, and his PTSD-like symptoms afterwards seem to be driven mostly by a sudden awareness of his own fallibility than anything else. Now, in a long list of movies that could have made us sympathetic to psychological trauma borne by members of the military but went out of their way to do the opposite, reframing psychological distress as cowardice/incompetence/weakness, Top Gun is way, way up there. But given the circumstances, Iceman’s concern for Maverick and the safety of his fighter unit is totally understandable. He tries, however awkwardly, to discuss Goose’s death with Maverick. There’s no discussion of blame. And when they’re assigned to fly into combat together, Iceman briefly and discreetly raises the issue of Maverick’s fitness to fly with his superior officer and withdraws his concern once a decision is made.

I confess: I’m making the case as best I can, but I don’t know if Iceman is perfectly right here about any of this, either from a psychological or a military standpoint. I’d bet there are nuances I’m missing, and I’m sure he could have handled all of it better. I just know that when I was a kid, I was convinced that Ice was being a total asshole for no reason other than to stick it to Maverick, and when I watched it again, this seemed way less obvious. It turns out that I like 1980s Tom Cruise a lot more today than I did ten years ago, but I like the character he plays a lot less. Young Tom Cruise is almost a different person from present-day Tom Cruise. It’s a little like how we got to enjoy young Michael Jackson again after old Michael Jackson died. Maverick, on the other hand — his arc is closer to John McCain’s, that other pilot who took up the character’s call sign as his own political identity. Yes, we admire the idea of it, the swagger — but on close inspection, the whole performance just falls apart. Even the parts that cohere don’t seem like anything I want to endorse.

America has had enough cowboys. From the beginning of the movie to the end, Iceman seems like the kind of pilot I want operating a fighter plane, whether it’s the Cold War or tomorrow. He’s not concerned with scoring points or showing off. He isn’t going to pose with the enemy. He’s not going to unnecessarily antagonize anybody or raise the geopolitical temperature. He wants to win, and to bring everyone back alive. He’s just really good at what he does. Maverick, on the other hand — okay, he scratches three MIGs to Iceman’s one in the final dogfight. But he also seems like he might be a self-obsessed sociopath who should probably be in treatment and definitely needs to learn how to act his age. In other words, Maverick really sounds an awful lot like present-day John McCain. Or for that matter, present-day Tom Cruise. Am I wrong? Did I miss somebody perfect for the list? Log in and submit a response below.

Top Gun 2: Val Kilmer to Return as Iceman Top Gun 2: Val Kilmer to Return as Iceman Share Comment There are few movies that are more iconic of the 1980s than the late director Tony Scott’s Top Gun . A sequel to the film has been trying to get off the ground for years, with original star Tom Cruise being one of the driving forces behind getting the film made. Aside from Cruise’s involvement , very little has been confirmed about what fans can expect from Top Gun 2 ; even the exact nature of Cruise’s role is unknown, given the number of script rewrites the project has gone through by now. However, thanks to the magic of social media, we have some formal Top Gun 2 casting news that should get fans excited. A posting on actor Val Kilmer’s official Facebook page (seemingly from Kilmer directly) has confirmed that he’s not only been offered a role in Top Gun 2, but that he’s accepted the job offer without even having read the script.

Here is the comment that was posted to Kilmer’s Fb page: I just got offered ‪#‎topgun2‬ – not often you get to say “yes” without reading the script… “It’s starring Gene Hackman…” “Yes” “The director is Francis Coppola…” “Yes!” They are t involved in this production. These are examples of what an actor says yes to- like Jerry Bruckheimer and Tom Cruise!!! “Yes.” We will all miss Tony Scott one of the kindest gentlemen I’ve ever met in the film biz, but let’s fire up some fighter jets again!!! Kilmer famously played Tom “Iceman” Kazanski in the original Top Gun ; he served as a foil to Cruise’s Maverick and was one of the key characters in the movie, overall. Having both Kilmer and Cruise back for Top Gun 2 helps to confirm that Cruise will have more than just a cameo. (Also, the mention of Hackman and Coppola got some fans excited as well, but Kilmer has also clarified that those are just examples and have nothing to do with the Top Gun sequel.) This update from Kilmer ought to get films speculating about what form Top Gun 2 will take.

