It's been 40 years since we first heard from the pilots attending the Navy's Fighter Weapons School in San Diego. The '80s action classicTop Gungifted audiences with eye-popping aerial footage, a killer soundtrack, and a homoerotic beach volleyball scene that is still discussed today. It also earned $176 million at the box office, makingTop Gunthe top movie of 1986.
The film featured a young, up-and-coming cast, many of whom found themselves on the brink of stardom.Tom Cruisewas certainly emerging as an A-lister at the time, withTop Gunalso boasting the talents of Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Tim Robbins, and Meg Ryan. Its legacy lives on withTop Gun: Maverick, which was released in 2022 and went on to gross almost $1.5 billion worldwide.
It's time to buzz the tower. Keep reading to catch up with the cast ofTop Gun.
Tom Cruise (Maverick)
A young Tom Cruise booked one of his first major roles as Maverick inTop Gun.The actor played the Navy lieutenant after starring inRisky Businessin 1983 and earning credits forEndless Love(1981),Taps(1981),The Outsiders(1983),All the Right Moves(1983), andLegend(1985).
Cruise spoke with pilots before becoming a fictional one himself, and their feelings about taking to the skies directly affected him. In a May 1986conversation with Cameron Crowe forInterview Magazine, he shared, "When you fly in the F-14, it's one of those experiences that is bigger than life itself. It blows your s--- away. These guys do it everyday and you know why they want it. Flying is so intense and emotional. But ever since I got involved inTop Gun, I didn't want to make a warmonger movie. I wanted to get into the personality of these guys, what makes them fly. What makes my character, Maverick, want to fly? I wanted to give him a sensitivity."
In the years since his initial turn asTop Gun's famed aviator, Cruise only became more of a star. He earned Oscar nominations for his roles inBorn on the Fourth of July(1989),Jerry Maguire(1996), andMagnolia(1999), winning Golden Globes for all three films. Cruise ruled the box office with numerous gigs, including his eight-filmMission: Impossiblefranchise, which concluded in 2025.
The actor reprised his role as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in 2022 with the release ofTop Gun: Maverick, which received a Best Picture nomination — Cruise's first Oscar nod as a producer. He received anHonorary Oscar for lifetime achievement in filmin November 2025.
Cruise has been married three times: to Mimi Rogers from 1987 to 1990, Nicole Kidman from 1990 to 2001, and Katie Holmes from 2006 to 2012. He has two adopted children (Isabella Jane and Connor Antony) with Kidman, and a daughter (Suri) with Holmes.
Kelly McGillis (Charlie)
Tom Cruise found hisTop Gunlove interest in Kelly McGillis, who played Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood. McGillis portrayed the astrophysicist after spending a few years in the industry, picking up credits inReuben, Reuben(1983) and onOne Life to Live.She also earned Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for her performance inWitness(1985) before playing Charlie.
"I had a great time shooting [Top Gun],"McGillis told EW in 2011. "It was like being at summer camp with a bunch of really good-looking guys. I used to love to rub the top of their heads when they got shaved. I really liked that."
The actress continued her big-screen career followingTop Gun, appearing inMade in Heaven(1987),The Accused(1988),The Babe(1992), andAt First Sight(1999).
In the 21st century, McGillis appeared in episodes ofThe L Wordas Col. Gillian Davis, and starred inStake Land(2010),The Innkeepers(2011), andWe Are What We Are(2013). McGillis also hit the stage multiple times through the years in Broadway productions and with the Shakespeare Theatre Company.
McGillis has two daughters with ex-husband Fred Tillman. She came out as a lesbian in 2009 and was in a civil union with Melanie Leis from 2010 to 2011.
Val Kilmer (Iceman)
Val KilmerjoinedTop Gunas Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, another lieutenant in the Navy who butts heads with Maverick. Kilmer came into the gig with just three onscreen credits to his name: 1984'sTop Secret!, a 1985 installment ofABC Afterschool Specials, andReal Geniusin 1985.
Following his turn as Iceman, Kilmer continued to fill his résumé with notable roles, starring in such films asWillow(1988),The Doors(1991),True Romance(1993), andTombstone(1993) before playing Batman in 1995'sBatman Forever. In the years since, Kilmer hit the big screen inHeat(1995),The Ghost and the Darkness(1996),The Saint(1997),At First Sight(1999),Kiss Kiss Bang Bang(2005), andMacGruber(2010).
