Val Kilmer, the Juilliard graduate with leading man looks known for taking on roles that went far beyond his appearance, has died. His his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed to the New York Times that the actor had passed away after battling pneumonia. He was 65.
Kilmer’s early films included comedies like Top Secret! (1984) and Real Genius (1985), as well as breakout role as LT Tom “Iceman” Kazansky opposite Tom Cruise in Top Gun (1986). That was followed by the fantasy film Willow (1988).
His breakout as a leading man came with his mesmerizing, leather-clad portrayal of Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s The Doors.
After his outing as The Lizard King, Kilmer opted for scene-stealing co-starring roles in Tombstone (1993), True Romance (1993) and Heat (1995).
His next turn in a leading role came in Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever (1995), which Kilmer originally hoped would be a “radical” take on the iconic superhero. That effort ultimately failed after Kilmer realized he would spend much of the film behind a mask and encased in foam padding.
“The trap was the suit,” he later said.
The Saint in 1997 was his next shot at a franchise role. It was a modest box office success, but ultimately didn’t spawn any sequels.
Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015. A procedure performed as part of his treatment damaged his vocal cords and thereafter he had difficulty speaking. That, in turn, made acting difficult.
In 2021, the intensely-private star opened up with a self-shot documentary that detailed his life and health struggle called Val. Deadline’s review called it “an exhilarating, honest and raw look at the life of an actor, this actor, with all the trials and tribulations that go with a 40-year career in front of audiences…the victories and defeats, the will to carry on despite being dealt a devastating blow for any performer.”
Kilmer’s career was given a poignant coda when he reprised Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick (2022). His single scene opposite Cruise proved powerful and provided an emotional center to the film.
That was certainly the case for his superstar foil.
“I was crying, I got emotional,” Cruise later told Jimmy Kimmel of the scene. “For him to come back and play that character…he’s such a powerful actor, that he instantly became that character again…you’re looking at Iceman.”
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