Val Kilmer Dies: Batman Actor & Star of ‘Top Gun’ Was 65
Val Kilmer has died. The actor known for his roles in films like Batman Forever, Top Gun, and The Doors was 65 years old.
The performer’s death was confirmed by the New York Times, which revealed it was the result of pneumonia. As fans of Kilmer know, the actor battled throat cancer on and off for several years since 2015.
Born in Los Angeles in 1959, Kilmer was raised by his father Eugene and mother Gladys and attended high school with famous classmates like Mare Winningham. He was accepted into the Juilliard School and was the youngest student at the time of his attendance. He went on to appear in various stage productions, making his Broadway debut opposite Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon in 1983’s The Slab Boys.
From there, he made his way to film and television, and he made his feature debut in 1984 with the spy parody Top Secret! from David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker. This set the stage for his career as a full-on movie star, which paved the way for his memorable role as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky, antagonist to Tom Cruise‘s Maverick in Top Gun, a role he later reprised in 2022’s lauded sequel Top Gun: Maverick.
Everett Collection
Among his other notable roles were Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. Batman, in 1995’s Batman Forever, Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone‘s biopic The Doors, and Doc Holliday in Tombstone. Other films Kilmer is best known for are Heat, Willow, True Romance, The Island of Dr. Moreau, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, The Salton Sea, The Ghost and the Darkness, The Saint, and At First Sight. Additionally, Kilmer voiced Moses in DreamWorks’ 1998 animated feature The Prince of Egypt.
He also made a hilarious turn in 2010’s MacGruber, a MacGyver spoof led by Will Forte and costarring Kristen Wiig and Ryan Phillippe. Kilmer played big bad Dieter von Cunth in the film based on the Saturday Night Live character.
Among Kilmer’s television credits are Saturday Night Live, Entourage, Psych, and even lent his voice to KITT in NBC‘s reimagining of Knight Rider. He was also a published author, penning a collection of poems known as My Edens After Burns, which was partly inspired by Michelle Pfeiffer.
Over the years, Kilmer was romantically linked to several well-known stars, including Cher, Ellen Barkin, Cindy Crawford, Angelina Jolie, Daryl Hannah, and more. In 1988, Kilmer married actress Joanne Whalley, with whom he had a daughter, Mercedes, and a son, Jack, but they broke off their relationship by 1996.
In 2021, Kilmer offered fans a candid look at his life and career with the documentary Val, a project that also included insights from his kids and offered a deeper look at pivotal moments from his life, including the loss of his brother Wesley at a young age. The actor’s son, Jack, narrates the documentary as he lost his ability to speak through his throat cancer battle.
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Val Kilmer was a good looking man. I was not aware he had throat cancer. So sorry to hear of his passing
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Condolences
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truly deserved an oscar for the doors and tombstone.rip
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Too young and talented to be gone this soon. Loved everything he has ever done. Deepest condolences to family, fans and friends. Knowing he is suffering no longer is the only comfort offered here. He will be deeply missed by everyone.
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I first adored Val from his insanely funny performance in 'Real Genius.' He was a multi-talented actor who will be very missed. Condolences to his family and all who knew him.
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A Great actor and best I know person as well. Top Gun was only the tip of the iceberg of Val Kilmer’s talent. May God comfort his family and friends in this time of sorrow. He Will be missed.
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Down voted for offering condolences. Wow just Wow !!
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no more suffering. Rest in peace.
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NOT saying this is the case with Val Kilmer it could’ve been from a number of reasons. But many men enjoy a fine cigar coupled with some excellent brandy. I read a medical article a few years back that stated that combination is one of the leading causes of this particular type of cancer. Sad that allot of life’s little luxuries also contribute to cancer. Regardless of cause Val Kilmer was a very versatile and talented actor. It’s very hard to pick just one role but I liked him best in Tombstone as Doc Holliday.
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Down vote away but when I die I hope that My death will be used to help the Living. Which I have a myriad of health problems including Leukemia so might not be that far off. I meant No One any harm by my posts just trying to pass on some information. I think Val would like that.
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Rest in peace my Huckleberry.
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R.I.P. Val. You will be missed. Condolences to your family.
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I feel like Val would appreciate my doing this, I hope so. If you are Caucasian man age 50 or older ( can be younger) and are constantly having acid reflux and find yourself taking allot of antacids See The Doctor !! You could have Barrett’s Syndrome, like me !! It’s a serious precursor to esophageal cancer !! Treated early it’s usually not a big deal. But left untreated it can flux to cancer !! It is Very rare in African American men. It primarily is found in white men age 50 or older but some what rare can be found in younger. Mine was accidentally discovered in tests for something else !!
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Wow !! I got down voted for trying to help people about cancer. I myself have Leukemia. Man this ole world is something else !! I meant No One any harm. Just trying to pass out some helpful info. I think Val would like that.
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