It seems that unmanned aircraft will play a major part in the plot, though how Kilmer fits into this is anybody’s guess. It’s possible that Kilmer will come back into Maverick’s life and help return him to action. There are also a number of potential military conflicts that the film could feature that would have both characters playing a part – perhaps with the unmanned craft malfunctioning or otherwise going rogue. Some may argue that the original Top Gun should be left alone, since a bad or unnecessary sequel might leave fans disappointed. A number of old films are getting sequels these days, however, and fan excitement in general seems to be growing for these revivals. So long as the producers don’t attempt to recreate the original experience and instead focus on making a version of Top Gun 2 that picks up organically all of these years after the original, perhaps this sequel will turn out well after all.

See the Cast of 'Top Gun' Then and Now See the Cast of 'Top Gun' Then and Now May 8, 2014 @ 3:30 PM Paramount Released in 1986, Tony Scott 's ' Top Gun ' starred Tom Cruise as a young pilot nicknamed Maverick who, along with his pal Goose (Anthony Edwards), gets the chance to train at the Navy's prestigious Fighter Weapons School at Miramar in San Diego, also known as "Top Gun." The action-packed film was a rousing success, thanks in part to Cruise's charisma and rapidly increasing star power, assisted by co-stars like Val Kilmer and Kelly McGillis and a hit soundtrack. Twenty-eight years later, we revisit the cast of this '80s classic and see what they're up to now. Tom Cruise, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell Paramount/Getty Images Then: Tom Cruise played Pete Mitchell, aka Maverick, a reckless and daring Naval aviator who gets sent, alongside his intercept officer, to the Top Gun program for further training.

At the time, Cruise was best known for films like 'The Outsiders' and 'Risky Business.' Following 'Top Gun,' Cruise secured his mega-star status with roles in 'The Color of Money,' 'Cocktail,' 'Rain Man' and 'Born on the Fourth of July.' Now: The '90s made Tom Cruise a blockbuster star, and after starring in the films 'Days of Thunder' and 'Far and Away' with then-wife Nicole Kidman , he appeared in movies like 'Interview with the Vampire,' 'Jerry Maguire' and 'Mission: Impossible.' He reunited with Kidman for 'Eyes Wide Shut,' and appeared in darker dramas like 'Magnolia' and 'Vanilla Sky.' The aughts saw him headlining big action and sci-fi flicks like 'War of the Worlds,' 'Minority Report,' and 'Valkyrie.' More recently, he starred in 'Rock of Ages,' 'Jack Reacher' and 'Oblivion.' Up next, he can be seen in the sci-fi movie 'Edge of Tomorrow,' and he'll reprise his roles of Ethan Hunt and Jack Reacher for a fourth 'Mission: Impossible' film and 'Jack Reacher 2.' Kelly McGillis

, Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood Paramount/Getty Images Then: Kelly McGillis played Charlie Blackwood, a Top Gun instructor and civilian contractor with a PhD in astrophysics -- she's also Maverick's love interest.

At the time, McGillis only had a couple of film credits to her name, including 'Witness.' Now: The actress went on to appear in 'The Accused,' 'The Babe' and 'North' and reunited with 'Top Gun' co-star Val Kilmer in 1999 for 'At First Sight.' McGillis didn't work much in the early aughts, but returned in 2010, appearing in horror films like 'Stake Land,' 'The Innkeepers' and more recently, 'We Are What We Are.' She appears next in the TV movie 'Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio,' based on the novel of the same name. Val Kilmer, Tom "Iceman" Kazansky Paramount/Getty Images Then: Val Kilmer played Lieutenant Tom Kazansky, aka Iceman, the top student at Top Gun and Maverick's rival, who looks down upon the new arrival's reckless flying style.

