He swaggered onto the scene as the coolly competitive Iceman in Top Gun, plumbed the depths of rock legend as Jim Morrison in The Doors, embodied the stoic charm of Doc Holliday in Tombstone and donned the cowl as the Caped Crusader in Batman Forever. Val Kilmer, the intensely charismatic leading man who fearlessly immersed himself in portraying complex and often tormented characters, has passed away at the age of 65.
Kilmer’s daughter, actress Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed his death from pneumonia in Los Angeles to The New York Times. The actor had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015, a battle poignantly documented in the 2021 Cannes premiere of Val, a stirring film about his life that showed him using a breathing tube.
Born and raised in the shadow of Hollywood in the San Fernando Valley, Val Edward Kilmer (31 December 1959–1 April 2025) initially honed his craft on the stage before bursting onto the silver screen. He first captured attention in comedy films like Top Secret! (1984) and Real Genius (1985), setting the stage for his breakout role as the fiercely competitive naval aviator Tom “Iceman” Kazansky opposite Tom Cruise in Tony Scott’s 1986 blockbuster, Top Gun.
Beyond the high-flying action, Kilmer consistently delivered meaty and memorable performances. He chillingly portrayed Robert de Niro’s menacing henchman in Michael Mann’s crime epic Heat (1995), embodied the unsettling intensity of Marlon Brando’s assistant in John Frankenheimer’s The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996), exuded suave charm as the titular thief in Phillip Noyce’s The Saint (1997), and brought a sharp wit to the role of homosexual detective Gay Perry in Shane Black’s neo-noir gem Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005).
Kilmer also showcased an uncanny ability to embody real-life figures. He delivered an impressive turn as Elvis Presley in Scott’s Quentin Tarantino-penned True Romance (1993) and offered a raw and unflinching portrayal of porn star and cocaine addict John Holmes in Wonderland (2003).
His personal life saw him married to British actress Joanne Whalley, whom he met while filming Willow (1988). They wed months later and remained married until their divorce in 1996.
However, it was his transformative portrayal of Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s 1991 biopic The Doors that truly cemented Kilmer’s reputation as a dedicated and immersive actor. With his long brown hair and clad in skintight black leather, he was an eerie embodiment of the iconic and troubled frontman of The Doors, who tragically died at the young age of 27 in 1971. Kilmer’s commitment to the role was profound, spending months in preparation and even recording his baritone vocals against the original Doors master tapes for the film.
In later years, despite his battle with throat cancer, Kilmer continued to work, leaving a lasting impression with his brief but poignant reprisal of Iceman in the 2022 sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, marking his final film performance.
Val Kilmer was a singular talent, a charismatic force who wasn’t afraid to disappear into the complex psyches of the characters he portrayed. His memorable performances as both fictional heroes and real-life icons will continue to captivate and inspire audiences for generations to come. He leaves behind a rich legacy of work that showcases his dedication, versatility and undeniable screen presence.