“Top Gun” Actor Val Kilmer Has Died At 65
on Apr 01, 2025
Beloved actor Val Kilmer, the actor best known for his roles in Top Gun and Batman Forever, has died.
Val Kilmer’s daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed his death, saying that he died of pneumonia on Tuesday (April 1). He was 65.
Kilmer appeared in numerous movies over his career, including his breakout role as Iceman opposite Tom Cruise in the 1986 film Top Gun. He famously reprised the role in 2022 in Top Gun: Maverick which would be his final film appearance.
In a 2023 interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Tom Cruise shared that being on set with Kilmer moved him to tears.
“I just want to say that was pretty emotional,” Cruise said. “I’ve known Val for decades, and for him to come back and play that character … he’s such a powerful actor that he instantly became that character again.”
When the host asked Cruise if he cried while filming the moving scene with Kilmer, Tom said, “I was crying, I was crying. I got emotional. He’s such a brilliant actor, I love his work.”
Val Kilmer’s impressive acting resume also included roles in Tombstone (1993) Batman Forever (1995), The Ghost and the Darkness (1996), The Saint (1997), The Prince of Egypt (1998), Alexander (2004), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), and The Snowman (2017).
Val Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015.
A spokesman for Kilmer told PEOPLE in January 2015 that the actor had been rushed to the hospital for a “possible tumor.” Kilmer denied the claims in posts paid to social media.
Several years later, he went public with his diagnosis, having undergone a procedure on his trachea that left his vocal cords damaged, leaving him almost unable to speak. He also underwent chemotherapy and two tracheotomies, which he opened up about in a 2021 documentary about his career and health issues.
See the trailer for Val, the documentary about Val Kilmer’s life in the video below.
Val Kilmer is survived by his daughter, Mercedes, and son, Jack.
