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Val Kilmer, the versatile actor who captivated audiences as Iceman in "Top Gun" and donned the cape as Batman, died Tuesday, April 1, of pneumonia. He was 65.
His daughter Mercedes Kilmer confirmed his passing to The New York Times, noting he had previously battled throat cancer in 2014 before recovering. The Los Angeles-born performer leaves behind a legacy spanning four decades in film and theater.
Kilmer's final on-screen appearance came in 2023's "Top Gun: Maverick," reuniting briefly with Tom Cruise in what became an emotional moment for both actors. "I just want to say that was pretty emotional," he told Jimmy Kimmel in 2023. "I've known Val for decades, and for him to come back and play that character... he's such a powerful actor that he instantly became that character again."
His health struggles first became public in January 2015 when he was hospitalized for what a spokesperson described as "a possible tumor." Though Kilmer initially denied serious health issues, he was later photographed with a tracheostomy tube. In December 2017, he finally opened up to The Hollywood Reporter about his battle with throat cancer.
The 2021 documentary "Val," produced with his children Mercedes and Jack, chronicled his difficult recovery process. "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," Mercedes told PEOPLE about her father.
Born in Los Angeles in 1959, Kilmer faced early tragedy when his 15-year-old brother Wesley drowned in 1977. "He was a genius," Kilmer told The New York Times in 2002, describing his brother as a filmmaker who could have rivaled Spielberg or Lucas.
Shortly after this loss, Kilmer became the youngest person accepted into Juilliard's Drama Group. "I had a unique experience because I just lost my little brother a week before I started school," he reflected during a 2005 talk at Juilliard. "The extremely high standards and activity of the School were good for me... I was forced to really challenge myself about my very life."
His breakthrough came in the 1984 spy parody "Top Secret!" where he showcased both acting and musical talents. Superstardom followed with 1986's "Top Gun," playing Lieutenant Tom "Iceman" Kazanski opposite Cruise. "It was fun," Kilmer later told Larry King. "My guy didn't like him but it was fun to not like him."
Critics praised his transformative performance as Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's "The Doors" (1991), where he committed fully to the role by memorizing all Morrison's songs and adopting his mannerisms. His range extended to portraying Batman in "Batman Forever" (1995), though reactions were mixed.
Kilmer married actress Joanne Whalley in 1988 after meeting on "Willow," having two children before divorcing in 1996. Despite his sometimes mercurial reputation in Hollywood, colleagues consistently praised his dedication to craft.
In his later years, Kilmer turned to art and staged a one-man play about Mark Twain in 2016. His final Facebook post on March 22 featured his latest painting, showing his continued creative spirit despite health challenges.
