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Legendary Hollywood Actor, 65, Tragically Dies

April 2, 2025
by The Times Of America

Hollywood Icon Val Kilmer Dies at 65

Val Kilmer, the celebrated actor known for his iconic roles in “Top Gun” and “Batman Forever,” passed away on Tuesday in Los Angeles at the age of 65. 

His daughter, Mercedes, confirmed to The New York Times that he succumbed to pneumonia after years of health complications stemming from throat cancer, which he had battled since 2015.

Kilmer underwent extensive treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation and a tracheostomy, which helped him recover but also permanently damaged his vocal cords. Despite this, he remained optimistic, declaring himself cancer-free in 2021.

In the 2021 Amazon Prime documentary “Val,” Kilmer shared the lasting effects of his illness. He discussed how the disease affected his ability to speak, relying on an electric voice box to communicate. 

“I obviously am sounding much worse than I feel. I can’t speak without plugging this hole,” he explained, according to the Daily Mail. 

The illness also required him to use a feeding tube for nourishment, further highlighting the difficulties he faced. Despite these obstacles, Kilmer remained resilient, continuing his acting career and sharing his story with the world.

He revealed that even simple actions like eating and breathing became monumental tasks. 

“You have to make the choice to breathe or to eat,” he shared, noting that this struggle was ever-present for anyone who saw him.

Throughout the documentary, his son provided the voice-over narration, with heartfelt words written by Kilmer himself. The film offered an intimate look into his struggles and thoughts, with Kilmer’s altered voice serving as a testament to his resilience, the Daily Mail reports.

In an earlier interview, Kilmer detailed how he didn’t realize the severity of his condition until he coughed up “coagulated blood” and had to call for an ambulance. He passed out and woke up in a Santa Monica hospital after undergoing an emergency tracheotomy to address his throat cancer. 

Reflecting on his initial denial of the disease, he told The Times, “They said I was denying that I had cancer, and when they asked me, I didn’t have cancer. It was a bit like, do you have a broken bone?”

“And if you broke it in high school, you would say no.”

While the cancer itself was undeniably a heavy burden, Kilmer emphasized that it was the effects of radiation and chemotherapy that truly caused his suffering, rather than the cancer diagnosis itself.

A Los Angeles native, Kilmer made his Hollywood debut in the 1984 comedy “Top Secret!” but rose to stardom with his portrayal of Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in the 1986 film “Top Gun.” Though initially hesitant to take the role, it became a defining moment in his career, The Post reports.

Kilmer’s versatility as an actor was showcased in his portrayal of rock legend Jim Morrison in The Doors (1991), where he earned critical acclaim for his performance, including doing his own singing. Throughout the 1990s, he starred in hit films like “True Romance,” “Heat” and “Batman Forever,” stepping into the role of the Caped Crusader, which had previously been played by Michael Keaton. 

However, he later admitted that wearing the restrictive Batsuit made the experience less enjoyable than he had anticipated.

Kilmer was also known for his intense commitment to roles, though his reputation for being difficult on set became well-known. His experience filming “The Island of Dr. Moreau” (1996) was infamous due to reported conflicts with co-star Marlon Brando and director John Frankenheimer. 

Despite this, colleagues like Mira Sorvino defended his professionalism on “At First Sight” (1999).

In 2005, Kilmer won a Satellite Award for his role in “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” further cementing his status as a skilled supporting actor. Even after his cancer diagnosis, Kilmer continued acting, appearing in over a dozen projects, The Post notes.

One of his most poignant returns to the screen came in 2022 with the hit “Top Gun: Maverick,” where he reprised his role as Iceman alongside Tom Cruise. The film offered a heartfelt farewell to the character, with Cruise recalling how Kilmer’s performance moved him to tears. 

“He’s such a powerful actor that he instantly became that character again,” said Cruise. “I was crying.”

“I got emotional. He’s such a brilliant actor, and I love his work.”

Kilmer is survived by his two children, Mercedes and Jack.

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