Top Gun's Cast Then and Now: Cult movie's lead stars through the years

2023-09-09 22:29

From Tom Cruise to Val Kilmer and Kelly McGillis, the stars of the 1986 action film thrived in the years after the smash hit

'Top Gun' stars have embodied the evergreen appeal of the cult hit over the years

From the moment the first trailer was released, it became evident that the highly anticipated sequel to the 1986 hit 'Top Gun' would evoke a sense of nostalgia. And boy, did it deliver! With iconic cameos and call-backs, the sequel paid loving homage to the iconic imagery of the original film. In celebration of the sequel, let's take a glimpse at the careers of cast members of the original movie and what they have been upto since.

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise has been a prominent figure in Hollywood since his debut in 'Endless Love' in 1981. In the following years, Cruise graced the screen in some of the most notable films of the 1980s, including 'Top Gun' (1986), 'The Color of Money' (1986), 'Rain Man' (1988), and 'Born on the Fourth of July' (1989). Over the years,Cruise has remained a prominent presence in the 'Mission: Impossible' series, with the eagerly anticipated seventh installment, 'Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One', scheduled for a July 2023 release. Additionally, he made memorable appearances in 'The Mummy' (2017) and 'American Made' (2017).

Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer, known as 'Iceman' in 'Top Gun', commenced his career with a role in the 1984 spoof 'Top Secret!' His breakthrough came when he portrayed Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's 'The Doors' (1991). Kilmer has worked on 'True Romance' (1993) and Doc Holliday in 'Tombstone' (1993). and Batman in 'Batman Forever' (2005) and starred in 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' (2005). Notably, 'Top Gun: Maverick' marked Kilmer's significant return after his recovery from throat cancer.

Kelly McGillis

Kelly McGillis, who portrayed 'Charlie', began her on-screen journey with a supporting role in 'Reuben' (1983). She starred alongside Harrison Ford in 'Witness' (1985), earning a Golden Globe nomination. During the mid to late 1980s, she ultimately secured the lead role in the Broadway production of 'Hedda Gabler' in 1994. After a hiatus to focus on family and personal revelations, McGillis appeared in TV shows like 'Dirty John' (2020) and 'Maternal Secrets' (2017). However, she was notably absent from the 'Top Gun' sequel.

Anthony Edwards

Anthony Edwards, famously known as 'Goose', made his film debut with a small role in 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' (1982) before pursuing acting after college. He achieved recognition with his starring role in 'Revenge of the Nerds' (1984), 'The Sure Thing' (1985) and 'Gotcha!' (1985) before landing his iconic 'Top Gun' role. His most significant recurring role was as Dr. Mark Greene in the TV series 'ER' (1994–2008), earning multiple Golden Globe nominations and a win in 1998. In 2022, he appeared in the Apple TV+ miniseries 'WeCrashed' and Netflix's 'Inventing Anna'.

Tom Skerritt

Tom Skerritt, who portrayed 'Viper', initially appeared in 'War Hunt' (1962) and then ventured into television with recurring roles on shows such as 'Gunsmoke' (1955) and '12 O'Clock High' (1964).In the '80s, he had a brief stint on 'Cheers' during 1987–1988 and starred in 'Steel Magnolias' (1989). Skerritt continued his acting career on various TV shows, including 'The Grid' (2004), 'Brothers & Sisters' (2006–2009), and 'The Good Wife' (2014). He also returned to the big screen with appearances in films like 'Lucky' (2017) and 'Day of Days' (2017).

Meg Ryan

Meg Ryan’s career took off with a small part in 'Top Gun' as Carole Bradshaw, the wife of Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, leading to major roles. In 1987, Ryan starred in 'Innerspace' and the remake of 'D.O.A'. (1988). Her romantic comedy reign began with 'When Harry Met Sally' (1989), earning her a Golden Globe nomination. Ryan received two more Golden Globe nominations for her roles in 'Sleepless in Seattle' (1993) and 'You've Got Mail' (1998). Her personal life included an engagement to musician John Mellencamp. Ryan made appearances in 'Web Therapy' (2013) and the TV movie 'Fan Girl' (2014) but is set to make her rom-com return in 2023!

Michael Ironside

Michael Ironside embarked on his cinematic journey in the late 1970s, and his breakthrough moment was in David Cronenberg's 1981 sci-fi horror masterpiece, 'Scanners'. He successfully transitioned to a different genre by assuming the role of Jester, Viper's second-in-command instructor, in the iconic film 'Top Gun'. Ironside had notable performances in movies such as 'Highlander II: The Quickening', 'Total Recall', and 'Starship Troopers'. Additionally, Michael Ironside carved out a prolific presence in the realm of television, making memorable appearances in series such as 'Tales From the Crypt', 'Walker, Texas Ranger', 'ER', and 'Desperate Housewives'. More recently, he graced the screens with his talent in Hulu's 'The Dropout'.

Tim Robbins

Tim Robbins commenced his acting journey in 1982 with a recurring role on the television series 'St. Elsewhere'. He initially took on minor roles before landing a pivotal part as Merlin, Maverick's trusted backseater, in 'Top Gun'. Robbins' true breakthrough occurred with the 1988 sports comedy 'Bull Durham’. His exceptional role of Andy Dufresne, in 'The Shawshank Redemption' remains a standout moment in his career. Furthermore, his outstanding performance in 'Mystic River' (2004) garnered him an Academy Award. Tim Robbins' has bagged notable roles such as Reginald 'Pop' Merrill in Hulu's Stephen King-adapted anthology series 'Castle Rock' and his portrayal of a morally questionable DuPont lawyer in the 2019 film 'Dark Waters'.