Mcb777 AffiliateVal Kilmer, iconic star of ‘Top Gun�and ‘Batman Forever,�passes away at 65 - The Times of India
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Val Kilmer, iconic star of ‘Top Gun�and ‘Batman Forever,�passes away at 65

TOI World Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Apr 2, 2025, 14:12 IST
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Val Kilmer, famous for his roles in 'Top Gun' and 'Batman Forever,' has died at 65. His daughter confirmed he died of pneumonia on April 1. Kilmer battled throat cancer for years. His major roles included Jim Morrison in 'The Doors' and Batman in 'Batman Forever.' He is survived by his two children, Mercedes and Jack.
'Top Gun' & 'Batman Forever' Star Val Kilmer Passes Away At 65
Val Kilmer (File photo)
Val Kilmer, the celebrated actor known for iconic roles in Top Gun and Batman Forever, has passed away at the age of 65. His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed to The New York Times that he died of pneumonia on April 1. Kilmer had been battling health issues for years, having been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, though he later recovered.
Born in Los Angeles in 1959 to Eugene and Gladys Kilmer, Val experienced tragedy early in life when his younger brother, Wesley, drowned at 15.
"He was a genius," Kilmer once told The New York Times, praising Wesley’s filmmaking talents and comparing his potential to legends like Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Soon after this loss, Kilmer became the youngest student accepted into Juilliard’s Drama Group at the time, a pivotal moment in his journey to becoming an actor.
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Though he initially made a name for himself in theater, Kilmer’s Hollywood breakthrough came with Top Secret!, a 1984 comedy where he played a rockstar caught in Cold War espionage. However, it was his role as Lt. Tom "Iceman" Kazanski in Top Gun (1986) that cemented his place in pop culture. Reflecting on the film, he told Larry King in 2013, “It was fun. My guy didn’t like him [Tom Cruise], but it was fun to not like him.�br/>
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Kilmer continued to take on challenging roles, earning critical acclaim as Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s 1991 film The Doors. He immersed himself in the part, memorizing Morrison’s songs and adopting his mannerisms. Throughout the 1990s, he starred in major films such as Tombstone, Heat, and The Saint, and took on the mantle of Batman in Batman Forever (1995).In his personal life, Kilmer married actress Joanne Whalley in 1988 after meeting on the set of Willow. The couple had two children, Mercedes (born 1991) and Jack (born 1995), before divorcing in 1996. He continued to work steadily, later starring in his one-man play, Mark Twain: Citizen Twain.
Val Kilmer Dead at 65

His health struggles became public in 2015 when reports surfaced about a possible tumor. While Kilmer initially denied the rumors, he later confirmed his battle with throat cancer. He underwent a tracheostomy, which affected his voice and breathing. Despite these challenges, he made a brief but poignant return to the big screen in Top Gun: Maverick (2022), sharing an emotional scene with Cruise.
Kilmer’s legacy extends beyond film, as he was a deeply dedicated artist who continually reinvented himself. He is survived by his children, Mercedes and Jack, who now carry forward his memory.
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