Val Kilmer: The 'Batman Forever' Fame Star, Dies At 65 (Image-Instagram/valkilmerofficial)
Renowned actor Val Kilmer, known for his roles in films like Top Gun (1986) and Batman Forever (1995), among others, died on Tuesday in Los Angeles. The actor, who had been battling cancer for several years, died of pneumonia at the age of 65.
A prominent figure during the 80s and 90s, Kilmer had been diagnosed with cancer and lost his voice as a result of his illness. He returned briefly to screens in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, although he could no longer speak.
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The Juilliard-trained actor was one of Hollywood’s most prominent and recognized and the best-paid actor in the 1990s. Over the years, Kilmer gained a reputation for being temperamental, intense, and perfectionistic.
Val Kilmer’s career as an Actor
Born in Los Angeles, Kilmer was raised in Chatsworth and attended Hollywood Professional School and the Juilliard School. He appeared off-Broadway in The Slab Boys before his first TV role in the afterschool special One Too Many.
Val Kilmer made his debut in 1984 in the action comedy film Top Secret, where he played a rock star and sang his own songs. Soon the actor rose to fame as Tom Cruise’s co-star in the 1986 hit film Top Gun, playing naval aviator Tom “Iceman” Kazansky.
One of his most memorable roles was playing the charismatic and doomed Morrison in the 1991 film The Doors. For the film, Kilmer memorised the lyrics to all of Morrison’s songs before his audition, and immersed himself in the role, wearing clothes similar to the singer’s for close to a year.
As a Dubbing Artist
Kilmer did voices for animated films, including The Prince of Egypt. His other films included At First Sight, Red Planet, Pollock, The Salton Sea, Wonderland, and The Missing.
Kilmer continued working in films, including Kiss Kiss Bang Bang with Robert Downey, Déjà Vu with Denzel Washington, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orlean and The Snowman. In 2012, Kilmer received a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word for an audio production of Zorro.
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Cancer Diagnosis
In 2015, Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer. He subsequently underwent a tracheal procedure that damaged his vocal cords, leaving him with severe difficulty speaking. He also underwent chemotherapy and two tracheotomies.
Val: The documentary on Val Kilmer’s life
In 2021, a documentary on his life titled Val was released. His son provided the actor’s voice and the film utilised hundreds of hours of video he had recorded over the years, giving a revealing look at the sets he worked on and showing the actor to be an introspective thinker with an artist’s soul. It also premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim.