Kilmer was the subject of the2021 documentaryVal, which chronicled his battle with throat cancer. He returned to play Iceman inTop Gun: Maverick, providing one of the film's most touching scenes.
"Making that first film, we were all so young, but even then there was a special bond between us all. After shooting, we would laugh and dance the night away,"Kilmer wrote for EW in 2022. "Coming back to work with Tom more than 30 years later, it was like no time had passed at all."
Kilmerdied in April 2025 at the age of 65after a bout with pneumonia.
Anthony Edwards (Goose)
With a decade in the industry to his name,Anthony Edwardslanded what would be a key role inTop Gun. The actor played Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, a close friend and comrade to Maverick, flying with the aviator until his untimely death. Edwards, who made his onscreen debut in the '70s, appeared inFast Times at Ridgemont High(1982),Heart Like a Wheel(1983), the short-lived '80s sitcomIt Takes Two,Revenge of the Nerds(1984), andThe Sure Thing(1985).
He reprised his role as Gilbert forRevenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradisein 1987, and appeared in projects likePet Sematary II(1992), early '90s episodes ofNorthern Exposure,The Client(1994),The Forgotten(2004), andZodiac(2007).
Edwards earned Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe win for his extended stint onERas Dr. Mark Greene. He went on to win an Emmy in 2010 for his work as an executive producer on the TV movieTemple Grandin, and had recurring roles onBillionsandInventing Anna.
Edwards has four children with ex-wife Jeanine Lobell. He married actress Mare Winningham in 2021.
Tom Skerritt (Viper)
Tom Skerritt made his appearance inTop Gunas Mike "Viper" Metcalf, a high-achieving and wise chief instructor with the unit. Skerritt came into the gig with decades of experience to his name, having earned previous credits forM*A*S*H(1970),Fuzz(1972),Thieves Like Us(1974),The Turning Point(1977),Up in Smoke(1978),Alien(1979), andThe Dead Zone(1983).
FollowingTop Gun, Skerritt did a late-'80s stint onCheers, earned Golden Globe nominations and an Emmy win for his turn as Jimmy Brock onPicket Fencesin the '90s, and appeared in films likeSteel Magnolias(1989),A River Runs Through It(1992),Singles(1992),Contact(1997),The Other Sister(1999), andTears of the Sun(2003).
Skerritt had a recurring role as William Walker onBrothers & Sistersand James Paisley onThe Good Wife, and hit the big screen inWhiteout(2009),Ted(2012),At Middleton(2013),A Hologram for the King(2016), andEast of the Mountains(2021).
Skerritt has been married to Julie Tokashiki since 1998. He has a daughter with Tokashiki and four other children from previous marriages.
Michael Ironside (Jester)
Michael Ironsidekicked off his career in the '70s and earned early credits inScanners(1981),Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone(1983), andThe Falcon and the Snowman(1985), in addition to episodes ofHill Street Blues,V, andV: The Final Battle. He then played Rick "Jester" Heatherly inTop Gun, an instructor for the unit.
Ironside followed up the gig with credits forTotal Recall(1990);Highlander II: The Quickening(1991);Free Willy(1993);The Next Karate Kid(1994);Major Payne(1995);Starship Troopers(1997);Walker, Texas Ranger;The Perfect Storm(2000);ER;The Machinist(2004); andTerminator Salvation(2009).
The veteran Canadian actor also appeared as Captain inX-Men: First Class(2011), voiced Ultra Magnus in variousTransformersreleases, and appeared on shows likeThe Alienist, This Is Us, andThe Dropout.
Ironside married Karen Dinwiddie in 1986; he has a daughter with her and another from a previous marriage.
John Stockwell (Cougar)
John Stockwell joinedTop Gunas Bill "Cougar" Cortell, one of Maverick's wingmen who makes an early exit from flying. Before becoming the airman, Stockwell appeared inLosin' It(1983),Eddie and the Cruisers(1983),Christine(1983),Radioactive Dreams(1985),My Science Project(1985), and episodes ofNorth and South.