Kilmer was best known for roles in 'Real Genius' and 'Top Secret!' Now: Kilmer went on to star in 'Willow,' played legendary rocker Jim Morrison in 'The Doors,' and suited up as Batman in 'Batman Forever.' He also appeared in films like 'Heat,' 'The Ghost and the Darkness' and 'The Saint.' The aughts brought more interesting roles to Kilmer: a drug addict in the indie 'The Salton Sea,' washed-up porn star John Holmes in the crime drama 'Wonderland,' and a darkly hilarious partnering with Robert Downey Jr. in 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.' In recent years, he appeared in 'MacGruber' and 'Twixt,' and starred on the IFC miniseries 'The Spoils of Babylon,' produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. Up next, you can see him in the indie 'Palo Alto' alongside his son, Jack, who makes his acting debut.

Anthony Edwards, Nick "Goose" Bradshaw Paramount/Getty Images Then: Anthony Edwards, then best known for his role in 'Revenge of the Nerds,' played Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, Maverick's radar intercept officer, who also attends the Top Gun program and is more cautious than Maverick. Now: Edwards went on to appear in films like 'Mr. North,' 'Pet Sematary Two' and 'The Client,' but is best known to audiences for playing Dr. Mark Greene on the long-running medical drama series 'ER.' Edwards starred on the show from 1994 to 2002, and since then has shown up in films like 'Zodiac' and 'Big Sur.' He also starred on the short-lived series 'Zero Hour' in 2013. He recently returned to the world of flying, lending his voice to Disney's animated film 'Planes.' Tom Skerritt, Mike "Viper" Metcalf Paramount/Getty Images Then: Tom Skerritt played Commander Mike Metcalf, aka Viper, Maverick's chief instructor at Top Gun.

Skerritt was best known for his roles in films like 'Alien' and 'Ice Castles.' Now: Skerritt has since appeared in films like 'Steel Magnolias,' 'Poison Ivy,' 'A River Runs Through It,' 'Contact' and 'The Other Sister.' He also starred on David E. Kelley's drama series 'Picket Fences,' which ran from 1992 to 1996, and later had a recurring role on 'Brothers and Sisters.' In recent years, he appeared in 'Beer for My Horses' and as himself in 'Ted.' He also guest starred on shows like 'Leverage,' 'The Closer' and 'White Collar.' Michael Ironside, Rick "Jester" Heatherly Paramount/20th Century Fox Then: Michael Ironside, star of 'Scanners,' played Lieutenant Commander Rick "Jester" Heatherly, one of Maverick's instructors at Top Gun, who is both impressed and annoyed with his student's recklessness.

Now: Ironside went on to appear in the Paul Verhoeven films 'Total Recall' and 'Starship Troopers,' as well as movies like 'The Machinist,' 'Terminator Salvation' and 'X-Men: First Class' (pictured above right). He lent his voice to several animated shows, including 'Superman: The Animated Series,' 'Justice League' and 'Justice League Unlimited.' In recent years, he guest starred on 'Smallville,' 'Justified' and 'Community.' John Stockwell, Bill "Cougar" Cortell Paramount/Getty Images Then: John Stockwell played Bill Cortell, aka Cougar, Maverick's wingman from the beginning of the film, who turns in his wings after a particularly harrowing run with Maverick. You might have previously seen Stockwell in films like 'Christine' and 'Losin' It.' Now: Stockwell went on to appear in 'Nixon' before he decided to take his talents behind the camera, as well.

He both directed and appeared in the films 'Crazy/Beautiful,' 'Blue Crush,' 'Into the Blue' and 'Turistas.' More recently, Stockwell starred in the movies 'Breaking the Girls' and 'Seal Team 6: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden,' and he directed the Gina Carano film 'In the Blood.' Tim Robbins, Sam "Merlin" Wells Paramount/Getty Images Then: Tim Robbins had a supporting role as Sam "Merlin" Wells, one of Maverick's fellow students and pilots at Top Gun.

