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Renowned Actor Val Kilmer, Star of ‘Batman Forever’ and ‘Top Gun,’ Passes Away at 65
Hollywood mourns the loss of Val Kilmer, the celebrated actor best known for his roles as Batman and Iceman, who has died at the age of 65. News of the performer’s passing was confirmed by his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, on Tuesday evening. She informed The New York Times that the screen icon passed away in Los Angeles due to complications from pneumonia.
A Distinguished Career
Val Kilmer, a screen icon recognized globally for his portrayal of the Caped Crusader in “Batman Forever” and the daredevil pilot Iceman in “Top Gun,” enjoyed an extensive and acclaimed career. His performances earned him the deep appreciation of millions of fans around the world. Beyond these signature roles, Kilmer also delivered memorable performances, including his portrayal of music legend Jim Morrison in the 1991 film “The Doors.”
Battling Throat Cancer
Despite his successful Hollywood career, Val Kilmer’s life included significant health challenges. He received a diagnosis of throat cancer in 2014, marking the beginning of a difficult personal battle.
To combat the disease, Kilmer underwent rigorous treatments, including both radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Ultimately, the actor required a tracheostomy. This surgical procedure, creating an opening in his neck to aid breathing, became necessary after his throat swelled to a life-threatening degree. The tracheostomy unfortunately resulted in permanent damage to his vocal cords, irreversibly altering his speaking voice.
Sharing His Health Journey
In the Amazon Prime documentary “Val,” Kilmer offered a frank account of his experience with throat cancer. He detailed how the illness and the subsequent loss of his natural voice profoundly changed his life. He openly discussed his reliance on an artificial voice box for communication.
“I obviously am sounding much worse than I feel. I can’t speak without plugging this hole [in his throat],” Kilmer explained in the documentary, offering a glimpse into his daily reality.
Beyond communication difficulties, Kilmer also faced challenges with eating, requiring feeding through a tube as a consequence of his illness.
“You have to make the choice to breathe or to eat. It’s an obstacle that is very present with whoever sees me,” he shared, highlighting the constant obstacles his condition presented.
Unexpected Diagnosis
The diagnosis of throat cancer came unexpectedly for Kilmer. He recounted realizing the severity of his condition when he coughed up ‘coagulated blood.’ This alarming event prompted him to call for an ambulance before losing consciousness.
Upon regaining consciousness in a Santa Monica hospital, the actor learned he had undergone an emergency tracheotomy to address his throat cancer.
“This is a tracheotomy,” he stated, gesturing to his throat, “to help me breathe because the glands in my throat swelled up as well.”
Tributes Pour In
Following news of his death, numerous admirers and celebrities have paid tribute to the beloved actor. One fan mourning his loss wrote, “Rest in peace Val Kilmer, one of the most unpredictable and versatile leading men of the past forty years. No two Kilmer performances were alike. He looked like a movie star, but had the heart and soul of the great character actors. It’s unreal to consider movies without him.”
Another fan echoed this sentiment, adding: “Rest in Peace to the incredibly talented and legendary Val Kilmer..thank you for all your amazing talent you will forever be one of my favorite actors and one of my favorites to ever put on the Batman cowl..MY BATMAN FOREVER.”