AfterTop Gun, Stockwell earned acclaim for his writing, picked up an Emmy nomination for his 2000 TV movieCheaters, and went on to pen the scripts forRock Star(2001) andBlue Crush(2002). He also stepped behind the camera as a director, helmingCheaters,Crazy/Beautiful(2001),Blue Crush,Into the Blue(2005),Turistas(2006),Middle of Nowhere(2008), a handful of episodes ofThe L Word, andDark Tide(2012). In 2018, he appeared in an episode of the mini seriesEscape at Dannemora.
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Stockwell has three children with his wife, Helene Henderson. His niece is Florence + the Machine vocalistFlorence Welch.
Whip Hubley (Hollywood)
Top Gunfound its "Hollywood" in Whip Hubley, who played the wingman with the real name of Rick Neven. He had a few roles before the gig, appearing inSt. Elmo's Fire(1985), as well as episodes ofMagnum, P.I.andNorth and South.
Hubley spent the late-'80s in TV movies, and picked up '90s credits forLife Goes On;Murder, She Wrote;Coneheads(1993);Species(1995);Executive Decision(1996); andA Very Brady Sequel(1996). In the years since, he has largely focused on television, landing bit roles in one-off episodes ofThe Practice,Charmed,The District, andCSI: Miami.
As of 2022,Hubley lives in Maine, where he works in construction and acts on the side. Hubley is married to Dinah Minot, an associate producer atSaturday Night Livein the late-'80s.
Barry Tubb (Wolfman)
Barry Tubb worked with "Hollywood" inTop Gunas Leonard "Wolfman" Wolfe, an officer assisting the lieutenant. Tubb began his onscreen career in the '80s, appearing inMask(1985),The Legend of Billie Jean(1985), and episodes ofBay City Blues,The Mississippi, andHill Street Bluesbefore joiningTop Gun.
He went on to play Jasper Fant inLonesome Dove(1989) andReturn to Lonesome Dove(1994), and starred inGuilty by Suspicion(1991),American Outlaws(2001), andThe Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada(2005). He played Tom Cafferty for an arc onFriday Night Lightsand appeared in a few episodes of NBC'sRevolution.
In 2024, Tubbsued Paramount Picturesfor using his image inTop Gun: Maverickwithout his permission.
Rick Rossovich (Slider)
Slidermay have smelled, but Rick Rossovich hardly stunk as the junior grade lieutenant, whose real name was Ron Kerner.
"We were just a bunch of young guys; it was all testosterone," Rossovichtold ScreenRantin 2021. "And the Navy kind of fueled it, because we were surrounded by all these Ace pilots who were the real deal. These are the guys that don't get there by accident; you really have to have some kind of some mettle to get there. Every day was like, 'Okay, you better come prepared. You better be ready.' It was just a joy, though."
Rossovich came into the gig after earning previous credits forThe Lords of Discipline(1983),Streets of Fire(1984), andThe Terminator(1984), and episodes ofFantasy Island,B.J. and the Bear, andEight Is Enough.
After playing Slider, Rossovich continued to act, appearing inThe Morning After(1986),Roxanne(1987),Navy Seals(1990), andTruth or Consequences, N.M.(1997). He had an arc onERas Dr. John "Tag" Taglieri, and spent two years playing Lt. Anthony Palermo onPacific Blue. Rossovich took a bit of a hiatus from acting in the 2000s, but returned for smaller projects in the 2010s.
He has two children with his wife, Eva.
Tim Robbins (Merlin)
Tim Robbinsfound his spot inTop Gunas Samuel "Merlin" Wells, an officer who works with Maverick. Robbins joined the flick after a few years in the industry, boasting early-'80s credits inNo Small Affair(1984),The Sure Thing(1985), andFraternity Vacation(1985), and episodes ofSt. Elsewhere,The Love Boat, andHill Street Blues.
FollowingTop Gun, Robbins spent the next decade starring inBull Durham(1988),Cadillac Man(1990),Jacob's Ladder(1990),The Hudsucker Proxy(1994),The Shawshank Redemption(1994), andI.Q.(1994). After picking up Golden Globes forThe Player(1992) andShort Cuts(1993), Robbins earned his first Oscar nomination for directing 1995'sDead Man Walking.
