There are actors, and then there are "forces". Val Kilmer was the latter — a screen presence so sharp, so dynamic, so full of mystery and charm that he could play everything from a gunslinger to a superhero to a rock legend without skipping a beat.
Now, Hollywood is mourning the loss of one of its most unforgettable stars. Kilmer, known for defining roles in "Top Gun", "Batman Forever", and "The Doors", passed away on Tuesday in Los Angeles. He was 65. The cause, according to "The New York Times", was pneumonia.
Kilmer’s daughter, Mercedes, confirmed the heartbreaking news, closing the curtain on a career that not only spanned decades but defied convention at every turn. Diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015, Kilmer underwent a tracheostomy that permanently altered his voice — yet he never allowed it to dim his light. Instead, he made it part of his story. And oh, what a story it was.
He rocketed onto the scene with the spy spoof "Top Secret!" in 1984, but his breakout came seven years later as Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s "The Doors", a performance that sizzled with charisma and uncanny realism. From there, it was nothing but legendary: the ice-cold swagger of Iceman in "Top Gun", the haunted brilliance of Doc Holliday in "Tombstone", and yes, the brooding billionaire in "Batman Forever". This was a man who could shift gears from comedy to drama to action in a single heartbeat.
Even in recent years, when his voice had nearly vanished, his spirit never did. In 2022’s "Top Gun: Maverick", Kilmer returned as Iceman, this time with real-life struggle behind the role. His brief but emotional reunion with Tom Cruise was one of the film’s most poignant moments. “It was like no time had passed,” Kilmer said, recalling how the two old co-stars laughed through blown takes.
Off-screen, he painted. He wrote poetry. He explored faith. He created. Kilmer wasn’t just a Hollywood star — he was an artist in the purest sense, described on his website as “a talented and prolific artist in a variety of mediums.”
Tributes have poured in, including one from Josh Brolin, who honored Kilmer’s fiery intellect and fearless creativity: “You were a smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker. There’s not a lot left of those.”
Kilmer’s life was one of reinvention, resilience, and raw talent. From blockbuster action films to indie passion projects, he gave it his all — always chasing the role, never the fame. He is survived by his two children, Mercedes and Jack, whom he shared with actress Joanne Whalley.
Whether clad in a cape, cracking jokes in a lab coat, or spitting Latin in a desert duel, Val Kilmer left a mark that’s carved deep into Hollywood’s DNA. And like the echo of Iceman’s final salute — this legend’s legacy? It will fly on.
Fox News 
