‘Batman Forever’ and ‘Top Gun’ star Val Kilmer has died, aged 65

2 April, 2025

Val Kilmer has died at the age of 65.

Per a New York Times report, Kilmer’s death was confirmed by his daughter Mercedes Kilmer. Val died on Tuesday (April 1) due to pneumonia, per Mercedes. Kilmer had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, but later made a recovery.

Kilmer is best known for his roles as Bruce Wayne/Batman in Batman Forever, Jim Morrison in The Doors, Lt. Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky in Top Gun, Perry Van Shrike in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and more.

Though having appeared in theatre and TV productions in the early 1980s, Val Kilmer got his big break in film in 1985 with Real Genius, and the following year followed up with his iconic performance opposite Tom Cruise in Top Gun. In 1991, he took on the role of the legendary Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s The Doors, a biopic based on the band.

In 1995, Kilmer starred as Bruce Wayne/Batman in Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever, taking over the role from Michael Keaton. Among his other major roles include Heat alongside Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, Tombstone, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Deja Vu and more.

Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, losing his voice in the process from complications during a tracheotomy. He reprised his role as Lt. Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky in Top Gun: Maverick, which Cruise shared was a “pretty emotional” experience for him.

Prior to his death, Kilmer shot an intimate documentary titled Val, in which he shared his story about his battle with cancer and losing his voice. The documentary was released in 2021.

Top Gun: Maverick served as his final acting role, while in 2022 he appeared in Willow through archival footage.

See a handful of tributes below – check back for updates.

This is a developing story…

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