That same year, he also appeared in the ridiculous comic book movie 'Howard the Duck.' Now: Robbins went on to star in 'Bull Durham,' 'The Shawshank Redemption,' 'The Hudsucker Proxy,' 'Dead Man Walking,' 'Arlington Road,' 'High Fidelity' and 'Mystic River.' He reunited with Tom Cruise in 2005 for Steven Spielberg's 'War of the Worlds,' and appeared in 'Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny' and 'Green Lantern.' More recently, he re-teamed with Val Kilmer for the IFC miniseries 'The Spoils of Babylon,' and starred in the dramedy 'Thanks for Sharing.' Up next, he can be seen with Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell in 'Welcome to Me.' Meg Ryan, Carole Bradshaw Paramount/Getty Images Then: A then little-known actress by the name of Meg Ryan played Carole Bradshaw, Goose's wife and the mother of his child.

At the time, Ryan's only film credits were roles in 'Rich and Famous' and 'Amityville 3-D.' Now: Ryan went on to become one of America's sweethearts with roles in 'When Harry Met Sally' and with Tom Hanks in both 'Joe Versus the Volcano' and 'Sleepless in Seattle.' She reunited with Val Kilmer for 'The Doors' and with Tim Robbins for 'I.Q.,' and starred in 'Prelude to a Kiss,' 'When a Man Loves a Woman,' 'French Kiss,' 'Addicted to Love' and 'City of Angels.' In 1998, she completed her unofficial Tom Hanks rom-com trilogy with 'You've Got Mail,' and since then has starred in 'Hanging Up,' 'Kate and Leopold,' 'In the Land of Women' and 'The Women.' It was recently announced that Ryan will be the narrator and the future voice of Greta Gerwig's character on the upcoming series 'How I Met Your Dad.' Iceman | Top Gun Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Portrayed by Val Kilmer Tom "Iceman" Kazansky was one of only a few United States Naval Aviators to be sent

 to TOPGUN.

He had an extremely cocky personality and was known for his big ego, as was his R.I.O., Slider. His signature bleached hair tips are closely associated with the fact that he is "the best pilot" in the new class of TOPGUN students. From Maverick 's first day it was clear that Iceman was going to be a difficult partner to fly with. Throughout the film both pilots competed with each other for top place, desperately wanting their name on the plaque that recorded the names of the best pilot from each class. Two weeks before graduation Maverick and Iceman went in the air together on one of their last exercises for the school. As Maverick moved in for a shot, he was cut off by an overly-competitive Iceman, who then found himself too close to fire. Iceman pulled up and away forcing Maverick to fly through his jet wash. The dirty air stalled Maverick's jet engines and sent him into a flat spin. Maverick was able to eject safely, however his R.I.O, Goose, was killed. Iceman eventually graduated at the top of his class after Maverick nearly dropped out.

The two once again went into the air on their first official mission together and Maverick saved Iceman from several enemy MiGs, allowing Iceman to grant Maverick his respect. At the end of the film his last and famous line "You can be my wingman anytime," was delivered. Where Are They Now? The Cast Of Top Gun Where Are They Now? The Cast Of Top Gun Share Comment May 16th marks 30 years to the day since Top Gun first flew into theaters and changed the face of military flight school films forever. Single handedly popularizing aviator sunglasses, bomber jackets and Tom Cruise, Top Gun is a quintessential ’80s movie filled to the cockpit with timeless power ballads, shirtless locker room scenes, and a whole lot of sunsets. Following the wild maneuverings of devil-may-care hotshot Lieutenant Pete Mitchell and his loyal wingman Goose, the film introduced audiences to the U.S. fighter weapons program where an elite few learned the fine art of aerial combat along with love, loss, and epic high-fives. Basically a $15 million two-hour recruiting video for the Navy, Top Gun made war look cool, prompting young boys everywhere to become fighter pilots and play volleyball.

