Val Kilmer passed away this past Tuesday at 65 years old due to complications from pneumonia. After recovering from throat cancer, the actor’s daughter announced his death to The New York Times and the Associated Press. 

The actor received an outpouring of tributes from fellow actors and friends alike. In a statement to USA Today, Kilmer’s “Batman and Robin” co-star Jim Carrey said, “[h]is greatest artistic achievements were rivaled only by the grace and courage with which he endured his life’s most challenging moments.” Kilmer’s “Heat” co-star Robert De Niro also made a statement in which he said the “thought of [Kilmer’s] passing makes me very sad.” 

Tom Cruise, who starred beside Kilmer in “Top Gun” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” honored him with a moment of silence during his appearance at CinemaCon in Las Vegas last Thursday. 

The actor first reached stardom with his performance as Jim Morrison in the 1991 Doors biopic. He was famously known for his portrayal of Batman in  1995’s “Batman Forever.” He was also known for portraying Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in “Top Gun.” Kilmer returned for the film’s sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick.” Arguably, Kilmer’s most iconic role was Doc Holliday in “Tombstone.” 

Kilmer has been known to be very eccentric. As an actor, Kilmer was versatile as well as unpredictable. The last few years before his death, he had stepped away from Hollywood to spend more time with his two children. 

In 2021, a documentary about the actor’s life, titled “Val,” was released on Amazon Prime Video.

Starring and produced by Kilmer and his two children, Jack and Mercedes, it documented the actor’s extraordinary and extensive career, as well as his battle against throat cancer. The film is still available to watch on Prime Video.

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