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Beloved actor Val Kilmer has sadly passed away at 65 years old.
Mercedes Kilmer, his daughter, told The New York Times that he unfortunately passed away from pneumonia on Tuesday, April 1.
Val Kilmer, who played Bruce Wayne in “Batman Forever,” channeled as Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone‘s “The Doors” and starred in several other 1980s favorites, has died. He was 65. https://t.co/iTfHQcI19v pic.twitter.com/Bt38dbqDxI
— Variety (@Variety) April 2, 2025
Kilmer is survived by his daughter Mercedes and son Jack.
Kilmer had previously been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, but later recovered.
Val Kilmer was born on December 31, 1959, and grew up in Los Angeles, CA. He was soon the youngest person (at the time) accepted to the Juilliard School.
Kilmer’s first role was in an episode of ‘ABC After School Special’ titled ‘One Too Many’ alongside Michele Pfeiffer.
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Kilmer had his breakthrough in the 1984 film ‘Top Secret!’ He garnered even more attention for roles like Chris Knight in ‘Real Genius,’ Lt. Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky in ‘Top Gun,’ and Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s ‘The Doors.’
Kilmer garnered even more attention and critical acclaim for playing Doc Holliday in ‘Tombstone’ and Bruce Wayne/Batman in ‘Batman Forever.’
“You see, I’m both Bruce Wayne and Batman, not because I have to be, now because I choose to be.”Rest in Peace, Val Kilmer. You will always be Batman Forever. https://t.co/qjIjMiOLIE pic.twitter.com/mV8J7CGznA
— Blaze Binges (@BlazeBinges) April 2, 2025
Some of Val Kilmer’s other popular performances include Madmartigan in ‘Willow,’ Chris Shiherlis in ‘Heat,’ Moses/God in ‘The Prince of Egypt,’ Perry Van Shrike in ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,’ and Dieter Von Cunth in ‘MacGruber.’
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In 2021, Leo Scott and Ting Poo directed and produced a film based on Kilmer’s life called ‘Val.’ The narration was written by Kilmer and recorded by his son, Jack Kilmer.
“I have behaved poorly. I have behaved bravely. I have behaved bizarrely to some,” Kilmer said toward the end of the documentary. “I deny none of this and have no regrets because I have lost and found parts of myself that I never knew existed. And I am blessed.”
I still remember hearing people in the theater cry during this moment between Val Kilmer & Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick. I’m so incredibly thankful Cruise insisted on this scene because this moment is forever. RIP, Iceman. pic.twitter.com/qxoiEhz8wS
— Cinema Tweets (@CinemaTweets1) April 2, 2025
His final role came in 2022, reprising the role of Iceman in ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’
“I just want to say that was pretty emotional,” co-star Tom Cruise said of his final scene with Kilmer on Jimmy Kimmel Live. “I’ve known Val for decades, and for him to come back and play that character… he’s such a powerful actor that he instantly became that character again.”
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