Hollywood actor, Val Kilmer, known for roles in 'Top Gun,' 'Batman Forever,' dead at 65
- Lori Lee WGOLV
- Apr 2
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 3
WGOLV.COM - Val Kilmer, the Hollywood actor known for his roles in “Top Gun” and “Batman Forever,” passed away on Tuesday in Los Angeles, according to the New York Times. He was 65 years old.
His daughter Mercedes informed the outlet that Kilmer died from pneumonia.
He had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, which necessitated two tracheotomies, and he later recovered.
Born in Los Angeles, Kilmer made his film debut as rock star Nick Rivers in the 1984 movie “Top Secret!” which was written and directed by the comedy team behind “Airplane.”
It was not until two years later that Kilmer achieved superstardom with his role as Lt. Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky in “Top Gun,” the highest-grossing film of 1986.
Hollywood actor Val Kilmer has passed away at age 65 after a battle with pneumonia.
Kilmer portrayed the rival of Tom Cruise’s character, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Ironically, Kilmer needed some convincing to take on the role.
“I didn’t want the part. I didn’t care about the film. The story didn’t interest me,” Kilmer wrote in his 2020 memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry. “My agent, who also represented Tom Cruise, basically tortured me into at least meeting Tony Scott.”
He was praised for his role as Jim Morrison in the 1991 biopic “The Doors” about the music icon, in which he performed his own singing.
“There were challenges, particularly when he started to lose it, which was a whiskey deterioration in the throat,” he said in a 1991 interview with Bobbie Wygant.
Kilmer also appeared in 1990s successes like “True Romance” and “Heat,” and notably took over from Michael Keaton as Gotham’s Caped Crusader in “Batman Forever.”
He agreed to portray Bruce Wayne’s alter ego without having read the script.
He also starred with Marlon Brando on “The Island of Dr. Moreau,” a science-fiction horror film famous for being plagued by production issues.
Although he had a reputation as difficult, Mira Sorvino, his co-star in the 1999 romance film “At First Sight,” said he was easy to work with.
“I just hate furthering rumors about people being difficult, because it can do such enormous damage to their careers,” she told AV Club in 2011. “My experience with him was nothing but positive. He was really professional and gentlemanly, and a terrific actor.
Val Kilmer received a Satellite Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his role in the 2005 crime comedy “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.”
In 2015, Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer, which led to the loss of his ability to speak due to chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Despite this, he participated in 12 projects after his diagnosis.
Kilmer returned to his role as Kazansky in the 2022 hit film “Top Gun: Maverick,” where he shared a scene with his on-screen rival-turned-confidante in what would be his final movie role.
In 2021, Kilmer declared he was cancer-free.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones.
He is survived by his daughter, Mercedes, and son, Jack.
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LoriLee,
WGOLV
