It may surprise you to learn that the film is now 36 years old! Now that a sequel is set to be released, we were curious as to what had happened to Top Gun’s characters of this classic, so we put together this piece to share with you.
Top Gun, one of the most iconic pictures of the decade, was released by Paramount Pictures in 1986. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a rebel aviator, was the subject of the film. Because of its groundbreaking aerial acrobatics and appealing cast, it became an instant classic. This was the film that made Tom Cruise and others famous around the world.
Pete “Maverick” Mitchell — Tom Cruise
Pete “Maverick” Mitchell -Tom Cruise
There’s no denying that after the release of Top Gun, Tom Cruise earned a name for himself in Hollywood. He had only been in the profession for four years at the time, but he was already well-known for his role in the 1983 film Risky Business. Top Gun, on the other hand, ensured him worldwide fame.
Since then, Cruise has starred in over 40 films and is set to star in three more: two new parts of his popular Mission: Impossible franchise and, of course, Top Gun: Maverick, the long-awaited sequel to Top Gun.
Nick “Goose” Bradshaw — Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards maintained his acting career without much success after playing Maverick’s best friend in Top Gun. His filmography includes the role of Inspector William Armstrong in the 2007 picture Zodiac. In 2013, he provided the voice of Echo in the animated film Planes.
Edwards, 59, has also announced that he will appear in the sequel to Top Gun. It’ll be the first time we’ve seen him since his part in Consumed in 2015.
Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood — Kelly McGillis
She was Maverick’s girl, but after Top Gun, you won’t hear from her. McGillis appeared in only one other film, The Accused, in 1988. She only featured in five films during the next two decades, the most recent being 2011’s The Innkeepers.
Kelly has taught acting at the New York Studio for Stage and Screen NYS3 in North Carolina since 2013.
Tom “Iceman” Kazansky — Val Kilmer
Being Maverick’s competitor was crucial to Val Kilmer’s development as a renowned actor. Some of the characters Kilmer has played throughout his long career include Jim Morrison, Batman, Mark Twain, and Elvis Presley.
Kilmer’s initiatives have shrunk in size in recent years. He didn’t always release them on home video, but he did appear in The Birthday Cake with Ewan McGregor in 2021, and he’s stated he’ll reprise his role as Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick.
Mike “Viper” Metcalf — Tom Skerritt
It was no coincidence that Skerritt was cast as the Viper commander in Top Gun because he was the only member of the ensemble who had served in the United States Air Force during his youth in the 1950s. Skerrit is also one of the actors on this list with the most films under his belt.
He made his acting debut in the film War Hunt in 1962, and he starred in the films East of the Mountains and Catch the Bullet in 2021, at the age of 88. His appearances in Alien, Ted, Dead Zone, and, of course, Top Gun stand out among his nearly 70 films.
Carol Bradshaw — Meg Ryan
Meg Ryan, who was one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actresses in the 1990s and early 2000s, played Goose’s wife. She rose to fame thanks to roles in films such as When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got an E-mail, and the biography of the band The Doors, in which she reunited with Val Kilmer.
Ryan made her directing debut with the film Ithaca in 2016, where she also made her final appearance. Ryan quit her acting career in 2019 after revealing that she was no longer interested in it.
Rick “Jester” Heatherly — Michael Ironside
The flight instructor who Maverick and Goose defeated in their first training jump at the navy school known as Top Gun was played by Frederick Reginald Ironside, better known as Michael Ironside. Despite the fact that his character isn’t particularly well-known, he is an important component of Ironside’s extensive filmography.
Some of his most well-known films include Total Recall, Invasion, The Machinist, and X-Men: First Generation. In 2021, he had his most recent appearance on film in the critically praised series The Dropout.
Bill “Cougar” Cortell — John Stockwell
Cougar makes an appearance in the first few minutes of the film, only to vanish after having a nervous breakdown in flight, prompting him to retire and devote his time totally to his family. John Stockwell, who played the character, is still working in the film industry, although not as an actor.
Stockwell has been directing and writing films since 2001, including Rockstar, Into The Blue, and The Hunted. The 2017 film Armed Response, starring Wesley Snipes, was his most recent endeavor.
Sam “Merlin” Wells — Tim Robbins
The radar officer who replaces Goose as Maverick’s sidekick in the film’s last act went mostly forgotten, but the actor, Tim Robbins, has gone on to become a major Hollywood character.
In the critically acclaimed 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption, Robbins played Andy Dufresne. He would receive the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal in Mystic River ten years later. Robbins has also directed many films, including Bob Roberts and I Still Believe, for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Director in 1996. Castle Rock, a 2019 series, was his most recent production.
When this movie came out, how old were you? And, in your opinion, how have the Top Gun characters changed throughout the years? Leave your thoughts in the comments section.
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