As we celebrate 30 years of having our need for speed satisfied and get ready to take flight again with Top Gun 2 , let’s find out what happened to the cast after they earned their wings in this ’80s classic. Here’s Where Are They Now? The Cast of Top Gun. 12. Val Kilmer (Lt. Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazanski) Already a rising star from Real Genius and Top Secret!, Val Kilmer originally wanted nothing to do with Top Gun and only appeared in it under contractual obligations. But it’s hard to imagine a better fit for the jaw-chomping, flat topped, flying ace Iceman. By the mid-90s, Val Kilmer was one of Hollywood’s top leading men. Following his turn as Ice, he went on to star in the much-beloved Willow, play Jim Morrison in The Doors, appear in one of the best Westerns of all-time as Doc Holliday in Tombstone, before reaching the pinnacle of his fame as the Caped Crusader in Batman Forever. However, after a string of box office flops and a reputation for being difficult to work with, Kilmer’s star power began to wane.

But that hasn’t kept him from working (a lot) in guest appearances and supporting roles. Cruise and Kilmer were famously reported to have hated each other on the set of Top Gun, but all’s well that ends well. It appears the two have buried the hatchet enough to be each other’s wingmen once again, as it’s reported Kilmer will be reprising the role of Iceman in Top Gun 2 . 11. Tom Skerritt (Cmdr. Mike ‘Viper’ Metcalf) A 25-year veteran of the business, Tom Skerritt and his dashing mustache played the battle-tested chief flight instructor in Top Gun. Having known the young pilot’s father and flown in the classified mission in which he died, Viper takes it upon himself to guide Maverick as a sage mentor. Prior to Top Gun, Skerritt most notably appeared in 1979’s Alien . Following it, he continued to work steadily in both TV and film, even comically playing himself in Ted.

Now in his 80s, Skerritt still pops-up from time to time in small roles, most recently in The Good Wife, Madame Secretary and Tom Hank’s A Hologram for the King. At the end of the day though, we’ll always remember Skerritt for helping Maverick find himself in the clouds above Miramar airfield. And that mustache. 10. Tim Robbins (Lt. JG Sam ‘Merlin’ Wells) As Merlin, Tim Robbins had the thankless job of filling the shoes of Goose as Maverick’s co-pilot in the last epic dogfight of the film. Robbins’ role pretty much consisted of him frantically looking around the cockpit to spot MiGs for Tom Cruise to blow up and then smile upon their triumphant return to base. Luckily for Robbins, he would get a second chance that year to wow audiences in Howard the Duck . Of course, Tim Robbins would eventually go on to bigger and better things, with critically acclaimed films like Bull Durham, The Player, The Shawshank Redemption and Mystic River, for which he won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. He continues to work regularly today, having appeared in the Green Lantern and War of the Worlds , alongside Tom Cruise.

Tim Robbins has also directed, and famously spent 26 years happily unmarried to Susan Sarandon, until they separated in 2009. Most recently, he was in The Spoils of Babylon (with Val Kilmer) and the HBO series The Brink with Jack Black. 9. John Stockwell (Lt. Bill ‘Cougar’ Cortell) Cougar was the man that set the plot of Top Gun in motion, after a mid-air freakout forced him to relinquish his spot at the flight academy. This made way for Maverick to shine, hookup with one of his instructors and then have a similar mid-air freak out. Though he appears on-screen the least of anyone here, without Cougar, there’d be no movie, and that means no Danger Zone . Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, the former-model John Stockwell would continue acting until he found his true calling as a director. He would go on to helm such films as Blue Crush, Crazy/Beautiful and the upcoming Kickboxer reboot starring Jean Claude Van Damme and Gina Carano. 8. Rick Rossovich (Lt.

JG Ron ‘Slider’ Kerner) Perhaps best known as that other guy from the shirtless volleyball scene , Rick Rossovich was Val Kilmer’s co-pilot in Top Gun. A wingman in every sense of the word, Slider was by Iceman’s side throughout the entire film, backing him up on every jab thrown Maverick’s way. Though Mav does have the most memorable comeback, when he lets Slider know just how much he stinks . Over the span of his career, Rick Rossovich worked in over 40 films and TV shows. Prior to his stint as Slider, he was in The Terminator and Losin’ It, which also starred fellow Top Gun alums Tom Cruise and John Stockwell. Later on, Rossovich worked on TV shows ER and Pacific Blue, and appeared in films like Navy Seals. For the most part, Rick Rossovich is now retired, however for a while it was possible to keep tabs on him by enjoying the daily musings on his blog . 7. Michael Ironside (Lt. Cmdr.

