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Val Kilmer’s Courageous Fight Against Throat Cancer: A Look Back
Val Kilmer, the celebrated actor known for roles in Top Gun and Batman Forever, faced a significant health challenge battling throat cancer years before his passing at age 65 due to pneumonia. In December 2017, Kilmer openly acknowledged his two-year struggle with cancer to The Hollywood Reporter, retracting previous denials about his health condition.
Candid Account of Health Struggles
Throughout his cancer journey, Val Kilmer was forthcoming about the impact of the illness on his life. As detailed in The Hollywood Reporter, a procedure on his trachea significantly weakened his voice, reducing it to a rasp and causing shortness of breath.
In his introspective 2021 documentary, Val, Kilmer provided a personal glimpse into his altered quality of life, revealing his reliance on a feeding tube. “I can’t speak without plugging this hole [in my throat],” he explained, highlighting the difficult choice between breathing and eating.
Early Dismissal of Health Concerns
Rumors of Val Kilmer’s health issues surfaced in January 2015 when reports indicated his hospitalization for a suspected throat tumor. At the time, a representative for the actor informed TMZ that Kilmer was undergoing medical examinations.
Subsequently, Kilmer refuted claims of a throat tumor in a statement shared on his Facebook page.
“Thank you for all your sweet support. But I have not had a tumor, or tumor operations, or any operation. I had a complication where the best way to receive care was to stay under the watchful eye of the ucla ICU,” he stated in the January 2015 post. He also expressed gratitude for friends supporting his spiritual beliefs and ensuring privacy, stating his hopes for a “speedy return” to work and asking fans not to worry.
Michael Douglas’s Statement and Subsequent Clarification
In October 2016, Michael Douglas, Kilmer’s costar in The Ghost and the Darkness, appeared to confirm Kilmer’s cancer diagnosis publicly.
During a Q&A session in London, Douglas remarked, “Val was a wonderful guy who is dealing with exactly what I had, and things don’t look too good for him,” referencing his own past oral cancer battle. (Douglas had announced he was cancer-free in 2011 after a stage 4 oral cancer diagnosis in 2010.)
Douglas added that Kilmer’s silence was likely due to his health struggles.
Despite Douglas’s comments, Kilmer initially contradicted the cancer claims in a Facebook post. “I love Michael Douglas but he is misinformed,” Kilmer wrote, asserting he had “no cancer whatsoever.”
Kilmer downplayed Douglas’s statement, attributing it to concern from a “loving and devoted friend” and clarifying there was no ill intent.
However, in April 2017, Kilmer addressed the cancer battle directly during a Reddit AMA, responding to a question about Douglas’s remarks.
“He was probably trying to help me cause press probably asked where I was these days, and I did have a healing of cancer, but my tongue is still swollen altho healing all the time,” Kilmer explained. He suggested his altered voice might have led to ongoing speculation about his health.
Undergoing Cancer Treatment
In a comprehensive December 2017 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Kilmer provided further details regarding his cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Kilmer acknowledged his Christian Scientist faith as a source of strength during chemotherapy. He revealed that post-treatment, his priorities shifted away from Hollywood accolades.
“I was too serious. I’d get upset when things like Oscars and recognition failed to come my way,” Kilmer admitted.
Cher’s Support During Health Crisis
Kilmer’s 2020 memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry, offered insights into the support he received from former girlfriend Cher during his 2015 cancer diagnosis.
Recounting a harrowing experience, Kilmer wrote about suddenly “vomiting blood that covered the bed” and how Cher immediately “stepped in and stepped up” to assist him, as detailed in People magazine.
He humorously noted Cher’s reaction even amidst the medical emergency, observing her noticing the attractiveness of a paramedic. Despite his serious condition, Kilmer recalled sharing a lighthearted moment with Cher, before being attended to by medical personnel.
Life in Recovery
Val Kilmer’s 2021 documentary, Val, available on Amazon Prime Video, further explored his life and well-being following his throat cancer treatment.
“I was recently diagnosed with throat cancer. I’m still recovering, and it is difficult to talk and to be understood. But I want to tell my story more than ever,” Kilmer stated in the documentary, emphasizing his resolve to share his experiences.
In the film, primarily narrated by his son Jack, Kilmer openly discussed the realities of using a feeding tube. “I can’t speak without plugging this hole [in my throat],” he reiterated, emphasizing the involuntary choice between breathing and eating.
Kilmer acknowledged the visible impact of his condition, stating, “It’s an obstacle that is very present with whoever sees me.” Yet, he conveyed a sense of acceptance and growth, saying he had “lost and found parts of myself that I never knew existed” and felt “blessed” despite the challenges.