With the 2022 film, Top Gun: Maverick, Val Kilmer returned to the role that brought him widespread acclaim, Lt. Tom Kazansky, aka Iceman. Bringing Tom Cruise back as Pete Maverick more than three decades after the original film’s release, the sequel went on to become one of the most significant hits of Cruise’s career.

Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise in a still from Top Gun | Credit: Paramount

The film also proved significant for Kilmer, who reportedly earned between $400,000 and $2 million for his four-minute cameo in the sequel. Compared to Keanu Reeves’ per-word salary in John Wick: Chapter 4, Kilmer’s earnings for this brief appearance seem quite substantial.

Val Kilmer’s Per Second Salary For His Brief Cameo in Top Gun: Maverick

Following his illustrious career in the industry, Val Kilmer started taking a break from acting, prominently due to his health issues. However, when it came to the Top Gun sequel, the actor himself expressed a strong desire to reprise his role.

Val Kilmer in Top Gun: Maverick (2022) | Credit: Paramount

And he did eventually return as Admiral Tom Kazansky in the sequel. While the exact amount the actor received for the film remains uncertain, his earnings from the film reportedly range from $400,000 to $2 million for his brief cameo.

Considering his four-minute-long cameo, and the range of paychecks Kilmer’s per second payment could also range from $1,667 to $8,334 per second for his contributions to the movie. The pay range turns out to be quite significant if compared to Keanu Reeves’ per word salary for John Wick: Chapter 4.

Keanu Reeves John Wick | Credit: Lionsgate

The actor only speaks about 380 words in the movie for which he made $15 million, making $39,474 for every single word he uttered in the movie, While the John Wick star’s screen time in the film is uncertain, it might be overshadowed by Kilmer’s per second payment in Maverick.

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However, it is also worth noting that the context differs when comparing their screen time. While Kilmer has a brief cameo in the movie, Keanu Reeves led the whole film and is known for playing the formidable lead protagonist in the action franchise.

Val Kilmer Got Emotional After Listening to His Voice In Top Gun: Maverick

Following his throat cancer diagnosis, Val Kilmer underwent a tracheotomy, which left him needing a voice box to communicate and made speaking difficult. Given his medical condition, his return to the Top Gun sequel seemed improbable.

Top Gun: Maverick | Credit: Paramount Pictures

However, the filmmakers managed to incorporate his health condition into the storyline, allowing Iceman to reunite with Maverick. The character also speaks a few words with the help of AI.And the 64-year-old actor expressed his emotions upon hearing his voice in the movie.

“I felt the script was silly, and disliked warmongering in film”: Val Kilmer’s ‘Maverick’ Return Will Make You Respect Him Even More After What He Said About Tom Cruise’s Original Top Gun

“I’m grateful to the entire team at Sonantic who masterfully restored my voice in a way I’ve never imagined possible,” he said as per Daily Mail. Tom Cruise has also shared that he got pretty emotional while working with Kilmer after all these years. “I was crying, I got emotional,” he said while praising the Batman Forever star for his brilliant work and for being such a lovely person.