Val Kilmer, Star of Top Gun, Batman, Dies at 65
Val Kilmer, Star of Top Gun, Batman, Dies at 65
Hollywood actor Val Kilmer, known for his roles in some of the biggest movies of the 1980s and 90s, including Top Gun and Batman Forever, has died at the age of 65.
Kilmer died of pneumonia on Tuesday in Los Angeles, his daughter Mercedes told US media. The actor had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 but according to his daughter he later recovered.
Tracheostomy affected his voice and curtailed his acting career yet, he made a comeback to reprise his role as fighter pilot Iceman, alongside Tom Cruise in 2022’s movie Top Gun: Maverick. The sequel blended Kilmer’s off-screen health issues into the film story, with the smug but cool rival to Maverick ultimately succumbing to an ailment in the film.
Some other of Kilmer’s iconic roles include playing the legendary Doors front man Jim Morrison in the 1991 film The Doors. He took over Batman’s cape from Michael Keaton in Batman Forever in 1995, which achieved box office success but mixed reviews.
Tributes to Kilmer have been pouring in on social media, with US actor Josh Brolin writing alongside a picture of him and Kilmer on Instagram: “See ya pal. I’m going to miss you.”
The impressive career of Val Kilmer, who died at 65
Born Val Edward Kilmer on 31 December 1959, Kilmer grew up in a middle-class family in Los Angeles.
At 17, he became the then-youngest student to enroll at New York’s Julliard School, one of the world’s most prestigious drama conservatories.
He made his name in the comedies Top Secret! in 1984 and Real Genius the following year, before cementing his acting credentials as Iceman, the nemesis to Tom Cruise’s character Maverick in 1986’s Top Gun -one of the decades most defining films.
Kilmer starred in fantasy Willow and crime thriller Kill Me Again -both alongside British actress Joanne Whalley, who he married in 1988 and with whom he had two children.
In 1997 he appeared in The Saint as the master criminal and master of disguise -based on Leslie Charteris’ books, which had also inspired the 1960s TV show starring Roger Moore.
He also starred as Marlon Brando’s crazed sidekick in The Island of Dr. Moreau in 1996 but the film became one of Hollywood’s most notorious flops. Its director declared he would never work with Kilmer again, who had a reputation for being difficult on set.
In 2021, Kilmer released the documentary Val, which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival. The film chronicles the highs and lows of his life and career, featuring 40 years of home recordings, including him speaking with a voice box post-cancer surgery.
A year later, he made his comeback as Iceman in the long-awaited Top Gun sequel.
Tom Cruise said at the time: “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.”