The actor died of pneumonia, his family confirmed.
Actor Val Kilmer is best known for his roles in films such as Top Gun, The Doors and Batman Forever, and passed away on April 1st at the age of 65.
Kilmer died of pneumonia, his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, said in an email to the Associated Press. He was in Los Angeles, surrounded by family and friends at the time of his death, she said.
The California-born actor was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, but later recovered, she said.
At the age of 17, Kilmer was the youngest actor ever to be accepted into the drama category of New York’s prestigious Juilliard School in 1981. He was the 1984 spice pouf “Top Secret!” and then the comedy “Real Genius” in 1985.
In his breakout role as Iceman in Tony Scott’s 1986 “Top Gun,” he starred on the other side of Tom Cruise, who made him famous.
Following its success, Kilmer has appeared in multiple films in a decades-long career, including Oliver Stone’s 1991 drama The Doors.
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He also appeared as the Dock Holiday for Old West Gunfighter in 1993’s Western “Tombstone” and co-starred with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro as Master Thief Chrissy Harris in the 1995 bank robbery drama “Heat.”
In 1995, Kilmer took over Michael Keaton as a hat-clad crusade in “Batman Forever,” starring alongside Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman and Tommy Lee Jones.
Things seemed to have gotten worse for Kilmer in the 1996 film “Dr. Moreau’s Island.” During that time he clashed with his co-star Marlon Brando, but the production was plagued by a variety of issues. The film finally flops.
Following “Dr. Moreau’s Island,” Kilmer starred in the 1996 film “The Ghost and the Darkness” and Michael Douglas, “The Saint” in 1997 and “Joe the King” in 1999. He played Mark Twain.
Cancer diagnosis
In 2014, Kilmer received radiation and chemotherapy treatment and had a permanent, tracheotomy that left a sniffing voice.
Postcancer, he appeared in 2017’s “The Snowman” and 2020’s film “Paydirt.” He also recreated his role in the 2022 “Top Gun” sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick.”
“I acted poorly. I acted bravely. I acted strangely to some. I did not deny this, I found and found parts of myself that I never knew existed. And I am blessed.
Kilmer married actress Joanne Holy in 1988 after meeting her on the set of Ron Howard’s fantasy “Willow,” and the couple had two children before divorced in 1996. He was survived by those children, Mercedes and Jack.
The Epoch Times contacted Kilmer’s representatives for comments
Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to the report.