Rick ‘Jester’ Heatherly) Aside from having one of the toughest sounding last names ever, Michael Ironside has had quite the career as an actor, director, screenwriter, producer and voice over artist. In Top Gun, he played a flight instructor who lets it be known in equal measure just how impressed and unimpressed he is with Maverick and his reckless seat-of-the-pants flying style. Known typically for playing villains or hardened military types, Mr. Ironside has worked more than anyone else on this list. This includes 1990’s Total Recall, Scanners, Starship Troopers , Terminator Salvation , X-Men: First Class , Smallville and The Flash . A few probably also realize that the voice of Darkseid in Superman: The Animated Series, the super spy Sam Fisher in the video game Splinter Cell , and even Batman in an episode of The New Batman Adventures was from the same guy that helped train Tom Cruise to fly. And as a two-time cancer survivor, he’s just as tough in real life as his last name suggests. 6.

Meg Ryan (Carole Bradshaw) As the vivacious, candidly Southern-accented wife of Goose, Meg Ryan made a loud entrance into the world of cinema with Top Gun. Largely unknown prior, she makes the most of her brief time on screen by flexing her acting chops mourning her husband, singing Great Balls of Fire, and dishing out one of the most memorable lines of the movie with, “ Take me to bed or lose me forever .” Meg Ryan started her career in soaps, but once she struck it big in Top Gun quickly refined her cute persona into one of America’s top rom-com queens. Her endearing hits include When Harry Met Sally, French Kiss and the Tom Hanks-trilogy Joe vs the Volcano, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail. In real life, she briefly dated her on-screen Top Gun husband, Anthony Edwards, and had a rather public marriage, and divorce, to Dennis Quaid. After a brief break from the spotlight in the early 2000s, she has since returned in ensemble pieces and most recently made her directorial debut with Ithaca, starring Hanks.

Today, her appearance in Top Gun has been relegated to more of a “she’s in this?” role than anything else. But here’s hoping she returns for its sequel with Goose’s son in tow wanting to become a fighter pilot under the tutelage of a Tom Skerritt-mustached Maverick. Hey, it worked for Rocky VII Creed . 5. F-14 Tomcat Forget Tom Cruise, the real star of Top Gun was the F-14 Tomcat. Sure, the movie is best known for being an ’80s cultural benchmark, but above all else, it is fighter jet porn. The pride of the U.S. Navy and America, the F-14s used in the film led to the creation of some truly spectacular aerial footage. All the more impressive since it was done sans CGI, something that they’re fortunately looking to replicate for Top Gun 2 . But like a few of its fellow cast members, the F-14 eventually retired and was replaced in 2006 by a younger, faster, more confusingly named model – the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

In its prime, though, it was the fighter to beat, and deserved every bit of the screen time it got alongside fellow hotshots Maverick and Iceman. After all, this is probably the closest most of us will ever come to being in an F-14 dogfight with Val Kilmer. 4. Anthony Edwards (Lt. JG Nick ‘Goose’ Bradshaw) Goose, aka Nick Bradshaw, aka the only one wearing a shirt in the otherwise shirtless volleyball scene , goes down in history as one of cinema’s greatest wingmen. Maverick’s radar intercept officer, Polaroid photographer and loyal friend, Goose was liked by everyone, even Iceman, which made his on-screen death so traumatizing. Anyone that can sing “Great Balls of Fire” that well and has the gumption to sport a mustache in the same film as Tom Skerritt deserves better. Anthony Edwards already had two hits on hands with Revenge of the Nerds and Fast Times at Ridgemont High, but after his history-making turn as Goose, he would most famously go on to play Dr. Mark Greene for eight seasons on E.R.

