Summary
- Val Kilmer passed away last night at age 65 of pneumonia.
- His last role was a cameo in Top Gun: Maverick as Iceman, following the tracheostomy that damaged his voice.
- Actors and directors such as Michael Mann and Josh Brolin have paid tribute to Kilmer on social media, celebrating his life and career.
Legendary actor Val Kilmer, who played the titular role in Batman Forever and the fan-favourite Iceman in Top Gun, has died at age 65.
His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, told the Associated Press that he passed away last night in Los Angeles from pneumonia, surrounded by family and friends.
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While recovering from a 2014 throat cancer diagnosis, he underwent a tracheostomy in 2021 that permanently damaged his voice, curtailing his career. However, he made one final appearance in Top Gun: Maverick with a poignant yet somber farewell to his character and his life on screen.
“I’m Going To Miss You”
As reported by the BBC, several actors and directors who worked with Kilmer over the years or were influenced by his legacy have paid tribute to him on social media.
“While working with Val on Heat I always marvelled at the range, the brilliant variability within the powerful current of Val’s possessing and expressing character,” director Michael Mann said on Instagram. “After so many years of Val battling disease and maintaining his spirit, this is tremendously sad news.”
So many great memories of working with him. He was fun, unpredictable, generous and overall very kind to me when I was very new to the job — Will Kemp.
“RIP Val Kilmer. Thank you for defining so many of the movies of my childhood. You truly were an icon,” actor Josh Gad wrote.
“See ya, pal. I’m going to miss you,” Josh Brolin posted. “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. Until then, amazing memories, lovely thoughts.”
- Release Date
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June 16, 1995
- Runtime
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122 minutes
- Director
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Joel Schumacher
- Writers
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Lee Batchler, Janet Scott Batchler, Akiva Goldsman
- Prequel(s)
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Batman, Batman Returns