Tom Cruise presented with big US Navy civilian honor for Top Gun role

The US Navy praised Hollywood star Tom Cruise for "boosting the force's recruitment of pilots" with his role as Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in Top Gun.  © BRYAN BEDDER / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

Cruise (62) was presented on Tuesday with the Distinguished Public Service Award, which rewards civilians for acts of heroism or support to the Navy.

It was awarded to him by US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro at the Longcross Film Studios in Chertsey, a town south-west of London.

The actor, who is known for performing his own action stunts and is a licensed aircraft pilot, reprised his role as Lieutenant Pete Mitchell in the 2022 sequel Top Gun: Maverick.

Del Toro said it "brought nostalgia to older audiences and reinvigorated the minds of newer audience members".

Del Toro said Cruise's role as Maverick in the 1986 action film, about a young naval aviator who trains at the US Navy's fighter weapons school – also known as Top Gun – "significantly increased" the force's recruitment numbers.

The US Navy secretary, who stopped at the studios on his way to visit American forces in Bahrain, gave the award to Cruise for his "exceptional and wide-ranging contributions made to the Department of the Navy from 1986 to 2023."

He told the audience of Hollywood professionals and US Navy staff: "Tom Cruise has spent nearly four decades as an unwavering supporter of the men, women, and families of the Navy and Marine Corps.

"His dedicated support to our sailors, marines, and civilians through his efforts in the film industry increased public awareness and appreciation for our highly trained personnel and the sacrifices they make while in uniform."

He quipped: "As a result, recruitment for navy pilots increased significantly in the late '80s and early '90s – I wonder why?"

Top Gun was a box office success and spawned famous one-liners by Cruise's character, including: "I feel the need, the need for speed."  © IMAGO / Capital Pictures

Wearing a dark suit and light blue tie, Cruise said after receiving the award: "In life, something that is very true to me is, to lead is to serve. I know that to my core, and I see that in the servicemen and women. I appreciate everyone's dedication, and it's a true honor to represent them.”

He added: "I'm just very proud and overwhelmed."

Cruise said he would "continue serving the country to make this world a better place."

Asked whether he would perform a stunt on the set, which comprised fake escarpments about 16 feet tall, Cruise joked: "It's way too low for me to jump from."

The brief ceremony was attended by a handful of film professionals and US navy staff.

They included film producer and director Christopher McQuarrie, who collaborated with Cruise on the latest Top Gun movie and four installments of the Mission Impossible franchise, Cruise’s sister Cass Capazorio, and Chris Diaz, chief of staff to the secretary of the US Navy.

Del Toro, the 78th US Navy secretary, was at the set with his wife, Betty.

Cruise thanked the audience and staff for coming early to the set before he got on with his busy filming schedule.

"That's what I do – I get on the 4 AM train and make films all day," he said.