Val Kilmer, a veteran actor known for his roles as Jim Morrison and Batman, has died on Tuesday, his family confirmed to the New York Times. He was 65.
His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, said her father died of pneumonia. Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 but later recovered.
Kilmer came to fame in the late ‘80s and ‘90s with iconic roles playing Jim Morrison in “The Doors” (1991), Bruce Wayne in “Batman Forever” (1995), Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky” in “Top Gun” (1986), and gunslinger Doc Holliday in “Tombstone” (1993).
Kilmer was born in Los Angeles and attended Chatsworth High School. He was later accepted into The Julliard School’s drama division, becoming the youngest person at the time to do so.
It wasn’t long after that he became a working actor with an off-Broadway role in the “Slab Boys,” opposite two other relatively unknown actors at the time, Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon.
His big break came when he starred in the 1984 comedy film, “Top Secret.” His role as Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky” in 1986’s “Top Gun” propelled him to superstardom and established him as a bonafide Hollywood leading man.
-
LAS VEGAS, NV – FEBRUARY 12: Val Kilmer films Kill Me Again in a casino in Las Vegas February 12, 1989 Las Vegas, Nevada .( Photo by Paul Harris/Getty Images ) -
SANTA MONICA, CA – SEPTEMBER 25: Actor Val Kilmer attends the 23rd annual Simply Shakespeare benefit reading of “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” at The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage on September 25, 2013 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic) -
Val Kilmer at the microphone in a scene from the film ‘The Doors’, 1991. (Photo by Carolco/Getty Images) -
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 12: Actor Val Kilmer speaks onstage at “Twixt” press conference during the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 12, 2011 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage) -
Actor Val Kilmer visits the United Nations headquarters in New York City, New York to promote the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiative, July 20, 2019. (Photo by EuropaNewswire/Gado/Getty Images)
Even though Kilmer developed a reputation in Hollywood as being highly selective and prone to taking on roles that would challenge him, he still amassed over 100 film credits to his name.
In 2014, he was diagnosed with throat cancer and even though he used the assistance of a voice box, he boldly reprised his role as Iceman Kazansky in 2022’s “Top Gun Maverick.”
He is survived by his son, Jack, his daughter Mercedes, and his family and friends.
