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Val Kilmer, best known for movies such as 1986's Top Gun and 1995’s Batman Forever, has died. He was 65 years old.
His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, told The New York Times he died of pneumonia on Tuesday, April 1. He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and later recovered, she added.
Kilmer made his final appearance on film in 2022's Top Gun: Maverick, a sequel to the 1986 classic. Kilmer briefly appeared in the film, sharing a poignant moment with Tom Cruise onscreen.
Val Kilmer with his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, in 2019
After years of rumored health problems, Kilmer finally opened up about his battle with throat cancerduring a December 2017 interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
The article revealed that the actor’s two-year fight with throat cancer had “taken its toll” on the family and noted that Kilmer had undergone a procedure on his trachea which made his voice raspy and left him short of breath.
In 2021, Kilmer shared his story for the documentary Val, directed by Leo Scott and Ting Poo. Kilmer produced the film with Mercedes and his son Jack. It focused on his difficult recovery process and received a standing ovation when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison in 'The Doors'
"He's such a layered person, there's the childlike playfulness, but then there's also the deep wisdom of somebody who's been on a spiritual path their whole life at the same time," Mercedes told PEOPLE of her father in 2021. "He's a lot of opposites that make him incredibly interesting, and it's kind of why our film is so interesting."
Kilmer was born in Los Angeles, California in 1959 to parents Eugene and Gladys, though they later divorced. Tragedy struck the Kilmer family in 1977 when Kilmer’s younger brother Wesley drowned at the young age of 15.
“He was a genius,” Kilmer told The New York Times in 2002. Kilmer praised his brother as an aspiring filmmaker, calling him so talented that he could have been another Steven Spielberg or George Lucas.
Shortly after his brother’s death, Kilmer became the youngest person at the time to be accepted into the famed Juilliard School’s Drama Group. This became the start of his acting career.
Val Kilmer in 'Top Gun'
Though Kilmer had a few roles on Broadway, his big-screen break came in the 1984 movie Top Secret! — a parody of spy films in the Cold War era and the musicals Elvis Presley used to star in. Kilmer plays an American rockstar who travels to East Germany and gets caught in the fight and resistance towards reunification. The actor did his own singing and dancing in the film.
Kilmer’s superstar-making moment came in Top Gun, where he starred as a naval aviator Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazanski alongside Cruise.
“It was fun,” Kilmer told Larry King in 2013 about working with Cruise and filming the movie. “My guy didn’t like him but it was fun to not like him.”
After gaining critical acclaim for his supporting role in Top Gun, the actor achieved starring success by helming Oliver Stone’s 1991 movie, The Doors. Kilmer starred as The Doors frontman Jim Morrison alongside Meg Ryan, committing fully to the role of the late troubled rocker by memorizing all his songs and even dressing like him.
In 1988, Kilmer married actress Joanne Whalley after they met while working together on the movie Willow. The couple had two children — Mercedes in 1991 and Jack in 1995 — before divorcing in 1996.
Val Kilmer in 'Willow'
The late actor worked steadily throughout his career, starring in a one-man play titled Mark Twain: Citizen Twain in 2016 and turning to art late in his life. His final Facebook post, published on March 22, featured his latest painting.
Kilmer is survived by his daughter Mercedes and son Jack.
Val Kilmer, best known for movies such as 1986's Top Gun and 1995’s Batman Forever, has died. He was 65 years old.
His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, told The New York Times he died of pneumonia on Tuesday, April 1. He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and later recovered, she added.
Kilmer made his final appearance on film in 2022's Top Gun: Maverick, a sequel to the 1986 classic. Kilmer briefly appeared in the film, sharing a poignant moment with Tom Cruise onscreen.
Val Kilmer with his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, in 2019
After years of rumored health problems, Kilmer finally opened up about his battle with throat cancerduring a December 2017 interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
The article revealed that the actor’s two-year fight with throat cancer had “taken its toll” on the family and noted that Kilmer had undergone a procedure on his trachea which made his voice raspy and left him short of breath.
In 2021, Kilmer shared his story for the documentary Val, directed by Leo Scott and Ting Poo. Kilmer produced the film with Mercedes and his son Jack. It focused on his difficult recovery process and received a standing ovation when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison in 'The Doors'
"He's such a layered person, there's the childlike playfulness, but then there's also the deep wisdom of somebody who's been on a spiritual path their whole life at the same time," Mercedes told PEOPLE of her father in 2021. "He's a lot of opposites that make him incredibly interesting, and it's kind of why our film is so interesting."
