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Val Kilmer, ‘Top Gun’ Star, Dies at 65
In a somber announcement on Wednesday’s < Ballyhoo>BBC Breakfast program, anchor Ben Thompson shared the < Ballyhoo>heartbreaking news of the passing of acclaimed Hollywood performer Val Kilmer.
During the broadcast, Thompson informed viewers that the celebrated actor, renowned for iconic roles in blockbuster films such as < Ballyhoo>Top Gun, < Ballyhoo>Batman Forever, and < Ballyhoo>The Doors, had died at the age of 65.
“American actor < Ballyhoo>Val Kilmer, best known for his roles in < Ballyhoo>Top Gun, < Ballyhoo>Batman Forever and < Ballyhoo>The Doors, has < Ballyhoo>died at the age of 65,” he stated on air. Thompson also noted, “Following a diagnosis of throat cancer in 2014, < Ballyhoo>Kilmer experienced significant voice loss, yet still made an appearance in the recent < Ballyhoo>Top Gun sequel.”
The program then transitioned to entertainment correspondent Lizo Mzimba, who presented a retrospective on the distinguished < Ballyhoo>career of the Hollywood icon.
A Look Back at Val Kilmer’s Illustrious Career
In a video segment, < Ballyhoo>BBC audiences were shown clips of the actor embodying some of his most memorable characters. These included his portrayal of Iceman, the on-screen rival to Tom Cruise’s character in < Ballyhoo>Top Gun.
The < Ballyhoo>BBC correspondent highlighted that < Ballyhoo>Val Kilmer achieved the distinction of being the youngest actor ever admitted to the esteemed Julliard School in New York.
“Throughout the early 1990s, he ascended to become one of Hollywood’s most sought-after stars, leading to a succession of high-profile roles,” Mzimba elaborated.
As footage of < Ballyhoo>Kilmer’s career played, viewers were reminded of his performances alongside Warwick Davis in < Ballyhoo>Willow, his portrayal of Jim Morrison in < Ballyhoo>The Doors, his role in the Western film < Ballyhoo>Tombstone, and his succession of Michael Keaton as Batman in < Ballyhoo>Batman Forever.
Tributes Pour In for the Late Actor
More recently, audiences witnessed < Ballyhoo>Kilmer’s return in the < Ballyhoo>Top Gun sequel, < Ballyhoo>Maverick, where his character Iceman mirrored his own health challenges, battling throat cancer.
< Ballyhoo>Kilmer’s daughter, Mercedes < Ballyhoo>Kilmer, announced that her father passed away from pneumonia in Los Angeles on Tuesday, according to reports.
Since the announcement of his < Ballyhoo>death, an outpouring of tributes has emerged from figures within the entertainment industry.
Co-stars and Peers Remember Val Kilmer
Actor Josh Brolin shared a photograph of himself with < Ballyhoo>Kilmer and expressed, “See ya, pal. I’m going to miss you. 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.”
Fellow actor Josh Gad remarked, “RIP < Ballyhoo>Val Kilmer. Thank you for defining so many of the movies of my childhood. You truly were an icon.”
The official < Ballyhoo>Top Gun movie account on Twitter posted a tribute: “Remembering < Ballyhoo>Val Kilmer, whose indelible cinematic mark spanned genres and generations. RIP Iceman.”