‘Top Gun’ Star Val Kilmer Dies At 65 From Pneumonia After Decade-Long Battle With Throat Cancer

Val Kilmer, the versatile and intense actor known for his iconic roles in Top Gun, Batman Forever and The Doors, died on Tuesday night in Los Angeles at 65, surrounded by family and friends. His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed that he died from pneumonia following a decade-long battle with throat cancer.

In 2019, uInterview captured exclusive footage of Kilmer talking about his health challenges at the NOVUS Conference.

Kilmer’s career was marked by dedication to his craft, and he often immersed himself deeply into his roles. He first gained recognition in the 1980s with standout performances in Top Secret! (1984) and Real Genius (1985). However, his role as Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in Top Gun (1986) catapulted him to fame. His confident portrayal opposite Tom Cruise made him a fan favorite, and he later reprised the role in Top Gun: Maverick (2022).

In 1991, Kilmer took on the demanding role of Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s The Doors, a performance that earned him widespread acclaim. He immersed himself in Morrison’s persona, even learning to sing like the legendary frontman. His ability to transform into characters became his trademark, with notable performances as Doc Holliday in Tombstone (1993) and as a bank robber in Michael Mann’s Heat (1995).

In 1995, Kilmer stepped into one of Hollywood’s most coveted roles, playing Batman in Batman Forever. Though the film was a commercial success, he later expressed frustration with the limitations of the bat suit and declined to return for a sequel. His post-Batman career included roles in The Saint (1997), The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) and The Salton Sea (2002), further cementing his legacy as a dynamic performer.

Despite his success, Kilmer was often described as difficult to work with, a reputation he later addressed in his memoir I’m Your Huckleberry (2020) and the documentary Val (2021). He admitted to his perfectionist tendencies but emphasized that his passion for the art of filmmaking always came first.

His battle with throat cancer, diagnosed in 2014, drastically changed his career. After undergoing two tracheotomies, he lost his natural speaking voice, but he continued acting, using AI technology to recreate his voice for Top Gun: Maverick and other projects.

Kilmer is survived by his two children, Mercedes and Jack.

“I have no regrets,” Kilmer once said in an interview. “I’ve witnessed and experienced miracles.”