Kilmer was born in Los Angeles, California in 1959 to parents Eugene and Gladys, though they later divorced. Tragedy struck the Kilmer family in 1977 when Kilmer’s younger brother Wesley drowned at the young age of 15.
“He was a genius,” Kilmer told The New York Times in 2002. Kilmer praised his brother as an aspiring filmmaker, calling him so talented that he could have been another Steven Spielberg or George Lucas.
Shortly after his brother’s death, Kilmer became the youngest person at the time to be accepted into the famed Juilliard School’s Drama Group. This became the start of his acting career.
Val Kilmer in 'Top Gun'
Though Kilmer had a few roles on Broadway, his big-screen break came in the 1984 movie Top Secret! — a parody of spy films in the Cold War era and the musicals Elvis Presley used to star in. Kilmer plays an American rockstar who travels to East Germany and gets caught in the fight and resistance towards reunification. The actor did his own singing and dancing in the film.
Kilmer’s superstar-making moment came in Top Gun, where he starred as a naval aviator Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazanski alongside Cruise.
“It was fun,” Kilmer told Larry King in 2013 about working with Cruise and filming the movie. “My guy didn’t like him but it was fun to not like him.”
After gaining critical acclaim for his supporting role in Top Gun, the actor achieved starring success by helming Oliver Stone’s 1991 movie, The Doors. Kilmer starred as The Doors frontman Jim Morrison alongside Meg Ryan, committing fully to the role of the late troubled rocker by memorizing all his songs and even dressing like him.
In 1988, Kilmer married actress Joanne Whalley after they met while working together on the movie Willow. The couple had two children — Mercedes in 1991 and Jack in 1995 — before divorcing in 1996.
Val Kilmer in 'Willow'
The late actor worked steadily throughout his career, starring in a one-man play titled Mark Twain: Citizen Twain in 2016 and turning to art late in his life. His final Facebook post, published on March 22, featured his latest painting.
Kilmer is survived by his daughter Mercedes and son Jack.
From Wikipedia:
Kilmer had a reputation for being difficult to work with and having feuds with some of the actors with whom he worked, notably The Island of Dr. Moreau co-star Marlon Brando and Red Planet and Heat co-star Tom Sizemore.[69] Kilmer's Tombstone co-star, Michael Biehn, said: "People ask me what it's like to work with Val Kilmer. I don't know. Never met him. Never shook his hand. I know Doc Holliday, but I don't know [Kilmer]."
Richard Stanley, who directed Kilmer for three days in The Island of Dr. Moreau before being fired, recalled, "Val would arrive, and an argument would happen."[71] John Frankenheimer, who replaced Stanley, said "I don't like Val Kilmer, I don't like his work ethic, and I don't want to be associated with him ever again." Batman Foreverdirector Joel Schumacher called Kilmer "childish and impossible".
When Kilmer's At First Sight co-star Mira Sorvino was asked about his reputation as "difficult to work with", she responded: "You know what, he was real easy to work with. I just hate furthering rumors about people being difficult, because it can do such enormous damage to their careers. My experience with him was nothing but positive. He was really professional and gentlemanly, and a terrific actor."
Kilmer had a reputation for being difficult to work with and having feuds with some of the actors with whom he worked, notably The Island of Dr. Moreau co-star Marlon Brando and Red Planet and Heat co-star Tom Sizemore.[69] Kilmer's Tombstone co-star, Michael Biehn, said: "People ask me what it's like to work with Val Kilmer. I don't know. Never met him. Never shook his hand. I know Doc Holliday, but I don't know [Kilmer]."
Richard Stanley, who directed Kilmer for three days in The Island of Dr. Moreau before being fired, recalled, "Val would arrive, and an argument would happen."[71] John Frankenheimer, who replaced Stanley, said "I don't like Val Kilmer, I don't like his work ethic, and I don't want to be associated with him ever again." Batman Foreverdirector Joel Schumacher called Kilmer "childish and impossible".
When Kilmer's At First Sight co-star Mira Sorvino was asked about his reputation as "difficult to work with", she responded: "You know what, he was real easy to work with. I just hate furthering rumors about people being difficult, because it can do such enormous damage to their careers. My experience with him was nothing but positive. He was really professional and gentlemanly, and a terrific actor."
