Val Kilmer dead at 65: Batman and Top Gun star passes away after long health battle

By SONIA HORON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Published: 05:02 BST, 2 April 2025 | Updated: 05:18 BST, 2 April 2025

Legendary actor Val Kilmer has died at 65.

His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed he passed in Los Angeles on Tuesday to the New York Times.

Mercedes, whom he shared with ex-wife Joanne Whalley, said the actor died from pneumonia. 

The screen icon was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014. 

Kilmer was known for his role as Iceman in the 1986 hit movie Top Gun and as Batman/Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever (1995). 

He also famously played musician Jim Morrison in the 1991 film The Doors. 

Legendary actor Val Kilmer has died at 65. His daughter Mercedes Kilmer confirmed his death to the New York Times on Tuesday; seen 2019 

Mercedes said the actor died from pneumonia; pictured in a 1986 still from Top Gun

Kilmer underwent both radiotherapy and chemotherapy for his cancer as well as a tracheostomy a procedure to create an artificial hole in this neck to help him breathe. 

The latter permanently damaged his vocal cords and consequentially forever altered his speaking voice. 

In the Amazon Prime documentary entitled Val, Kilmer spoke candidly about living with the consequences of throat cancer including having to use an electric device called a voice box on the artificial hole in his throat to talk.

‘I obviously am sounding much worse than I feel. I can’t speak without plugging this hole [in his throat],’ he said.

A voice box device is most commonly a battery-operated machine that produces sound to create a voice, and is used to help those suffering with throat cancer communicate.

The actor, who also had to have meals through a feeding tube, explained some of the other challenges.

‘You have to make the choice to breathe or to eat. It’s an obstacle that is very present with whoever sees me,’ he said.

Kilmer has previously detailed how he was unaware he had throat cancer until one day he coughed up ‘coagulated blood’ and called for an ambulance before passing out.

He then woke up in a Santa Monica hospital after an emergency tracheotomy for throat cancer.

In 2020, Kilmer said he ‘healed very quickly’ following his throat cancer diagnosis, in an interview with Good Morning America.

‘This is a tracheotomy,’ he said while holding his hand to his throat, ‘to help me breathe because the glands in my throat swelled up as well’.

When asked what he misses the most about his voice, Kilmer told GMA: ‘That I had one! And that I didn’t laugh like a pirate.’

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Val Kilmer dead at 65: Batman and Top Gun star passes away after long health battle

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