Batman and Top Gun legend Val Kilmer dies aged 65 after long health battle that impacted his speech
Batman and Top Gun legend Val Kilmer has died at the age of 65, his daughter has revealed.
In a statement to the New York Times, his daughter Mercedes said the actor had died from pneumonia.
The Hollywood star was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and underwent surgery, including a tracheotomy which significantly impacted his ability to speak, but had later recovered.
Kilmer rose to fame starring as Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky alongside Tom Cruise in the 1986 hit Top Gun.
He had previously admitted he didn’t want the role, which made him famous, before begging to be part of the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, even going as far as contacting the producers and creating “heartrending scenes with Iceman”.
In an interview with People, producer Jerry Bruckheimer declared: “Tom (Cruise) said he wasn’t going to make the movie without him.”
This proved to be Kilmer’s final acting role, with a brief cameo in 2022.
Kilmer was one of the best-paid actors in the 1990s and in 1992 film critic Roger Ebert wrote: “If there is an award for the most unsung leading man of his generation, Kilmer should get it”.
He received critical acclaim for his portrayal of musician Jim Morrison in the 1991 film The Doors, before taking on the role of Batman in 1995’s Batman Forever – the third installment about the caped crusader.
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Kilmer dated some iconic Hollywood stars including Cindy Crawford, Angelina Jolie, Carly Simon and Cher, before marrying Joan Whalley in 1988, who he met while working on the film Willow.
The couple had two children before divorcing in 1996.
In the Amazon Prime documentary entitled Val, Kilmer spoke candidly about living with the consequences of throat cancer including having to use an electric device called a voice box on the artificial hole in his throat to talk.
He said: “I obviously am sounding much worse than I feel.I can’t speak without plugging this hole (in his throat). You have to make the choice to breathe or to eat.
“It’s an obstacle that is very present with whoever sees me.”
In a post on social media, actor Josh Gad paid tribute to the action star: “RIP Val Kilmer. Thank you for defining so many of the movies of my childhood. You truly were an icon.”
Actor Josh Brolin, son of James Brolin, said he was going to miss his “pal”.
He wrote on Instagram: “You were a smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker.
“There’s not a lot left of those. I hope to see you up there in the heavens when I eventually get there. Until then, amazing memories, lovely thoughts.”