BREAKING: Top Gun, Batman Forever star Val Kilmer dead at 65

Veteran actor Val Kilmer, known for his iconic roles in Top Gun, Tombstone, and Batman Forever, has passed away at the age of 65, according to The New York Times. The California-born, Juilliard-trained performer was celebrated for his versatility and commanding screen presence, solidifying his status as one of Hollywood’s most memorable leading men.

Kilmer’s daughter, Mercedes, confirmed that the actor passed away due to complications from pneumonia. She noted that Kilmer had previously been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 but had since recovered.

Kilmer made his big-screen debut in the 1984 spy parody Top Secret! before showcasing his comedic chops in Real Genius (1985). His breakthrough came in 1986 when he starred as the cool and confident naval aviator Tom "Iceman" Kazansky in Top Gun alongside Tom Cruise, a role he would later return to.

Kilmer met his future wife, actress Joanne Whalley, on the set of Ron Howard’s fantasy film Willow, and also starred with her in Kill Me Again in 1989.

One of Kilmer’s most demanding roles came in Oliver Stone’s 1991 biopic The Doors, where he portrayed Jim Morrison, the legendary and tragic frontman of the iconic rock band.

He famously portrayed Doc Holliday in the 1993 Western, Tombstone.

After playing Batman/Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever, Kilmer starred opposite Marlon Brando in The Island of Dr. Moreau. In the 1990s, Kilmer also starred in Michael Apted’s Thunderheart and The Real McCoy, as well as Tony Scott’s True Romance. He also starred alongside Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in 1995’s Heat. He went on to star in The Ghost and the Darkness and a remake of The Saint.

Kilmer also voiced characters in animated films, including The Prince of Egypt. In 2012, Kilmer received a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word for an audio production of Zorro, and his 2020 memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry, named for a line in Tombstone.

In 2021, Kilmer opened up about his life and health struggles in the documentary Val, directed by Leo Scott and Ting Poo. Produced alongside his children, Mercedes and Jack, the film provided an intimate look at his challenging recovery journey. Val premiered to critical acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation.

Kilmer once said, "Hollywood’s like a warehouse. It’s just a place that you go. What’s interesting in the warehouse has to do with the creative people."

“I had a unique experience because I just lost my little brother a week before I started school,” Kilmer said during a 2005 Juilliard lecture. “So it was quite an emotional time for me, and in a way, the extremely high standards and the activity of the School I’m sure were good for me, because I was forced to really challenge myself about my very life, you know—what I believe about life and death. For me, it was a great way to progress out of that difficult time, to be thrown into such a great school.”

In a 2012 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Kilmer reflected on his extended absence from mainstream Hollywood, acknowledging that his career had taken an unconventional path. He explained that he had pursued other interests and prioritized spending time with his children. “I don’t have any regrets,” Kilmer said. 

Kilmer's most recent on-screen appearance was in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, but he could no longer speak due to his cancer.

He was divorced from Whalley in 1996 and is survived by his daughter and son.

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