Val Kilmer’s Official Cause Of Death Revealed
on Apr 10, 2025
New details have been revealed about the death of actor Val Kilmer, including his official cause of death and other health issues.
Val Kilmer, the beloved actor best known for his roles in Top Gun and Tombstone, died April 1, 2025, at the age of 65.
His daughter, Mercedes, announced his death, saying that he died of pneumonia. A copy of Kilmer’s death certificate obtained by TMZ confirmed the cause of death and revealed more information about his passing.
The death certificate states that Kilmer’s immediate cause of death was pneumonia. Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, chronic respiratory failure, and squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue were listed as contributing factors.
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Other notable health issues documented during the autopsy included malnutrition and tracheocutaneous fistula (TCF). “TCF is a common complication that can occur in patients who have undergone tracheostomy,” according to the National Institute of Health. “The persistence of TCF can lead to several concerns for both the patient and their family, including hygiene, aspiration, and aesthetic issues.”
Val Kilmer’s was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015.
Kilmer’s death came ten years after he was diagnosed with throat cancer. He fought the disease privately for a few years before going public with his diagnosis. He underwent 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 life.
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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.
Kilmer remained friends with his Top Gun co-star Tom Cruise until his death. His return to the big screen alongside Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick was an emotional moment for both men.
In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Cruise confessed that he cried while filming the scene with Kilmer.
“That was pretty emotional. 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,” Cruise said. “I was crying, I was crying. I got emotional. He’s such a brilliant actor, I love his work.”
Hear Tom Cruise talk about his reunion with Val Kilmer in the video below.
