Val Kilmer, a Hollywood actor known for playing Bruce Wayne in ‘Batman Forever’ and Tom Kazansky in ‘Top Gun’, passed away from pneumonia on Tuesday, in Los Angeles. His daughter Mercedes Kilmer confirmed his death and further mentioned that her father had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and had recovered. He is survived by a daughter, Mercedes, and a son, Jack.
Early life of Val Kilmer
At 17, he became the then-youngest pupil to enrol at the Juilliard School in New York, one of the world's most prestigious drama conservatories.
A Versatile Icon
The actor was a commanding force in the 80s and 90s, delivering roles like Bruce Wayne and playing rockstar Jim Morrison in the film ‘Doors’. The original members of the band claimed that Kilmer was so good with his vocals that they thought it was Morrison who was singing. It was his role as Lt Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazanski in ‘Top Gun’ that bolstered his place in pop culture. He took over Batman's cape from Michael Keaton for ‘Batman Forever’ in 1995, which achieved box office success.
His documentary film
In 2021, Kilmer released a documentary chronicling the highs and lows of his life and career. Val, which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival, features 40 years of home recordings, including him speaking with a voice box post-cancer surgery. Kilmer was also a passionate artist, often creating paintings inspired by his film roles.
The triumphant return in
‘Top Gun: Maverick’
Val had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 but later recovered. Tracheotomy surgery affected his voice and curtailed his acting career, but he returned to the screen to reprise his role as fighter pilot Iceman alongside Tom Cruise in 2022's ‘Top Gun: Maverick’. A memorable scene in the film, where Iceman writes, “It’s time to let go,” to Maverick, brought many audience members to tears. Tom Cruise said, “I have worked with Val for decades, and for him to come back and play that character, he’s such a powerful actor that he instantly became Iceman.”