Val Kilmer Passes Away, Daughter Confirms In New Heartfelt Statement
Fan-favorite actor Val Kilmer passed away at 65 on April 1 due to pneumonia, according to a statement from his daughter Mercedes Kilmer.
Trigger warning: This article contains discussions of death, illness, and grief, which may be distressing to some readers. Please proceed with care.
The superstar, who was well known for his roles in Batman Forever (1995) and Top Gun (1986), died in Los Angeles while surrounded by family and friends. Kilmer’s daughter added that he previously battled throat cancer in 2015 and was able to make a full recovery.
Fellow actor Josh Brolin sent his regards for the late actor on Instagram. “See ya, pal. I’m going to miss you,” Brolin’s caption read.
“You were a smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker. There’s not a lot left of those. I hope to see you up there in the heavens when I eventually get there,” he continued. “Until then, amazing memories and lovely thoughts.”
One fan expressed her gratitude for the Tombstone (1993) actor by writing, “Sometimes there is a celebrity death that bothers you more than all the others. Val Kilmer is by far one of those. Rest in Peace.” While others reposted the actor’s famous quote, “I think death is just a transition to another state of consciousness.”
"Death next to love is a trivial thing."
— Caeksy (@Caeksy) April 2, 2025
RIP Val Kilmer. pic.twitter.com/MwAr4625FW
Kilmer spent the early years of his life in Los Angeles, and attended the prestigious Juilliard School in New York. He went on to make his on-screen debut in the 1984 comedy Top Secret! His big break came in the 1991 biopic The Doors, which told the story of singer Jim Morrison, who Kilmer portrayed.
He would go on to portray Doc Holliday in Tombstone (1993) before taking up the caped crusader’s mantle in Batman Forever (1995). He also demonstrated his comedic talents in MacGruber (2010) and voiced K.I.T.T. in numerous episodes of Knight Rider (1982–1986).
In Kilmer’s final appearance he reprised his infamous role as Iceman in the critically acclaimed Top Gun sequel Top Gun: Maverick (2022). Although he reprised the character, he faced challenges due to esophageal damage from a tracheostomy. The late actor would overcome this obstacle with help from a breathing tube.
“I can’t speak without plugging this hole [in his throat]. You have to choose to breathe or to eat,” Kilmer told People in 2021. “It’s an obstacle that is very present with whoever sees me.”
When Kilmer reunited with Tom Cruise 30 years after filming the original, it was as if the two pilots had never stopped soaring through the sky together. “It was like no time had passed,” he stated in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. “We blew a lot of takes laughing so much. It was really special.”
Our thoughts are with the Kilmer family.
