Hollywood icon Val Kilmer, the star of films such as "The Doors," "Top Gun," and "Batman," has died at the age of 65 after a long health battle.
His ex-wife Joanne Wiley and daughter Mercedes Kilmer said on the 1st (local time) that he passed away from pneumonia in Los Angeles, according to The New York Times.
This screen icon was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and underwent surgeries, including a tracheotomy, which significantly affected his ability to speak. Unfortunately, it permanently damaged his vocal cords and changed his voice. He also had to eat through a tube, and in 2020, he noted in an interview that he had overcome cancer.
Kilmer became beloved for his roles as Iceman in the 1986 hit film "Top Gun" and as Batman/Bruce Wayne in 1995's "Batman Forever." Despite his voice being permanently damaged, he made a brief return to the screen as Iceman in 2022's "Top Gun: Maverick," appearing alongside Tom Cruise. It was his final screen grants.
A native of Los Angeles, he is also known for playing musician Jim Morrison in the 1991 film "The Doors."
Actors such as Josh Brolin paid tribute to Kilmer. Brolin left a post on his social media saying, "Goodbye, friend. I'll miss you," and expressed that Kilmer was "smart, challenging, brave, and a very creative firework. There aren't many people like that left. I look forward to seeing you in the afterlife."
Kilmer posted his last message on social media on February 23, two months before his death. The post featured a video shot in 2021, where he discussed Batman and more with artist David Choe.
Kilmer was married to fellow actress Joanne from 1988 to 1996 and had one son and one daughter.
Kilmer took on several roles on Broadway, but his big screen debut came in 1984 with the film "Top Secret!" This movie parodied Cold War-era spy films and the musicals featuring Elvis Presley. In the film, Kilmer plays an American rock star who travels to East Germany and becomes embroiled in struggles and resistance towards unification, showcasing his talent by singing and dancing on screen. Kilmer subsequently became a superstar by portraying Navy pilot Lieutenant Tom "Iceman" Kazansky alongside Cruise in the 1986 film "Top Gun." He later appeared in diverse works such as "The Real McCoy," "True Romance," "Tombstone," "Batman Forever," "The Ghost and the Darkness," "Heat," "Hard Cash," "Blind Horizon," "Alexander," and "Mindhunter."
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