Yahoo Lifestyle Val Kilmer Dead at 65
Val Kilmer, the legendary actor best known for playing Batman and Jim Morrison, has died.
He was 65.
His daughter Mercedes Kilmer told the New York Times he died on Tuesday, April 1. She noted the cause of death was pneumonia.
Kilmer was previously diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 but had since recovered.
He is best known for his work in the 1986 hit film Top Gun, briefly reprising his role of Adm. Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky for an emotional reunion with Tom Cruise in the 2022 installment Top Gun: Maverick. He also took over the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman from Michael Keaton in 1994.
His breakout role was in the 1984 spy spoof Top Secret!, however, he made a name for himself with a powerhouse performance as Jim Morrison in the 1991 Oliver Stone film The Doors. Throughout his impressive career as a leading man, he portrayed American legends Elvis Presley in True Romance and Doc Holliday in Tombstone, both released in 1993. Other notable credits include Real Genius, Heat, and The Saint.
Born in Los Angeles on Dec. 31, 1959, to Eugene and Gladys, Kilmer was destined for success at a young age, eventually becoming the youngest student ever admitted to the Juilliard acting program at 17.
Rumors of his health issues began swirling and making headlines in 2015, with the actor eventually opening up about his cancer battle in a 2017 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, revealing that he underwent chemotherapy, radiation, and a tracheotomy. While his cancer was in remission, it impacted his voice and left him unable to speak naturally. He eventually gave a raw look at his health battle in his documentary Val, released in 2021 in Cannes, which he worked on with his children, the aforementioned Mercedes, along with son Jack. Per Variety, his son provided Kilmer's voice with the film utilizing videos he recorded in previous years.
In addition to his children, he is survived by their mother and his ex-wife Joanne Whalley. The duo, who met on the set of Willow, tied the knot in 1988 before divorcing in 1996.
