Nearly 40 Years Later, See the Cast of “Top Gun” Then and Now

In the original “Top Gun” Tom Cruise played the ambitious, daring, and certifiably handsome Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. In the film, Maverick is a young lieutenant who trains in the U.S. Navy’s Fighter Weapons School (aka TOPGUN) alongside his best friend Nick “Goose” Bradshaw. When “Top Gun” was released in 1986, Cruise was an up-and-coming actor. He appeared in films like “The Outsiders” and “Risky Business” before landing his role in “Top Gun.”

Since his early days of acting in the 1980s, Cruise has established himself as one of Hollywood’s most dependable stars. He has led several critically acclaimed films over the years, including “Rain Man,” “A Few Good Men,” “Mission Impossible,” and “Jerry Maguire.” Most recently, he is known for playing Jack Reacher in the self-titled film series.

The road leading to Cruise reprising his role was a long one that had dragged out for years. In an interview on “The Graham Norton Show,” he told the host how the process unfolded. “For years the studios wanted me to do it and audiences wanted me to do it… And there was just a moment where Jerry Bruckheimer wanted to do it, and he came to me, we were talking about it and just came up with some good ideas,” he said. “It was just that moment, I thought ‘If I’m gonna ever do this, now’s the time.'”

Val Kilmer is notorious for playing Maverick’s cocky, competitive rival in the original “Top Gun.” In the film, Maverick and Iceman both attend TOPGUN flight school, which leads them to butt heads and compete against one another to be the best pilot. Prior to his role in the original “Top Gun,” Kilmer starred in two other feature films, “Top Secret!” and “Real Genius.” After the film’s release in 1986, Kilmer’s career took off.

Following the success of “Top Gun,” Kilmer landed roles in several successful films in the ’90s, including “The Doors,” “True Romance,” and “Batman Forever.” The actor continued working well throughout the end of the ’90s and into the 2000s, but by 2014, he was diagnosed with throat cancer. After receiving chemotherapy and a tracheotomy, Kilmer has limited use of his voice, but that didn’t stop him from taking on acting projects like “Top Gun: Maverick.”

In the film, Kilmer’s character Iceman has limited lines, but his voice is loud and clear on-screen due to the help of a company that recreated his voice using AI technology. In 2020, he vaguely discussed his role in the “Top Gun” sequel with ET, and praised his co-star Tom Cruise, saying, “I have to tell you, Tom Cruise is very cool. That is all I can tell you. The rest you will have to [find out].”

What’s a good action flick without a sprinkle of romance? Actor Kelly McGillis played the role of Maverick’s love interest, Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood. The character of Charlie is not just a pretty face, however. In “Top Gun,” she is an instructor at the flight school and woos Maverick with her brains and beauty. Before appearing in the film, McGillis starred alongside Harrison Ford in the 1985 film “Witness,” which earned her Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations.

After “Top Gun” McGillis continued acting in film, television, and even plays. Some of her film appearances include “The Accused,” “Winter People” and “The Babe.” Outside of her roles on screen, she has also performed on stage in Shakespeare plays like “The Twelfth Night” and “The Merchant of Venice.” She most recently landed roles in TV Movies, such as “An Uncommon Grace,” and “Maternal Secrets.”

Despite being a lead character in the original film, McGillis is not in “Top Gun: Maverick.” When asked by ET in 2019 if she was approached to return for the sequel, she jokingly said, “Oh my god no. They did not, nor do I think they would ever. I mean, I’m old and I’m fat, and I look age-appropriate for what my age is, and that is not what that whole scene is about.”

Before Iceman, Nick “Goose” Bradshaw, played by Anthony Edwards, was Maverick’s best friend and wingman. In “Top Gun,” Goose is a Radar Intercept Officer who grows close with Maverick as they train together at the flight school. Unfortunately, Goose tragically dies in a flight accident and leaves behind his best friend, wife Carole, and a son named Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw.

Edwards landed a few roles in successful films before his appearance in “Top Gun,” and had acting credits that included “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” and “Revenge of the Nerds” at the time.

“Top Gun” was just the beginning of a prolific career for Edwards. Along with a number of movie roles, Edwards is perhaps most known for his portrayal of Dr. Mark Greene in the medical drama series “ER,” which he worked on from 1994 to 2002, and then again in 2008. Most recently, he appeared in Apple TV+‘s series “WeCrashed” as well as Netflix’s “Inventing Anna.” Due to his character’s death in the first “Top Gun,” Edwards did not have a role in the sequel.

One of Meg Ryan’s first movie roles was in “Top Gun,” where she played Carole Bradshaw, the wife of Nick “Goose” Bradshaw. Carole is the mother of Bradley Bradshaw, who grows up to follow in his father’s footsteps in “Top Gun: Maverick.” Prior to acting in the film, Ryan had a few small roles in “Rich and Famous” and “Amityville 3-D.”

Ryan’s career blossomed during the 1990s. Throughout the decade, the actor starred in a handful of hugely popular movies, including “The Doors,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” and “You’ve Got Mail.” Over her career, Ryan has earned several accolades, including three Golden Globe nominations.

The actor did not reprise her role in “Top Gun: Maverick,” which was a choice by the film’s director Joseph Kosinski. He told Cinema Blend that the choice was influenced by his idea to introduce a new perspective to Maverick’s life, saying, “Clearly, their spirits hang over the film in certain ways. There is a glimpse, as you guys know, of both of them in the film. But it was important that we wanted to make sure we were telling a new chapter of Maverick’s life. We didn’t want to be looking back the whole time.”