Val Kilmer has died at the age of 65.
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Tributes have subsequently poured in for the legendary actor, who is perhaps best known for his standout performances in movies such as Top Gun, The Doors, and Batman Forever,
The heartbreaking news was first reported by The New York Times and confirmed by his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer.
Mercedes also informed the outlet that her father's cause of death was pneumonia.
Kilmer had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014. He underwent chemotherapy and a trachea surgery that permanently affected his voice, but he recovered and continued working for several more years.
His battle with illness and career highs and lows were documented in the 2021 film Val, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
Born in Los Angeles in 1959, Kilmer was one of the youngest students ever admitted to Juilliard’s acting program, beginning his career on stage before breaking out in the 1980s with films like Top Secret! and Real Genius. His role as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in Top Gun (1986) made him a household name and led to decades of high-profile work.
He later starred in Willow (1988), where he met his future wife Joanne Whalley. They had two children, Mercedes and Jack, before divorcing in 1996.
Kilmer’s portrayal of Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s The Doors (1991) was one of his most critically acclaimed roles, notable for using his own singing voice. His performance as Doc Holliday in Tombstone (1993) remains widely praised.
In 1995, he took over the Batman mantle in Batman Forever, a box office hit despite mixed reviews.
He starred in Michael Mann’s Heat that same year alongside Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. In later years, he appeared in smaller films and stage productions, including a one-man show as Mark Twain.
Tributes poured in from colleagues and admirers following news of his passing, including director Francis Ford Coppola, who wrote: “Val Kilmer was the most talented actor when in his High School, and that talent only grew greater throughout his life. He was a wonderful person to work with and a joy to know — I will always remember him.”
In his later years, Kilmer returned to the screen in Top Gun: Maverick (2022), where Iceman had become commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. He also remained politically active, supporting Ralph Nader’s 2008 campaign, advocating for religious exemptions under Obamacare in 2013, and expressing interest in running for governor of New Mexico.
Despite his success, Kilmer’s reputation for being difficult on set followed him for much of his career. Joel Schumacher, who directed Batman Forever, said, “I pray I don’t work with [Kilmer] again … we had two weeks where he did not speak to me, but it was bliss.” John Frankenheimer, who directed The Island of Dr. Moreau, said, “I don’t like Val Kilmer, I don’t like his work ethic and I don’t want to be associated with him ever again.”
Kilmer addressed this perception directly in a 2017 Reddit Q&A, writing: “I didn’t do enough hand-holding and flattering and reassuring to the financier. I only cared about the acting and that didn’t translate to caring about the film or all that money.
“I like to take risks and this often gave the impression I was willing to risk their money not being returned, which was foolish of me. I understand that now. And sometimes when you are the head of a project and the lead actor is usually the reason a film is being made, unless it’s a superstar director, then only fair to make people feel good and happy they are at work. I was often unhappy trying to make pictures better.”
In the documentary Val, he reflected on his past behavior with clarity. “I have behaved poorly. I have behaved bravely. I have behaved bizarrely to some. I deny none of this and have no regrets because I have lost and found parts of myself that I never knew existed.”
He added: “And I am blessed.”
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Kilmer is survived by his two children, Mercedes and Jack.
Our thoughts go out to Kilmer's family, friends, and fans at this time.