Reading Time: 3 minutes
Sad news out of Hollywood this week:
Val Kilmer, a veteran actor best known for roles in 1986’s Top Gun in 1995’s Batman Forever — passed away on April 1.
He was 65 years old.
The star’s daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, spoke to the New York Times and said her father died due to pneumonia.
Val Kilmer made his final appearance on film in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, a sequel to the aforementioned classic.
The actor reprised his role from the original movie in this hit project, sharing an emotional scene with Tom Cruise.
“I just want to say that was pretty emotional,” Cruise told Jimmy Kimmel back then about acting alongside his friend again. “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.”
Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014.
According to a December 2017 article in The Hollywood Reporter, the actor’s two-year fight with this disease had “taken its toll” on the family.
This piece noted that Kilmer had undergone a procedure on his trachea which made his voice raspy and left him short of breath.
He didn’t make many public appearances, or take on many jobs, in his latter years as a result.
“I have not had a tumor, or a tumor operations, or any operation I had a complication where the best way to receive care was to stay under the watchful eye of the UCLA ICU,” Kilmer said in a Facebook post after he was spotted in 2015 with a tracheostomy tube.
“I am praying for a speedy return to the boards as they say. God bless you all and please don’t worry.”
Over the course of his career, Kilmer appeared in numerous legendary films… including 1988’s Willow, 1991’s The Doors, 1993’s True Romance, 1995’s Heat and 2005’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
Outside of acting, Kilmer had a passion for visual arts, working with both photography and paint.
“See ya, pal. I’m going to miss you. You were a smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker,” Josh Brolin wrote on social media after news of Kilmer’s passing went viral.
“There’s not a lot left of those. I hope to see you up there in the heavens when I eventually get there. Until then, amazing memories, lovely thoughts.”
Added Josh Gad via Instagram: RIP Val Kilmer. Thank you for defining so many of the movies of my childhood. You truly were an icon.
Val Kilmer is survived by friends and family, including his two children with ex-wife Joanne Whalley: Mercedes and Jack Kilmer.
May he rest in peace.
Val Kilmer Cause of Death: Top Gun Actor Gone at 65 was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.