Credit: Alamy
Val Kilmer Has Died
Val Kilmer has tragically died aged 65.
Born Val Edward Kilmer on December 31, 1959, he grew up in a middle-class Los Angeles family practicing Christian Science, a faith he adhered to throughout his life.
At 17, he became the youngest student at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York.
Kilmer’s rise to fame began with the comedies Top Secret! (1984) and Real Genius (1985) before his breakthrough role as Iceman in Top Gun (1986).
He showcased his versatility with roles in Willow and Kill Me Again, both co-starring his future wife, British actress Joanne Whalley, whom he married in 1988. The couple had two children together.
His portrayal of Jim Morrison in The Doors demonstrated his commitment to his craft, as he extensively trained his voice and performed many of the film’s songs.
He continued to captivate audiences with his performances in Tombstone as Doc Holliday and Heat, sharing the screen with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.
In 1995, Kilmer donned Batman’s cape in Batman Forever, taking over from Michael Keaton. While the film was a commercial success, he declined to return for the sequel.
He later starred in The Saint (1997), The Prince of Egypt (1998) as the voice of both Moses and God, and The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996), a troubled production that contributed to his reputation for being difficult on set.
Director Michael Mann, who worked with Kilmer on Heat, reflected on his talent per the BBC: “While working with Val on Heat, I always marveled at the range, the brilliant variability within the powerful current of Val’s possessing and expressing character. After so many years of Val battling disease and maintaining his spirit, this is tremendously sad news.”
Actor Josh Gad paid tribute, posting: “RIP Val Kilmer. Thank you for defining so many of the movies of my childhood. You truly were an icon.” Similarly, Josh Brolin shared a heartfelt message: “See ya, pal. I’m going to miss you.”
James Woods highlighted Kilmer’s work in Tombstone: “His rendition of Doc Holliday was what every actor dreams of achieving. So many wonderful performances. Sad to lose him so soon.”
Will Kemp, who starred alongside Kilmer in Mindhunters (2004), reminisced: “So many great memories of working with him. He was fun, unpredictable, generous, and overall very kind to me when I was very new to the job.”
Film critic Larushka Ivan-Zadeh noted that his Doors performance encapsulated his allure: “There was something sort of dark and troubling and sensual and kind of self-destructive about him… There was something else going on underneath the surface.”
US journalist KJ Matthews echoed this sentiment, saying: “He always played roles in an unconventional, unpredictable way. When Val Kilmer was attached to a project, you just knew he was going to do something interesting with that character.”
Although he was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and later recovered, his tracheotomy surgery impacted his voice and limited his acting career.
Despite this, he returned to the screen in 2022, reprising his iconic role as Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick alongside Tom Cruise.
Despite health setbacks, Kilmer continued acting and in 2021 released the documentary Val, offering an intimate look at his life through home recordings spanning four decades.
His cameo in Top Gun: Maverick was particularly poignant, with Tom Cruise stating: “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.”
Aside from acting, Kilmer was an artist, creating paintings inspired by his film roles. In one of his final Instagram posts, he nostalgically reflected on his Batman Forever role, stating: “I’m ready,” per the Independent.
Kilmer died of pneumonia on Tuesday in Los Angeles, as confirmed by his daughter, Mercedes.
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