"Horrific" is how Tom Cruise described the sudden death of the son of his friend, John Travolta. Cruise struggled to maintain his composure as he spoke on "The View" about last week's death of 16-year-old Jett Travolta. "John just adored him, both of his children," Cruise said haltingly. "... It's something that I don't have the words for."

The 46-year-old actor called Travolta and his wife, Kelly Preston, "doting parents, just wonderful people." The couple have an 8-year-old daughter, Ella Bleu.

Jett died at the family vacation home in Grand Bahama. He had a history of seizures and was found unconscious in a bathroom. Results of an autopsy performed Monday were not released, but a Bahamas undertaker said the teen's death certificate listed "seizure" as the cause of death.

In response to a question from "The View" host Barbara Walters, Cruise defended Scientology, which he and the Travoltas follow, against rumors that have swirled since Jett Travolta died.

The church doesn't discourage conventional medical care, Cruise declared — "actually, the exact opposite."

"They say, 'Get your physical, get your medication, get your physical illnesses handled.'"

Taped Thursday, Cruise's appearance on the ABC daytime talk show is scheduled to air Friday. His latest film is "Valkyrie."

(China Daily/Agencies January 9, 2009)