American actor Val Kilmer has passed away at 65 due to pneumonia, his daughter Mercedes Kilmer confirmed the news.
Hollywood actor Val Kilmer has passed away at the age of 65. He was best known for playing Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever and rock legend Jim Morrison in The Doors. Kilmer also starred in Top Gun (1986) and many other popular films from the 1980s. He died of pneumonia on Tuesday, April 1. His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, said that pneumonia was the cause of his death. She also told The New York Times that the actor was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 but had recovered.
Kilmer is survived by his daughter, Mercedes, and son, Jack. The actor made his debut with a spoof film titled ‘Top Secret’ in 1984. Some of his superhit films include ‘Top Gun’, ‘Real Genius’, ‘Willow’, ‘Heat’ and ‘The Saint’.
In 1991, Val Kilmer played one of his most famous roles as singer Jim Morrison in The Doors, directed by Oliver Stone. He was so dedicated to the role that he even dressed like Morrison for almost a year. Kilmer revealed his throat cancer diagnosis in the 2021 documentary Val, where he discussed his journey through treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation, and a tracheostomy. The procedure permanently damaged his voice.
“Now that it’s more difficult to speak, I want to tell my story more than ever,” he told PEOPLE following the film’s release on Amazon Prime Video. The tracheostomy left a hole in Kilmer’s throat, which he often covered with a scarf or handkerchief.
“I can’t speak without plugging this hole. You have to make the choice to breathe or to eat,” he told People.Kilmer revealed he now eats through a feeding tube.
“It’s an obstacle that is very present with whoever sees me,” he told the outlet.In 1995, Kilmer took over the role of Batman from Michael Keaton in Batman Forever. However, his performance received mixed reviews, and he was later replaced by George Clooney in Batman & Robin (1997).
Despite losing his ability to speak due to cancer, Kilmer made a comeback in 2021 when he appeared in Top Gun: Maverick alongside Tom Cruise. That same year, a documentary about his life, Val, was released.
Val Kilmer’s Early Life
Val Kilmer was born in 1959 to Gladys Swanette (Ekstadt) and Eugene Dorris Kilmer, a real estate developer and aerospace equipment distributor. He attended Hollywood’s Professional School before joining Juilliard’s prestigious drama program as a teenager.
Kilmer made his film debut in 1984 with the comedy Top Secret!, where he played a blond rock star named Nick Rivers.
