Val Kilmer, who starred in “Top Gun,” “The Doors,” and other iconic movies, passed away in Los Angeles on Tuesday, his family said.
Mercedes Kilmer, Val’s daughter, told the New York Times, which broke the story first, that her father passed away from pneumonia. He had to be sent to UCLA Medical Center in 2015 to treat significant bleeding in his throat after being diagnosed with a throat tumor in 2014. Oral cancer was the cause of the tumor.
Val is well-known for his portrayal of rock singer Jim Morrison in the Doors movie and for his performance as Bruce Wayne in “Batman Forever.”
Despite his health issues at the time, he was able to reprise his most cherished role as Iceman in “Top Gun” in the 2022 follow-up, “Top Gun: Maverick.”
READ MORE: The Mom Of The Notorious B.I.G. Is Dead At 72 Years Old
Val’s voice, which he had lost at that point because of the throat cancer, was recreated by the filmmakers using artificial intelligence.
Val, a devoted Christian Scientist, clearly ascribed his faith to the fact that the cancer eventually went into remission, as his daughter informed NYT that dad was entirely recovered. According to reports, he had disapproved of a lot of contemporary Western medical practices.
In 2017, Val told The Christian Post, “Throughout documented history, prayer has cured countless numbers of people. And modern medicine has killed a great number of individuals.
READ MORE: Doug Kiker, American Idol Star, Died At Age 32
The actor, who grew up in Los Angeles, was equally well-known for his excellent supporting parts in films such as “Heat,” “True Romance,” and “Tombstone”… in which he portrayed Doc Holliday. He can be heard saying the well-known phrase, “I’m your huckleberry.”
At the age of 17, Val was accepted into the esteemed Juilliard School of Acting, and upon graduating, he performed in numerous theater productions, including Hamlet. In 1985, he landed his breakthrough role in the teen comedy “Real Genius.”
Val was on his phone and strolling through the airport when we last saw him at LAX in 2018.
Val is survived by his two grown children, Jack and Mercedes, whom he had with actress Joanne Whalley, his ex-wife.
He was sixty-five.
Step into the ultimate entertainment experience with Radiant TV! Movies, TV series, exclusive interviews, live events, music, and more—stream anytime, anywhere. Download now on various devices including iPhone, Android, smart TVs, Apple TV, Fire Stick, and more!
