Importance Score: 65 / 100 🔴
Val Kilmer, a cherished figure in the film industry, left movie fans around the world heartbroken with the news of his death at the age of 65. His daughter revealed he had succumbed to pneumonia on Tuesday, marking the end of a remarkable career that spanned nearly four decades in Hollywood. Known for his charismatic performances and versatile acting skills, Kilmer captivated audiences with his memorable roles in a variety of beloved films, including iconic portrayals in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Doors, Willow, and Batman, among many others.
Despite his impressive body of work, Kilmer faced significant health challenges in his later years. In 2015, he was diagnosed with throat cancer, an ordeal that profoundly affected his life and career. Following extensive treatment and surgery, including a tracheostomy to aid his breathing, Kilmer lost his ability to speak. Despite many attempts to lure him back into acting, there was only one part that Kilmer could not say no to: the opportunity to reprise his character Iceman for 2021’s Top Gun: Maverick.
Kilmer initially portrayed fighter pilot Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in the film “Top Gun,” alongside Tom Cruise, who took on the role of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Both characters were depicted as top pilots in the Navy’s elite Top Gun programme, showcasing a competitive rivalry throughout the movie. Iceman is characterised as a disciplined aviator with exceptional skills, having refined his abilities to excel within the programme. At the same time, Maverick was a risk-taker who was not afraid to bend the rules.
In 2022, the iconic film franchise returned triumphantly with the release of “Top Gun: Maverick.” The sequel brought back the legendary Tom Cruise and introduced a talented younger cast that featured rising star Glen Powell, among others. Fans were particularly thrilled to see Kilmer make a poignant cameo appearance in the blockbuster despite his facing significant health challenges in the years prior.
In his incredible return to the screen, the script chose to include Kilmer’s real-life health challenges rather than ignore them. In the film, Kilmer’s character Iceman was revealed to be grappling with a serious and deteriorating medical condition that affected his speech. In one of the film’s pivotal scenes, Kilmer’s character communicates with the iconic Maverick through a computer monitor, utilising text messages as his means of interaction due to his inability to speak.
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Perhaps the most poignant moment occurs during a climactic scene where Iceman summons the strength to utter a few raspy lines, delivering an inspiring message to Maverick. This emotional moment was made possible by integrating advanced technology, specifically an AI-generated voice modelling system known as Sonantic. The cutting-edge tool recreated Kilmer’s voice by analysing hours of archival recordings to generate a version of his signature voice and allowed him to ensure that the essence of his character remained intact.
The actor’s final on-screen appearance proved to be an emotional moment for both audiences and co-star Tom Cruise, who was brought to tears during their reunion. At the time, his daughter Mercedes said: “They were able to dub him with his own voice, which is amazing. It’s such a technical feat, being able to engineer his voice that way, that it’s an extension of the technical feat of the film.”
Hearing his old friend’s voice proved emotional for co-star Tom Cruise, who revealed how moved he was by Kilmer’s performance. Speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2023, he said: “I just want to say that was pretty emotional. I’ve known Val for decades. For him to come back and play that character… he’s such a powerful actor that he instantly became that character again. You’re looking at Iceman. I was crying. I got emotional. He’s such a brilliant actor, and I love his work.”