Recently, he has ceremoniously returned to the skies, voicing the fighter jet Echo in Disney’s Planes , this time playing wingman to Val Kilmer’s Bravo. But he’ll always be Goose in our hearts. Would it be too much to ask for him to return as a ghost, or genetically modified clone, in Top Gun 2? It wasn’t ridiculous at all when Ripley did it in Alien Resurrection. 3. Kelly McGillis (Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Blackwood) As civilian contractor with a PhD in astrophysics, Charlie really just wanted to know about Mavericks’ inverted MiG encounter, but instead got her breath taken away by his wide grin and ability to make out with her on motorcycles. In a film swimming in machismo, Charlie swooped in with her wavy blonde hair, red lipstick and bunched up sleeves to epitomize ’80s style and feminine power. Also, it was important she was there so Tom Cruise could sing “ You’ve Lost that Loving Feeling .” Kelly McGillis had already caught her big break by the time Top Gun flew her way as Harrison Ford’s amish love interest in Witness, but she found iconic allure in Top Gun.

Following her role as a cultural capstone, McGillis worked steadily throughout the ’80s and ’90s, most notably in The Accused with Jodie Foster. She would eventually take time away to raise her family and even worked full time at a drug rehab center. Today, she occasionally appears in films and TV, and teaches acting. In 2009 she came out, not long after turning in a well-received guest spot on Showtime’s The L Word. In other news, the real life defense specialist who inspired Kelly McGillis’ character went on to become the highest-ever ranking female official at the Pentagon. It’s probably safe to say Charlie’s bomber jacket is the reason why. 2. Tony Scott (Director) Brother of famed director Ridley Scott, Tony had an impressive career catapulted by the success of Top Gun, despite being fired and rehired three times during filming. He would go on to direct Beverly Hills Cop 2, True Romance, Unstoppable and a string of other very popular, frenetic, high octane action thrillers. He also worked with Tom Cruise again on Days of Thunder.

Known for sporting his trademark red baseball cap, Tony Scott often collaborated with Denzel Washington, started the award-winning Scott Free Production company with his brother, and had an amazing array of projects in the works such as a remake of The Wild Bunch , an adaptation of Mark Millar’s Nemesis and, most recently, Top Gun 2 . Sadly however, Tony Scott died in 2012 at the age of 68 after taking his own life. Thankfully, he left behind a body of work that continues to entertain to this day, and includes one of the most iconic ’80s films ever made. 1. Tom Cruise (Lt. Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell) Tom Cruise is, well, still Tom Cruise. As Maverick, he played the recklessly daring fighter pilot haunted by his father’s legacy (but not that much) who after a close encounter with a MiG-28, heads off to compete against the Navy’s elite.

With Goose in tow, he seduces his teacher, rides his motorcycle, sweats a lot, wins at volleyball, has softly-lit sex, loses Goose because Iceman’s a jerk, quits Top Gun, rejoins Top Gun, talks to Goose’s dog chains, decides to abandon Ice in a dogfight, refuses to leave Ice in the same dogfight, takes out three MiGs, throws away Goose’s dog chains and decides to become a Top Gun flight instructor. It’s quite a movie. With the one-two punch of Risky Business and Top Gun (has anyone ever done more for the sunglass industry?), the career of Tom Cruise quickly skyrocketed into the stratosphere, making him one of the world’s premiere movie stars and one of Hollywood’s most successful . He is a three-time Oscar-nominated actor, with a resume containing Interview With a Vampire , A Few Good Men, Jerry Maguire, Eyes Wide Shut, Minority Report, Edge of Tomorrow and five Mission: Impossible ‘s.

Now in his 50s, the frighteningly ageless Cruise shows no signs of stopping, slated to appear in a slew of upcoming blockbusters including Mission: Impossible 6 , Jack Reacher: Never Go Back , Edge of Tomorrow 2 and The Mummy reboot. Personally, he’s gone through two marriages, two divorces, one infamous couch jumping, Scientology and a Suri. He continually remains fodder for the tabloids and has had his fair share of bad publicity. But whatever one thinks about him as a father, husband or person, all that really matters is that Top Gun is awesome. —

Question: Who played Iceman in the movie "Top Gun"?
Answer: Val Kilmer