Acting Legend Val Kilmer Passes Away

Val Kilmer, the screen legend who starred in such films as Batman Forever, Tombstone, Top Gun and Heat, has passed away. The New York Times confirmed with Kilmer’s daughter that he passed away after a battle with pneumonia. He was 65 years old.

Kilmer had battled health issues in his later years, having been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015 that caused him to undergo chemotherapy and two tracheotomies. While he had been cancer-free, he had a number of struggles because of the fight.

The actor had a film career that spanned nearly 40 years and over 100 screen credits. His acting career began early and he was youngest person at the time to be accepted into the Juilliard School’s Drama Division. He began in theater, declining a role in The Outsiders due to his stage commitments, and acted in a number of television commercials and spots before he got his break with 1984’s spy spoof Top Secret!. That starring role led to roles in 1985’s Real Genius and then one of his most iconic, as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in Top Gun as the rival to Tom Cruise’s character.

Kilmer became one of the hottest names in Hollywood and snatched up roles in Willow as Madmartigan, The Doors as Jim Morrison, Thunderheart as FBI Agent Ray Levoi, and Tombstone, another landmark role, as Doc Holliday. He played Elvis Presely in the Quentin Tarantino-written True Romance before picking up the role as Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever, Joel Schumacher’s first Batman film, in 1995. That year also saw him star opposite Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in Heat, Michael Mann’s acclaimed crime drama.

Kilmer’s career leveled off at that point, as he starred in the poorly-received Island of Dr. Moreau alongside Marlon Brando as well as The Ghost and the Darkness and The Saint. All three films were commercial disappointments, though the latter at least made some money unlike 2000’s Red Planet which was a bomb. He continued working regularly though and among his screen roles in the early 2000s were John Holmes in the underseen crime drama Wonderland, Jake Harris in the thriller Mindhunters, and Perry Van Shrike in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang opposite Robert Downey Jr.

While his time as a leading star who opened films at the box office was gone at this point, Kilmer continued to rack up memorable roles, sometimes in films that he was better than. He played Philip II in Oliver Stone’s Alexander, starred as a soldier in the political thriller Spartan, and starred in a number of direct to video films. His career slowed significantly after his cancer battle, but he was able to return as Iceman in Top Gun Maverick for his final role.

On behalf of 411, our condolences to the family, friends and many fans of Mr. Kilmer. He will most certainly be missed.