Val Kilmer, Star of Batman Forever and Top Gun, Dies at 65 After Long Cancer Battle

Hollywood actor Val Kilmer, known for his iconic roles in Top Gun and Batman Forever, has passed away at the age of 65. The news was first reported by The New York Times.

Kilmer, who had been battling throat cancer since 2014, died of pneumonia in Los Angeles, his daughter Mercedes Kilmer confirmed. His struggle with cancer, which required a breathing tube, was documented in Val, a 2021 documentary that premiered at Cannes.

Rising to fame as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun, Kilmer carved out a lasting legacy in Hollywood with roles in Real Genius, Tombstone, Heat, The Doors, and The Saint. He later reprised his role in Top Gun: Maverick (2021), though he could no longer speak due to his illness.

Kilmer played Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever (1995), taking over from Michael Keaton, but received mixed reviews and was later replaced by George Clooney in Batman & Robin.

Born in Los Angeles, he attended Hollywood Professional School and Juilliard before launching his career on Broadway and television. He was married to actress Joanne Whalley, whom he met on the set of Willow (1988). They later divorced but had two children, Mercedes and Jack.

Kilmer spent much of his later years on a ranch near Santa Fe, leaving behind a rich filmography and a deep impact on Hollywood.