Val Kilmer, Batman Forever And Top Gun Star, Dies At 65 Due To Pneumonia

Valerie (Val) Edward Kilmer, who is known for his roles in movies such as The Doors and Batman Forever, died of pneumonia in Los Angeles. He was 65. The news was confirmed by his daughter, actress Mercedes Kilmer, to The New York Times. The veteran actor was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015. Hollywood stars and fans, including James Woods, Michael Mann, Josh Gad, Josh Brolin and Bill Simmons, have mourned the demise of the actor.

Who was Val Kilmer?

Val, who started off as a stage actor, found fame after featuring in comedy movies such as Real Genius and Top Secret. However, from comedy, he jumped to military action drama and worked with Tom Cruise in Top Gun. It was in 1991 that the veteran actor gained acclaim for his performance in The Doors. Since then, there was no looking back for the actor.

He went on to star in a variety of movies, including True Romance, Heat, The Prince of Egypt, The Snowman and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. In addition, he also played the iconic character of DC - Batman - in Batman Forever.

Va Kilmer was last seen in 2022 when he reprised his role as Admiral Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky in Top Gun: Maverick.

Val Kilmer's health struggles

In 2015, Kilmer was diagnosed with a throat cancer and battled for two years to be cancer-free. He underwent a tracheal procedure that damaged his vocal cords, leaving him with difficulty speaking. In 2020, the veteran actor announced that he had been cancer-free for four years and detailed his struggles in his memoir, I'm Your Huckleberry: A Memoir. The documentary premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021.

Kilmer was married to Joanne Whalley in March 1988, but they parted ways in 1996. Together, they have two children - a daughter, Mercedes and a son, Jack.