Val Kilmer, the Hollywood icon known for roles in Top Gun, The Doors, Batman Forever, and Heat, has died at age 65.
His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed the news to The New York Times on Tuesday, stating that the actor passed away from pneumonia.
Kilmer had been battling serious health issues for over a decade. In 2015, he was diagnosed with throat cancer, which led to multiple surgeries, a tracheostomy, and the eventual loss of his natural voice. Despite it all, he continued to work, returning to the screen in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick with a brief but emotional appearance as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky—arguably the most powerful moment in the film.
For many, Kilmer wasn’t just a leading man—he was a shapeshifter. He played Jim Morrison with eerie precision in The Doors, redefined Doc Holliday in Tombstone, and gave Gotham a slicker, more vulnerable Bruce Wayne during his short but memorable stint as Batman.
Off-screen, he was notoriously elusive. Kilmer was an actor’s actor—deeply committed, sometimes difficult, but always fascinating. His 2021 documentary Val, pieced together from decades of home video footage, offered rare insight into the chaos, ego, and heart behind his career.
In recent years, Kilmer focused on painting, writing, and rebuilding his life post-cancer. He rarely gave interviews, but when he did, he remained dryly funny and as unfiltered as ever.
He is survived by his two children, Mercedes and Jack.
Kilmer was one of those rare actors who never sat still—always chasing something stranger or more sincere. Whether as an outlaw, a rock star, a fighter pilot or a caped crusader, he brought a certain restless energy to every role.
Hollywood’s loudest voices often go out in silence. Kilmer did both—and still managed to get the last word.
Rest in peace, Val.
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