Hollywood star Val Kilmer – who was in Batman and Top Gun among other films – died from pneumonia in Los Angeles, California, after a career spanning more than four decades

Hollywood legend Val Kilmer – best-known for his roles in Batman Forever and The Doors – has died at the age of 65.

The actor, whose career spanned more than four decades, died in Los Angeles, California, on Tuesday, his heartbroken family confirmed today. He had been battling pneumonia following a journey with throat cancer, diagnosed in around 2015.

Kilmer, who shared a haunting final social media post before his death, was known for his role as Iceman – Tom Cruise’s character, Maverick’s, rival – in the 1986 hit movie Top Gun and as Batman/Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever (1995). The star also famously played musician Jim Morrison in the 1991 film The Doors, in which he received critical acclaim. His success led to his own documentary entitled Val on Amazon Prime, in which Kilmer spoke candidly about his career and cancer journey.

A year after his diagnosis, he had to be rushed to UCLA Medical Centre in 2015 to treat severe bleeding in his throat. He woke up in a pool of his own blood in a harrowing admission. Tributes have flooded in for Val following his sad death.

Following the diagnosis, the actor underwent both radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and had a tracheostomy – a procedure to create an artificial hole in this neck – to help him breathe. Yet, despite his ill health, Kilmer continued to act until 2022, reprising his role as Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick that year, which was his final acting role. Hollywood star Tom Cruise later shed tears over his final meeting with Val during filming.

Val previously shared an insight into his love life and admitted that splitting from one of the world’s most famous women left him inconsolable. Speaking about his split from the actress, he said it was “by far the most painful”.

Hollywood actor Val Kilmer has died aged 65
Kilmer leaves behind his two children; Jack and Mercedes, also both actors, who confirmed his death to the press in a statement today. Val’s daughter told the New York Times his cause of death was the pneumonia. Kilmer worked with his daughter in Paydirt in his final acting years.

Tributes to the Hollywood legend have been pouring in. Film production company Paramount Pictures paid tribute to Kilmer in an Instagram post alongside Paramount Home Entertainment and the official Top Gun account which said: “Remembering Val Kilmer, whose indelible cinematic mark spanned genres and generations. RIP Iceman.”

Kilmer played Lt. Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky in Top Gun in 1986 and reprised his role decades later ( 
Image:
CBS via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, in a post on Instagram, actor Josh Gad paid tribute to Kilmer. He said: “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”. “You were a smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker,” he said in an Instagram post. “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.” What’s your favourite Val Kilmer film? Take our poll below. If you can’t see it, click here

When he burst onto the scene in his early 20s, Kilmer, originally from Los Angeles, earned a reputation as a Hollywood bad boy. He was then one of Hollywood’s most prominent leading men in the 1990s, during which time he impressed in The Doors, True Romance and Batman Forever among other huge films.

But he had several spats with directors and co-stars, who had accused Kilmer of “being demanding”. His career was further dented by his roles in a series of flops, notably Dead Girl with Marlon Brando and then big budget action flick Red Planet in 2000.

In an interview towards the end of his colourful career, Kilmer said: “When certain people criticise me for being demanding, I think that’s a cover for something they didn’t do well. I think they’re trying to protect themselves. I believe I’m challenging, not demanding, and I make no apologies for that.”

Kilmer is pictured with Tom Cruise on the set of Top Gun ( 
Image:
Corbis via Getty Images)
The actor was diagnosed with cancer in 2014. He underwent both radiotherapy and chemotherapy, as well as a tracheostomy, which damaged his vocal cords, leaving him with extreme difficulty speaking. It forever altered his speaking voice.

Val candidly discussed his diagnosis and recovery in his 2020 memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry and Amazon Prime Documentary Val. Kilmer said in his documentary in 2021, in which he was seen speaking into a voice box: “I obviously am sounding much worse than I feel. I can’t speak without plugging this hole [in his throat].” A voice box device is most commonly a battery-operated machine that produces sound to create a voice, and is used to help those suffering with throat cancer communicate.

The actor, who also had to have meals through a feeding tube, explained some of the other challenges. In the programme, he added: “You have to make the choice to breathe or to eat. It’s an obstacle that is very present with whoever sees me.”

Although the determined star was since declared cancer free, he experienced other challenges to his health and had no acting roles after the return of Top Gun. The revival was well-received and won multiple awards. The film was nominated for four BAFTAs, including Best Cinematography but narrowly missed out on each in 2023.

Top Gun was the highest-grossing film in 1986 – and helped launch Kilmer’s career ( 
Image:
CBS via Getty Images)Kilmer was born in Los Angeles on December 31, 1959 – the star’s father Eugene was a real estate developer, while mum Gladys stayed at home to raise her three sons. Val attended Chatsworth High School at the same time as Kevin Spacey and Mare Winningham.

Then, at 17, he became the youngest student accepted into the drama division of the famed Juilliard School in New York. He got his big break in 1984 comedy Top Secret!, in which he also sang, and he also starred in the comedy Real Genius the following year.

Phillip Noyce, who directed him in The Saint, told the Chicago Sun-Times in 1997 that Kilmer “is plagued by a bad image, but most of it is unjustified. The real Val Kilmer is a lamb. And he is the hardest-working actor I’ve ever seen.”

That drive and work ethic remained throughout the star’s career – even showing it through his health struggles – and so he was able to forge more than 40 years in the industry. During which, Kilmer married British actress Joanne Whalley, but they divorced eight years later in 1996. His relationships with various other high-profile actresses, included singer Cher and model Cindy Crawford. Kilmer leaves behind Jack and Mercedes.