Val Kilmer, the celebrated Hollywood actor known for his transformative performances in films such as The Doors, Batman Forever and Top Gun, died on Wednesday (2 April) in Los Angeles.
He was 65.
The cause was pneumonia, according to his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer. Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 but later recovered.
Tall, charismatic and with a rock-star aura, Kilmer first gained prominence in the 1980s, making his feature debut in the Cold War spy parody Top Secret! (1984). His breakout role came in Top Gun (1986), where he played Iceman, the cocky rival to Tom Cruise’s Maverick. He reprised the role decades later in Top Gun: Maverick (2022).
His turn as Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s The Doors (1991) cemented his reputation as a leading man, with his uncanny embodiment of the rock legend earning critical acclaim. Kilmer later donned the cape and cowl as the titular hero in Batman Forever (1995), battling Jim Carrey’s Riddler and Tommy Lee Jones’ Two-Face.
Despite his early promise as a Hollywood A-lister, Kilmer’s career took an unconventional path. He starred in Thunderheart (1992), The Saint (1997), and shared the screen with Hollywood heavyweights in Heat (1995) and Tombstone (1993), where his portrayal of Doc Holliday remains a fan favourite.
His reputation for unpredictability made him both a fascinating performer and a challenging figure in Hollywood. Yet, through a career spanning four decades, Kilmer left an indelible mark, whether as a leading man or a scene-stealing co-star.