The Men and Women of 'Top Gun' After 25 Years

After the release of Tony Scott's "Top Gun" on May 16, 1986, it instantly became part of American movie history. Now, as the film celebrates its 25th anniversary, it is quite interesting to know that the movie's top talents are still active in Hollywood. These include director Tony Scott and acting talents Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Kelly McGillis, and Meg Ryan.

Tony Scott
"Top Gun" allowed Tony Scott's film directing career to really soar to greater heights. Even after 25 years, it is still one of the most iconic motion picture pieces he has made. He continued his foray into the action and thriller genres both in movies and television after this movie's success. As a director and producer, he already has dozens of films and TV series under his belt. Some of his other famous works include "Beverly Hills Cop II," "Enemy of the State," and "Unstoppable."

Tom Cruise
After "Top Gun," Tom Cruise readily climbed to A-list status with his career peaking during the 1990s. He had the best part of his filmography during this decade as he appeared hit after hit, from one masterpiece to the next. Some of his most memorable works during this period were "A Few Good Men," "Interview with the Vampire," "Mission Impossible," "Jerry Maguire," and "Magnolia." The following decade also had a fine share of critically-acclaimed films with him on lead roles like "Vanilla Sky" and "Collateral." He starred in the blockbuster flicks "Minority Report" and the sequels for the "Mission Impossible" franchise as well. Apart from his acting career, he is also known for his active membership in Scientology.

Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer had some indelible moments as a main guy in films following "Top Gun" -- the most famous being "Batman Forever." After starring as the caped crusader, he also lent his voice as Moses and God in the Oscar-winning animated film "The Prince of Egypt." His later successes came with countless supporting roles, which made him very active in his acting work even up to now. Through the years, he has played in a variety of major and supporting characters both in film and TV including roles as Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley, Willem de Kooning, Philip II, and the voice of Kitt for Knight Rider.

Kelly McGillis
Kelly McGillis rose to stardom in "Top Gun" as the alluring Navy flight instructor and love interest of Cruise's character. Her breakthrough role didn't lead her career to getting high-profile projects, but she still managed to play remarkable roles, mostly supporting ones. Instead of concentrating in blockbuster movies, her heart for theater became a priority. She worked on projects like "The Merchant of Venice," "Twelfth Night," "Hedda Gabler," and "The Graduate." She was a mainstay in a variety of TV projects as well. Apart from her showbiz career, she is also a businesswoman with a restaurant in Florida and she is a professional counselor working on cases of drug addiction and alcoholism. In 2009, amidst having been married twice and having two kids, she admitted in an interview that she is a lesbian.

Meg Ryan
After "Top Gun," Meg Ryan's career led her to a string of popular romantic dramas and comedies. By the 1990s, she became a household name with movies like "Sleepless in Seattle," "French Kiss," "Addicted to Love," "City of Angels," and "You've Got Mail." She maintained her thriving career by expanding and diversifying her filmography with movies including "Courage Under Fire," "Serious Moonlight," "The Women," and TV series like "Homeland Security." She also has credits as producer for projects like "Northern Lights" and "Desert Saints."