Val Kilmer, well known for films like Batman Forever (1995) and Top Gun (1986), has away. He was sixty-five.
Mercedes Kilmer, his daughter, informed The New York Times that dad passed away on Tuesday, April 1, from pneumonia. She also said that he recovered from a throat cancer diagnosis in 2014.
Kilmer’s last movie performance was in the 2023 follow-up to the 1986 hit Top Gun: Maverick. Kilmer made a short on-screen appearance in the movie and had a moving moment with Tom Cruise.
In 2023, Cruise told Jimmy Kimmel, “I just want to say that was pretty emotional,” in reference to re-starring with his pal. “I’ve known Val for decades, and for him to come back and play that character… he’s such a powerful actor that he instantly became that character again.”
In a December 2017 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Kilmer finally spoke about his fight with throat cancer after years of alleged health issues.
The actor’s two-year battle with throat cancer had “taken its toll” on the family, according to the story, which also said that Kilmer underwent a tracheal operation that left him breathless and his voice scratchy.
When a spokeswoman informed PEOPLE that Kilmer was taken to the hospital “for a possible tumor” in January 2015, it became clear that he was having health problems. He quickly denied having a tumor on Facebook, stating that he “had a complication.”
Kilmer, who was seen in public with a tracheostomy tube in October 2015 then without one the following February, frequently put an end to other speculations.
In a subsequent Facebook post, he said, “I have never had a tumor, tumor surgery, or any operation where the best way to receive care was to stay under the watchful eye of the UCLA ICU.” As they say, I’m hoping for a quick return to the boards. Please don’t worry, and may God bless you all.
In October of same year, the actor was had to reassure his fans once again that he was well, this time disputing a rumor that he had been taken to the hospital in an emergency situation. In a message that he posted on Facebook, the actor disclosed that he had visited the hospital for the sole purpose of “verifying that I do not have any tumor or infection of any kind.” This was confirmed by the very kind specialists at UCLA. After stating that he was healthy, Kilmer was seen out and about with what looked to be a tracheostomy tube. This occurred less than two months after he made his statement. Despite the fact that he was seen again in February 2016 without the breathing assist, the scar that was caused by the breathing device was still evident on the actor’s neck.
Leo Scott and Ting Poo directed the documentary Val, which was released in 2021, and Kilmer contributed his tale to the film. Together with Mercedes and their son Jack, Kilmer was the producer of the picture. A standing ovation was given to the film when it was shown for the first time at the Cannes Film Festival. The film addressed the challenging process of his recuperation.
“He’s such a layered person, there’s the childlike playfulness, but then there’s also the deep wisdom of somebody who’s been on a spiritual path their whole life at the same time,” Mercedes spoke with PEOPLE about her father in the year 2021. “He’s a lot of opposites that make him incredibly interesting, and it’s kind of why our film is so interesting.”
Although they eventually divorced, Kilmer’s parents, Eugene and Gladys, welcomed him into the world in 1959 in the city of Los Angeles, California. The loss of Kilmer’s younger brother, Wesley, who was just 15 years old at the time, was a tragic event that occurred in 1977 for the Kilmer family.
According to Kilmer’s statement to The New York Times in 2002, “He was a genius.” In his capacity as an aspiring director, Kilmer lauded his brother, describing him as so gifted that he might have been another Steven Spielberg or George Lucas or someone along those lines.
In a short period of time after the passing of his brother, Kilmer achieved the distinction of becoming the youngest individual to be admitted into the renowned Juilliard School’s Drama Group. For him, this was the beginning of his career as an actor.
“I had a unique experience because I just lost my little brother a week before I started school,” Kilmer remarked in a presentation that he gave at Juilliard in the year 2005. “So, it was a very emotional period for me, and I feel that the really high standards and the activity of the School were beneficial for me. I was forced to really confront myself about my own existence, you know—what I believe about life and loss. I am confident that this was a positive thing for me. Having the opportunity to attend such a wonderful institution was a wonderful way for me to make progress after going through that challenging period.
Despite the fact that Kilmer had a few parts on Broadway, his big screen debut came in the 1984 picture Top Secret!, which was a satire of espionage films during the Cold War period as well as musicals that Elvis Presley used to appear in. Kilmer portrays a superstar from the United States who goes to East Germany and becomes entangled in the struggle and resistance taking place in the direction of reunification. Within the film, the actor was responsible for his own singing and dance.
Together with Tom Cruise, Kilmer played the role of Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazanski, a naval pilot, in the film Top Gun. This was the moment that launched Kilmer’s career as a celebrity.
When asked about his experience working with Cruise and making the movie, Kilmer said to Larry King in 2013 that “it was fun.” My boyfriend did not like him, but it was a lot of fun to be annoyed by him.
Following the critical praise that he received for his supporting performance in Top Gun, the actor went on to attain fame as a leading actor by directing Oliver Stone’s film The Doors during the year 1991. Kilmer played the part of Jim Morrison, the founding member of The Doors, opposite Meg Ryan. He gave his whole commitment to the character of the troubled rocker by learning all of his songs by heart and even dressed in a manner that was similar to his.
After meeting each other while shooting on the film Willow, Kilmer wed actress Joanne Whalley in 1988. The couple had previously worked together. Before getting a divorce in 1996, the couple had two children: Mercedes, who was born in 1991, and Jack, who was born in 1995.
The late actor maintained a steady work schedule throughout his career, culminating in the production of a one-man show named Mark Twain: Citizen Twain in 2016. He also began his artistic endeavors in his latter years. During his last post on Facebook, which was made on March 22nd, he displayed his most recent artwork.
His daughter Mercedes and his son Jack are the only ones who will remember Kilmer.