Actor Val Kilmer dies after long health battle

Daily Report April 02,2025

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Val Kilmer, the iconic American actor known for his memorable roles in “Top Gun” and his portrayals of Batman and Jim Morrison, has passed away at 65, according to the New York Times.

Mercedes Kilmer informed the Times that her father succumbed to pneumonia. While he had previously fought and overcome throat cancer following a diagnosis in 2014, the illness ultimately claimed his life.

Kilmer’s journey to stardom began in theater before he made his breakthrough in cinema, delivering a captivating performance as a rock star in the 1984 Cold War parody “Top Secret!” His career soared when he portrayed the confident yet largely silent fighter pilot Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in 1986’s blockbuster “Top Gun,” where he played opposite Tom Cruise’s “Maverick.”

Throughout his extensive career, Kilmer demonstrated remarkable range, alternating between commercial successes and independent productions. His portrayal of Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s “The Doors” marked his elevation to leading man status, depicting the transformation of Morrison from an LSD-experimenting film student to iconic 60s musician.

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Val Kilmer was a great actor, a wonderful person, and a dear friend of mine. May you rest in peace 🕊 pic.twitter.com/QbUrhINioB

— Danny Trejo (@officialDannyT) April 2, 2025

Following a brief appearance in the Tarantino-penned “True Romance,” Kilmer shared the screen with acting legends Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in “Heat.” He later donned the cape and cowl in “Batman Forever,” bridging the gap between Michael Keaton and George Clooney’s interpretations of the Dark Knight.

Entertainment Weekly’s 1996 cover story branded Kilmer as “The Man Hollywood Loves to Hate,” portraying him as a difficult talent with challenging on-set behavior. However, a 2002 New York Times interview painted a different picture, revealing a friendly, self-deprecating personality who freely shared personal stories.

“You have to learn to speak Val,” director D. J. Caruso told the newspaper.

Born on December 31, 1959, Kilmer began his acting career in childhood commercials. His exceptional talent earned him the distinction of being Juilliard’s youngest-ever drama department entrant, and by 1983, he was performing on Broadway alongside Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon.

I still remember hearing people in the theater cry during this moment between Val Kilmer & Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick. I’m so incredibly thankful Cruise insisted on this scene because this moment is forever. RIP, Iceman. pic.twitter.com/qxoiEhz8wS

— Cinema Tweets (@CinemaTweets1) April 2, 2025

Despite his ambitions for serious roles, the Los Angeles-born actor found himself starring in commercial features and unsuccessful big-budget films during the early 2000s. After a period of low-profile projects, Kilmer attempted a comeback in the 2010s with a Mark Twain stage production he hoped to adapt for film, before cancer intervened.

The 2021 documentary “Val,” which premiered at Cannes, offered an intimate look at his Hollywood journey and showed his post-tracheotomy struggles. Variety noted that Kilmer emerged as someone who “has the aura of a man who was dealt his cosmic comeuppance and came through it.”

His return as “Iceman” in “Top Gun: Maverick” incorporated his real-life health challenges, including his altered voice. GQ praised the handling of his character, noting that instead of treating him as mere nostalgia, the film provided him with “a celluloid swan song that’ll stand the test of time.”

Reflecting on his website, Kilmer described his journey as a “magical life,” writing, “For more than half a century, I have been honing my art, no matter the medium. Be it literature, movies, poetry, painting, music, or tracking exotic and beautiful wildlife.”

The Times reports that Kilmer is survived by his children, Mercedes and Jack Kilmer.