Cruise: Jett Travolta's death was horrific

NEW YORK, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Hollywood film star and father of three Tom Cruise is calling the death of 16-year-old Jett Travolta "horrific."

Cruise, who is a longtime friend of Jett's parents John Travolta and Kelly Preston, appeared at a loss for words when asked on the TV talk show "The View" for his reaction to the boy's death reportedly of a seizure last week.

"It's just horrific," Usmagazine.com quoted Cruise as saying Thursday in an episode of the show set to air Friday. "Here you have a man, both of them doting parents, they're wonderful people and..."

After trying to express his feelings a couple of times and leaving his sentences to trail off, Cruise admitted, "I just don't have the words for it."

Usmagazine.com said Cruise also emphasized that the notion Scientologists are discouraged from seeking medical attention when they need it is erroneous.

Some critics have claimed the Travoltas' adherence to Scientology prevented them from seeking proper medical care for their son's lifelong health issues.

"That's just not true. It's actually false," Cruise said of Scientologists' beliefs. "They say, 'Get your physical, get your medication, get your physical illnesses handled.'"