Going on to star inNothing to Lose(1997),Arlington Road(1999),Mission to Mars(2000), andAntitrust(2001), Robbins also won the Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe and Oscar for 2003'sMystic River. In the years since, he appeared in films likeCode 46(2003),The Lucky Ones(2008),Green Lantern(2011), andDark Waters(2019). He is one of the stars of the Apple TV sci-fi dramaSilo.
Robbins has two sons with Susan Sarandon, with whom he was in a relationship from 1988 to 2009. He was married to Gratiela Brancusi from 2017 to 2022.
Clarence Gilyard Jr. (Sundown)
After appearing in episodes ofDiff'rent Strokes,CHiPs, andThe Duck Factory, Clarence Gilyard Jr. joinedTop Gunas Marcus "Sundown" Williams, who works with Maverick after Goose's death but struggles in light of the tragedy.
After the flick, Gilyard appeared inDie Hard(1988) and spent four years onMatlockas Conrad McMasters before booking his most famous role to date: James Trivette onWalker, Texas Ranger. He starred in the series from 1993 to 2001, and reprised his role in a few other spinoff projects. In the 2010s, Gilyard popped up in indie movies while also working as an associate professor of theater at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Gilyard had six children between two marriages. The actordied in 2022after a long illness, at the age of 66.
James Tolkan (Stinger)
James Tolkan played Tom "Stinger" Jardian inTop Gun, a commander who oversees Maverick. The veteran actor boasted pre-Top Guncredits in a slew of films, includingThey Might Be Giants(1971),The Friends of Eddie Coyle(1973),Serpico(1973),Love and Death(1975),The Amityville Horror(1979),Prince of the City(1981),WarGames(1983), andBack to the Future(1985).
AfterTop Gun, Tolkan played Norman Keyes in a few episodes ofRemington Steele, Mike Ragland inThe Hat Squad, and Dallas Cassel inCobra, and hit the big screen inArmed and Dangerous(1986),Masters of the Universe(1987),Back to the Future Part II(1989),Family Business(1989),Back to the Future Part III(1990),Dick Tracy(1990), andProblem Child 2(1991). In the 2010s, he played Judge Fidler in HBO's 2013 filmPhil Spector, and popped up in 2015'sBone Tomahawk.
Tolkan has been married to his wife, Parmelee Welles, since 1971.
Meg Ryan (Carole)
Early in her career,Meg Ryanplayed Goose's wife, Carole, inTop Gun. Ryan picked up the gig after appearing in episodes ofAs the World Turns,ABC Afterschool Specials, andCharles in Chargein the '80s.
She went on to star in movies likeInnerspace(1987) andD.O.A.(1988) before picking up her first Golden Globe nomination for 1989'sWhen Harry Met Sally. She landed two more nominations in the years that followed, forSleepless in Seattle(1993) andYou've Got Mail(1998), and ruled the box office with her rom-com turns.
Ryan has popped up in episodes ofCurb Your EnthusiasmandWeb Therapy, and reunited with former costar Tom Hanks in 2015'sIthaca, which she also directed. She co-wrote, directed, and starred in the 2023 rom-comWhat Happens Laterwith David Duchovny.
Ryan has two children with ex-husband Dennis Quaid, including actorJack Quaid.
Adrian Pasdar (Chipper)
Adrian Pasdarmade his onscreen debut inTop Gunas Charles "Chipper" Piper, a lieutenant in the unit.
"It was just a wild experience for me," Pasdarrecalled toPhilly Magazinein 2007. "I was 19. And [Tom] Cruise was one of the nicest guys in the world. Every time I've seen him since then, he's been a gentleman."
The gig kicked off a busy career for the actor, who spent the late-'80s and early-'90s inSolarbabies(1986),Near Dark(1987), andCarlito's Way(1993).
He went on to earn credits forMysterious Ways,Judging Amy,Desperate Housewives, andHeroesin the 2000s, and lent his voice toThe Super Hero Squad Showand theIron Manseries. His recent small-screen gigs include 2010s episodes ofCastle,Political Animals,The Lying Game,Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.,Ultimate Spider-Man,Marvel's Avengers Assemble, andMarvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Pasdar has two children with the Chicks vocalist Natalie Maines, to whom he was married from 2000 to 2019.
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