Importance Score: 50 / 100 🔵
View gallery
Val Kilmer, renowned for his acting career spanning from the 1980s onwards, prioritized family, especially his children, daughter Mercedes and son Jack. The celebrated Top Gun icon, who passed away at 65, leaves behind a legacy carried on by his children. Kilmer had previously spoken about Mercedes and Jack, particularly during his battle with throat cancer, offering insights into his relationship with them.
In an interview from August 2020 with People, the esteemed Batman Forever actor described his children as “brilliant” and expressed immense delight in their presence, stating he was “just madly, wildly entertained by them.”
“My only concern is the infrequency with which I see them, resulting in a lack of the joyous amusement that others experience,” Val elaborated. “However, they are truly, remarkably entertaining.”
Below, explore further details regarding Val Kilmer’s two children and their familial bond.
Val Kilmer’s Children: A Closer Look at Mercedes and Jack
Val Kilmer was the parent of two children, Jack and Mercedes, both from his marriage to former spouse, Joanne Whalley. Their marriage lasted from 1988 to 1996.
Mercedes Kilmer: Following in Her Father’s Footsteps
Born in October 1991, Mercedes Kilmer developed a closer bond with her father, Val Kilmer, during his later years, especially through his throat cancer recovery journey. Like her father, Mercedes pursued a career as an actor and also contributed as a producer on the documentary, Val.
“The health adversities have indeed been challenging, yet numerous positive outcomes have emerged,” Mercedes revealed to People in 2020. “We now spend considerably more time as a family. Even encountering my father’s long-time friends—many remarkable things unfold when you depend on the support of others.”
Mercedes fondly described her father as “an exceptionally intelligent and imaginative individual,” adding her enjoyment in “simply spending time” with Val, emphasizing their connection beyond a paternal role.
Mercedes was the one who verified the news of Val Kilmer’s passing in April 2025. She informed The New York Times that his death resulted from pneumonia, subsequent to his recovery from throat cancer years prior.
Jack Kilmer: Carrying on the Family Legacy
Val Kilmer and Joanne Whalley welcomed their son, Jack, in June 1995. Mirroring his father’s path, Jack Kilmer also embarked on a career in acting and producing, continuing the family’s artistic endeavors.
Jack Kilmer also provided insights into the alteration in Val’s voice after his cancer treatment. In August 2021, he mentioned to People that he barely registered his father’s changed, raspier vocal quality.
“Having been so accustomed to his voice, I might subconsciously perceive his original voice when conversing with him,” Jack explained to the publication. “He doesn’t appear to be experiencing discomfort when speaking. Occasionally, he becomes quite talkative. It can be difficult, but that is inherent to life. We cherish each day we have to see him and be in his presence.”