Val Kilmer Passes Away at 65: A Final Tribute and Legacy
Val Kilmer, the legendary actor known for his iconic roles in Top Gun and Batman Forever, passed away on April 1 at the age of 65. His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed to The New York Times that his cause of death was pneumonia.
Kilmer had battled health issues for many years, including a throat cancer diagnosis in 2014. As part of his treatment, he underwent chemotherapy and a tracheotomy, which left permanent damage to his vocal cords. In his 2020 memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry, and the Amazon Prime documentary Val, Kilmer opened up about his struggle and recovery.
“I obviously am sounding much worse than I feel,” Kilmer said in the documentary. “I can’t speak without plugging this hole (in his throat). You have to make the choice to breathe or to eat. It’s an obstacle that is very present with whoever sees me.”
Kilmer’s final movie appearance was in Top Gun: Maverick (2022), where he reprised his role as Iceman. After his cancer battle, he stepped away from acting and focused on his creativity, particularly through art. His Instagram featured many of his paintings, with his last post showcasing a piece he described as having “that late-night glow,” with “cool tones and a low burn.”
The last post that featured Kilmer himself was shared on February 23, where he was seen wearing a Batman mask alongside fellow artist and Walking Dead star David Choe. Kilmer humorously quipped, “It’s been a while.”
Tributes have poured in for the actor following the sad news of his passing. Actor Josh Brolin shared his thoughts on social media: “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.”
Josh Gad also paid his respects: “RIP Val Kilmer. Thank you for defining so many of the movies of my childhood. You truly were an icon.”
Val Kilmer’s legacy will live on through his iconic roles and his creative contributions. Rest in peace, Val Kilmer.
{"post":84698,"page":1,"next":[{"id":84670,"title":"Trump claims \u2019loophole\u2019 could allow him to run for a third term","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/84670"},{"id":84666,"title":"Woman who ripped out her own eyes explains why she did it","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/84666"},{"id":84663,"title":"Grandmother Excludes Youngest Grandson from Will and Leaves Him Only a Dusty Chest \u2013 Story of the Day","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/84663"},{"id":84660,"title":"Eric Clapton\u2019s tragic last promise to his son, who died after falling 53 floors","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/84660"},{"id":84657,"title":"The School Summoned Me to Discuss My Son\u0027s Behavior, but the Janitor Pulled Me Aside and Whispered, \u0027They\u0027re Lying to You\u0027 \u2013 Story of the Day","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/84657"},{"id":84654,"title":"Vigilante justice: Meet the \u201dRevenge mom\u201d who shot her child\u2019s murder in the middle of his trail","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/84654"},{"id":84650,"title":"Viewers Support Morgan Wallen After He Abruptly Walks Off \u0027SNL\u0027 Set in Viral Clip","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/84650"},{"id":84646,"title":"The Sprouse Twins\u0027 Mom Encouraged Them to Be Different from Each Other as Kids \u2014 Here\u0027s How They Did It","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/84646"},{"id":84642,"title":"Three-time cancer survivor Colin Egglesfield shares why he \u201dbroke down\u201d","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/84642"},{"id":84637,"title":"Mom Installs Baby Monitor in Son\u2019s Room and Gets Scared When She Sees Movement There \u2014 Story of the Day","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/84637"},{"id":84634,"title":"Woman Ignores Letters from Man She Left 53 Years Ago, Visits Him Once and Finds a Ruined House \u2014 Story of the Day","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/84634"},{"id":84631,"title":"My Husband Turned Our Wedding Night into a Catastrophe \u2013 Story of the Day","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/84631"},{"id":84628,"title":"Found Out I Was \u0027Engaged\u0027 Through My Boyfriend\u0027s Mom\u0027s Post, So I Decided to Play Along\u2014Story of the Day","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/84628"},{"id":84624,"title":"Dad sparks online debate after cradling daughter\u2019s head for 45 minutes so she could sleep during a flight","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/84624"}]}