Val Kilmer—best known for his roles in Top Gun and Batman Forever—died of pneumonia April 1, according to his family. He was 65.

Hollywood has lost a beloved actor.

Val Kilmer, who starred as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in 1986’s Top Gun and the titular superhero in 1995’s Batman Forever—died of pneumonia April 1, his daughter Mercedes Kilmer told the New York Times. He was 65.

He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, but later recovered, she confirmed to the outlet.

Kilmer had largely kept details of his cancer battle to himself. It wasn’t until 2020 when he opened up about his health struggles, revealing he underwent a procedure on his trachea that left him with a raspy voice.

“I feel a lot better than I sound, but I feel wonderful,” he told ABC News at the time. “I was diagnosed with throat cancer, which healed very quickly.”

Kilmer continued, “This is a tracheotomy to help me breathe, because the glands in my throat swelled up as well.”

In his 2020 memoir I’m Your Huckleberry, Kilmer credited ex-girlfriend Cher for playing a large part in his treatment, recalling that he was staying at her guesthouse when he began “vomiting blood that covered the bed like a scene out of The Godfather.” 

He said the “Believe” singer accompanied him to the hospital for his tracheotomy, as well to multiple chemotherapy sessions throughout his journey. As he put it, “We laughed out loud before they finished my vitals and shut me up with an oxygen mask.”

Throughout his decades-long career, Kilmer appeared in numerous iconic films, including 1988’s Willow, 1991’s The Doors, 1993’s True Romance, 1995’s Heat and 2005’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. 

His documentary Val premiered in 2021, with his last acting credit being 2023’s Top Gun: Maverick, the sequel to his action flick with Tom Cruise.

“Tom commands a lot of respect and it was a joy to be in such a comfortable setting,” Kilmer told Collider in 2022 of their emotional onscreen reunion. “We are paid to act and that’s what we did in the scene, but doing so with a class act like Tom made it a pleasure, and less like work!”

Outside of acting, Kilmer had a passion for visual arts, working with both photography and paint.

“I love how immediately the satisfaction comes by painting in all its forms,” he shared to the outlet. “I’ve always felt that way—probably why I was drawn to making movies—but working with so many talented artists and pushing the boundaries of creativity is very fulfilling and healing.”

But whether he was in front of the camera or behind a canvas, Kilmer’s ultimate goal as an artist was “to inspire increased focus and concentration.”

“To entertain for two hours carries a great deal of satisfaction, and is itself inspiring,” he said of acting. “To be able to give this gift is such a joy.”

Kilmer is survived by friends and family, including his two kids with ex-wife Joanne Whalley: Mercedes and Jack Kilmer.

For a look at Kilmer’s life in photos, keep reading…

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Source: www.eonline.com