Val Kilmer, who played fan favorite Iceman in Top Gun,” wore a voluminous cape as Batman in “Batman Forever” and portrayed Jim Morrison in “The Doors,” has died at the age of 65.

Kilmer died Tuesday, 1st April night in Los Angeles, surrounded by family and friends, his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, informed the Press that Kilmer died from pneumonia. He had recovered after a 2014 throat cancer diagnosis that required two tracheotomies.

Life of Val Kilmer

Val Edward Kilmer was an American actor celebrated for his intense portrayals and versatility across a wide range of roles.

Early Life

Born in Los Angeles, California,Kilmer's early life was marked by both privilege and tragedy. His father was a real estate developer and aerospace equipment distributor, and his mother came from a Swedish family. His parents divorced when he was young, and later, he experienced the profound loss of his younger brother, Wesley, who died at the age of 15.

Kilmer's passion for acting ignited early. At just 17, he made history as the youngest person accepted into the drama program at Juilliard School in New York City.

Kilmer's journey in Hollywood

Kilmer's professional journey began in the New York theater scene, where he appeared in several productions, including "The Slab Boys" alongside Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon.

The role that paved the way for Kilmer, with a memorable performance is the iconic "Top Gun" (1986), where he played the cool and competitive Iceman opposite Tom Cruise.

The 1990s marked a period of significant artistic exploration for Kilmer. He delivered a powerful and transformative performance as Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's "The Doors" (1991), even doing his own singing.

Kilmer continued to showcase his versatility with roles such as Elvis Presley in "True Romance" (1993) and the legendary Doc Holliday in "Tombstone" (1993). In 1995, he took on the mantle of Bruce Wayne/Batman in "Batman Forever," stepping into the shoes of Michael Keaton.

How Kilmer lost his stardom

While the late 1990s saw Kilmer in a series of less successful films, he remained a dedicated actor, consistently seeking challenging and interesting roles. He drew upon personal experiences, such as the loss of his brother, to inform his performance in the 2002 film "The Salton Sea," where he played a man haunted by his wife's murder.

In this phase, he starred in numerous flops, including Red Planet and Alexander. He was also labelled 'difficult' after several spats with directors and co-actors.

Health Issues

Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2017 and underwent radiation and chemotherapy treatments, as well as a tracheostomy that permanently damaged his voice. He turned to making art.

"It isn't easy to talk and be understood," Kilmer wrote on his website in 2022. "I am improving all the time, but am not able to be out in the world the same way I had become accustomed."